Bill Text: NJ AR180 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges Congress to require Federal Aviation Administration to study and report on potential changes to certain temporary flight restriction protocols.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-07-30 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee [AR180 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2018-AR180-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman HAROLD "HAL" J. WIRTHS
District 24 (Morris, Sussex and Warren)
SYNOPSIS
Urges Congress to require Federal Aviation Administration to study and report on potential changes to certain temporary flight restriction protocols.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution urging Congress to enact legislation to require the Federal Aviation Administration to study and report on potential changes to certain temporary flight restriction protocols.
Whereas, The summer months are the most important season for general aviation businesses at many small airports in New Jersey that cater to amateur pilots and business clients; and
Whereas, The summer flying and tourism season generates revenue that makes small airport operations viable and diversifies local economies; and
Whereas, Small New Jersey airports within a 30-nautical mile radius of the Township of Bedminster, New Jersey (Bedminster) have been adversely affected by Presidential Temporary Flight Restriction protocols imposed on airspace when the President of the United States is in residence at the Trump National Golf Club, Bedminster; and
Whereas, In addition to the 30-nautical mile radius flight restriction protocols, the Presidential Temporary Flight Restriction protocols impose even more severe restrictions within a 10-nautical mile radius of Bedminster when the President is in residence, having profound impacts on the operations and viability of Solberg Airport and Somerset Airport, both of which are located within the 10-nautical mile radius; and
Whereas, The United States Secret Service (Secret Service) is recognized for the physical protection that it provides to the nation's highest elected leaders, visiting foreign dignitaries, facilities, and major events; and
Whereas, The physical protection of the President of the United States is the most high-profile mission and duty of the Secret Service, whether the President is in residence in Washington, D.C. or anywhere in the world; and
Whereas, The Secret Service has worked with the Federal Aviation Administration and the Transportation Security Administration to implement the Maryland Three Program around Washington, D.C., which ensures the President's safety while vetting private pilots and imposing enhanced general aviation security procedures to allow vetted pilots to fly to and from airports under Temporary Flight Restriction protocols; and
Whereas, Five members of New Jersey's congressional delegation subscribed to a letter to the Director of the Secret Service in June 2017 urging the Secret Service to consider allowing the airports near the President's Bedminster residence to use a system similar to the Maryland Three Program; and
Whereas, The United States Congress is considering a five-year reauthorization bill for the Federal Aviation Administration, the "FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018," which includes a requirement that the Federal Aviation Administration complete a study and report on the impacts of Presidential Temporary Flight Restriction protocols and options and recommendations for mitigating negative impacts; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House urges the United States Congress to enact legislation to require the Federal Aviation Administration to study the impacts that current temporary flight restriction protocols concerning protection of the President of the United States have had on Solberg Airport, Somerset Airport, and similarly situated airports, and to report on options and recommendations for changes to those protocols to mitigate negative impacts on these airports while advancing the vital mission of the United States Secret Service.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to the United States Secretary of the United States Department of Transportation, Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, Director of the United States Secret Service, and each member of Congress elected from this State.
STATEMENT
This Assembly resolution urges Congress to require the Federal Aviation Administration to study and report on potential changes to current temporary flight restriction protocols.
The United States Congress is currently considering a five-year reauthorization bill for the Federal Aviation Administration, and should include as a part of that legislation, a requirement that the Federal Aviation Administration complete a study on the impacts of Temporary Flight Restriction protocols on small airports, and report on options and recommendations for mitigating negative impacts of those protocols. In the past, the United States Secret Service has worked with the Federal Aviation Administration and the Transportation Security Administration to implement the Maryland Three Program around Washington, D.C.. This program allows vetted pilots to fly to and from small airports in the Washington, D.C. region that also fall under Temporary Flight Restriction protocols while the President is in residence at the White House, and ensures the President's safety by vetting private pilots and imposing enhanced general aviation security procedures.
