NBAA is warning business aircraft operators to prepare for slot requirements and other access changes over the Washington, D.C. area during the days surrounding the inauguration this month. “Presidential inaugurations historically generate a significant increase in air traffic headed to the Washington, D.C. area,” the association said. “Because of this increased traffic, and due to the heightened security implications, there are a number of things that operators flying into and out of the Washington, D.C. metro area can expect.”
These include a requirement for slots for aircraft departing Washington Dulles International (IAD) from January 20 to 22. These slots can be secured through either Ross Aviation or Signature Flight Support, the two fixed-base operations at IAD.
IAD is expected to handle as much as 50 business aircraft an hour during the week of the inauguration, but the number of slots available to business aviation will depend on airline traffic and be split between Ross and Signature. Slots might be dramatically reduced during peak airline scheduled times.
The slots are for departures only, said Dean Snell, NBAA manager of air traffic services, because traffic is anticipated to be more concentrated after the January 20 inauguration. But Snell anticipates he will be on site at the IAD air traffic control tower in the days leading up to and after the inauguration to help with coordination and serve as a point of contact for business aviation operations.
Additional parking accommodations are in the works, the association adds, noting aircraft parked either overnight or for an extended stay will be directed to the west side of the airfield. Runway 1L/19R will be closed for parking. The FBOs will provide ground transportation from the aircraft parking sites to their facilities. “Drop and go” operations will be permitted on the main FBO ramps.
In addition to departure slots, the association advises operators to alert the FBOs of the arrival dates and times. NBAA anticipates an upsurge in traffic at other D.C.-area airports and advises operators to also alert FBOs at other airports of their travel plans.
While exact details are not yet known, NBAA warns to expect temporary flight restrictions to be in place during the day of the inauguration that may affect access to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and the airports within the Flight Restricted Zone. A TFR might also affect VFR operations in the area and require specific procedures at other airports. Also air traffic control initiatives might be required during peak times.
NBAA also is watching for other potential TFRs that could affect business aircraft traffic after the inauguration, including near the Mar-a-Largo resort in Palm Beach, Florida, Snell advised.
