Following is the text of the news release:

U.S. Department of Transportation
September 5, 2002

Flying Restrictions for September 11 Events Announced

WASHINGTON - The U. S. Department of Transportation's Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced today temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) that will be in effect on September 11, 2002. These restrictions will be in effect in connection with public events that day in New York, Washington, DC, and Somerset, PA.

During those times, there will be extensive limits on flying within a 30-nautical-mile (34.5-statute-mile) radius of the event sites at altitudes below 18,000 feet. For airline flights into and out of all airports in these areas, the "30-minute seat rule" will be in effect. The rule requires that all passengers remain seated for 30 minutes after takeoff and for 30 minutes prior to landing. This rule has been in effect for flights at Reagan Washington National Airport since last October.

General aviation or private flying will be banned or, in some cases, limited to aircraft operating under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) flight plans, which must be filed at least six hours before takeoff. Sightseeing and training flights are banned, as are all Visual Flight Rules (VFR) flights.

Special air traffic management procedures will be in effect for all flights in these areas, including foreign airlines.

In the New York area, these restrictions will be in effect from 7 a.m. on September 11 until 8 p.m. on September 13. There will be no general aviation flying in the TFR areas before, during and after public outdoor events on those three days. At other times, general aviation flying will be limited to IFR operations. The 30th and 34th Street heliports in Manhattan will have limited flying during the public outdoor events. Times for these events will be announced later. For pilots, the center of the 30-nautical-mile TFR will be the Ground Zero site.

In the Washington area, the restrictions will be in effect from 8:30 a.m. until 11 a.m. on September 11. The Washington Monument will be the center of the TFR zone. There will be no flying over or near the Pentagon ceremony, and use of Runway 15/33 at Reagan Washington National Airport will be restricted. IFR general aviation flying will be permitted in the outer area of the TFR zone, not less than 15 miles from the Washington Monument. All general aviation flying continues to be prohibited within a 15-statute-mile radius of the Washington Monument.

In Somerset, PA, the TFR zone will be centered on the ceremony site, near the location of the crash of United Air Lines Flight 93. There will be no flying over or near the ceremony.

An interagency working group that included the Office of Homeland Security, North American Aerospace Defense Command, US Secret Service and the Department of State, as well as TSA and FAA, developed these restrictions.