Airship Restrictions

STATEMENT

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

Subcommittee on Aviation

“Airspace Restrictions”

Witness:           George A.R. Spyrou

Representing:  American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)

                             Technical Committee of Lighter-than-air Division

October 17, 2001

Mr. Chairman and Members of the Aviation Subcommittee . . . :

I represent the Technical Committee of the Lighter-than-air Division of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), which includes airships – otherwise know as dirigibles or “blimps”.  My role here is largely educational and to correct some misperceptions.

Since September 11, all aviation – quite naturally – has been restricted.

Over the past few weeks there has been an easing of restrictions for most aircraft operations – even crop dusters - but not for airships.  On the contrary, we are specifically excluded from flying over major cities and from operating over sports stadiums.  That is what we do for a living, however, and the present restrictions not only prevent us from earning a living but also prevent us from providing a service to law enforcement: we can provide a valuable “eye-in-the-sky” for security personnel – just as we have done for various agencies for decades, not only here in America but all over the world.

Our association represents airship operators such as Goodyear, the Lightship Group, the American Blimp Corporation, Airship Management Services and Airship Operations.  We have a total of 20 airships operating in America – each ship has a crew of 20 people and we employ directly about 1,000 people.  We are a relatively small – but very visible business.

Airships, or “blimps”, are principally known for advertising and television broadcast work on behalf of such clients as Goodyear, Fujifilm, Met Life, Monster.com, Ford Motor Company and Pepsi-Cola.  What is not generally known – and what we now want to draw more attention to – is our security surveillance work with these aircraft  We can be useful to security – particularly now.

The reason our aircraft make such excellent television camera platforms, is the same reason that we are such excellent security surveillance platforms – safety, long endurance and stability – not to mention providing reassuring messages.  Our aircraft have already been used for anti-terrorist work, and we would be pleased to address this Committee and the Office of Homeland Security in this regard separately.

But first we have to operate again.  In order for us to operate effectively, however, we are requesting that the FAAease or:

1.        Lift the restrictions on airships entering enhanced Class B airspace as per FDC Notam #01/0613, Part II #7, which prevents airships from flying over major cities and airports; and,

2.        Lift the Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR’s), FDC Notam #01/0298, which prevent airships from flying over sporting events.

 Lifting these bans would allow the airship community to demonstrate how we can help on security issues – at virtually no extra cost to law enforcement.  We can help prevent attacks by carrying surveillance equipment and law enforcement personnel when flying over sports stadiums and other large public gatherings.

 We can be part of the solution, not part of the problem, by providing security personnel and law enforcement with an eye-in-the-sky capability.  In addition, we can provide a feeling of “normalcy” again.  What is more normal, after all, than a “blimp over a ballgame”?

 There is already an established track record of these aircraft for security surveillance.  Airships have been used for security surveillance over various events and for various agencies during the past 50 years, including:

 ·        Convoy escort during WWII, operated by the U.S. Navy escorting 89,000 vessels across the Atlantic – without a single vessel lost.

·        Goodyear for U.S. Navy since 1950’s

·        L.A. Olympics - 1984 (LAPD – surveillance over the Games)

·        Economic Summit, Paris - 1989 (French Ministry of Interior – security surveillance)

·        Seoul Olympics - 1988 (Korean Security Services)

·        Tokyo Police – for surveillance over Tokyo

·        British Ministry of Defence – for security surveillance over U.K.

·        World Cup Soccer (over Chicago with Secret Service for President Clinton)

·        Atlanta Olympics - 1996 (APD and FBI – surveillance over Games)

·        Naval Air Warfare Center - NAVAIR (for U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard)

·        Naval Investigative Service (for President Reagan at Statue of Liberty)

·        “Mineseeker” program by one of our members.

  To cite a specific example, when we flew over the Atlanta Olympics in 1996, we carried cameras – which had day and night capability – providing images to the Atlanta Police and the FBI.  So, someone at his monitor in Washington could see, real time, what we were filming over Atlanta – from 3000 feet up.  At the request of law enforcement, we had to be discrete about this kind of work previously.  Now is the time for us to do it more openly.  Law enforcement knew it, we knew it and now you should know it.  To do it, however, we need to fly again, and we want to reassure you, and law enforcement, of our capabilities.

 Modern airships are safe, secured 24 hours per day, require specialist training to operate, and they are slow.  Naturally, our business is being severely hampered by the current restrictions which we believe to be unreasonable.    However, we provide an asset to law enforcement and the security services which is being ignored.

 We are eager to provide a service and wish to have the opportunity to serve as best we can – by flying again, providing a “normal” environment at sporting events, and by actually benefiting the law enforcement community with an extra security asset.

 For the record, I attach copies of Goodyear’s letters to the President, National Security and the FAA, together with our letters to Senator Lieberman, Congressman Shays and various other officials.

 Our request to the FAA is very simple: in lifting restrictions on the aviation community, please include airships – specifically the Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR’s) which prevent us from flying over cities, and the Enhanced Class B airspace which forbids us from flying over sporting events.

 There are three reasons for this request: 

1.      We want to return to “normalcy” – so that young people, in particular, are reassured by seeing a blimp over a ballgame again.

2.      We want to earn our living.

3.      We want to provide an asset for law enforcement; we can have law enforcement personnel on board and carry surveillance equipment fitted to provide an eye-in-the-sky capability to transmit images to the FBI and other law enforcement personnel on the ground. 

Our aircraft can be a positive force – both psychologically, in terms of morale, and in security terms.

 Our ships are safe (they cannot burn); they are slow (max 50 mph!); they are secured at all times; and they require specialist training to operate (they cannot be hijacked).

 Our members have already been contacted by various agencies for use of our aircraft – in anticipation of restrictions being eased – and we would wish to respond in a positive manner.

 We wish to return to making a positive contribution, and to be understood as an asset – not a threat.  We are not part of the problem.  Please permit us to be part of the solution.  We want to lift up American’s spirits again.  Airships can help do that.

 I am particularly grateful for the support of our friends at Fujifilm and Goodyear, and would now be pleased to answer any questions you may have.

 Thank you.