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U.S. Department
800 Independence Ave.. S.W.
of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration
Washington, DC 20591
October 4, 2001 Terrorist Attack on U.S. Situation Report #24 Asof1:OOPMEDT (Changes in bold) 1. Background. Terrorists commandeered commercial aircraft, crashing two into the World Trade Center in New York, and one into the Pentagon in Washington DC. A fourth aircraft crashed south of Pittsburgh after reporting a hijack. American and United airlines each lost two flights in the air crashes. The four flights carried a total of 266 people - 233 passengers, 25 crewmembers and eight pilots. Domestic and international flights in U.S. airspace have resumed under more stringent airport and air carrier security procedures. 2. • • • •
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Operational status. NAS facilities are all fully operational There were 127,964 Center Controller Operations yesterday, 8% less than the Wednesday average for the previous year. All FAA facilities are at Security Condition (SECON) CHARLIE. No FAA-wide Readiness Level has been set. The FAA continues to restrict visitors at FAA facilities. See GENOT issued Sep 162001. The FAA ATCSCC and ACS officials are continuing to coordinate the resumption of international commercial passenger, cargo, and Foreign Part 91 flights in the U.S. The FAA is also coordinating international humanitarian flights issues that are restricted in operating into the U.S. under the current restriction on foreign Part 91 operations. Non-Canadian foreign air carriers are permitted to overfly the territorial airspace of the U.S. only after affirming in writing to their FAA Principal Security Inspector that they will implement the emergency measures required for overflight authorization. To date, 42 Part 129 (Foreign) air carriers have been approved for overflight of U.S. territorial airspace. 957 of the 986 air carrier stations offering commercial flights to the U.S. are now certified. Flight Restrictions and authorizations are as follows: Except for the operations listed below, Part 91 VFR operations are permitted within the territorial airspace of the U.S., for U.S. registered aircraft, provided that those operations are conducted outside "Enhanced Class B (ECB) airspace."
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The following types of operations are not authorized: 1. Civil aircraft VFR flight training operations for turbojet powered aircraft within Class B (See NOTAM 1/0345) 2. Sight seeing flight operations conducted for compensation or hire ; within Enhanced Class B and TFRs of NY and Washington D.C. areas. (See NOTAM 1/0345) The following types of operations are authorized as IFR ONLY: 1. Civil aircraft banner towing operations 2. Traffic WATCH flight operations 3. Airship/Blimp operations 4. News reporting operations
FAA Flight Service Stations are providing continual updates on authorization status via their 800-number at 1-800-WXBRIEF (1-800-992-7433). FAA Order 7110.263 has been revised to assure immediate notification to NORAD, ROC, and ATCSCC of a possible hijacking.
CURRENT NOTAMS AFFECTING U.S. AIRSPACE • FDC 0100 - Flight Restrictions - Washington, DC / New York • FDC 0298 - Flight Restrictions - Major Sporting Events/Major Open Air Assemblies • FDC 0329 - Intercept Procedures • FDC 0609 - Flight Near Restricted/Prohibited Areas • FDC 0613 - IFR Operations in the U.S. • FDC 0617 - VFR Operations in the U.S. • FDC 0628 - Operations To/From Locations Outside the U.S. CURRENT TEMPORARY FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS • There are in excess of 30 TFRs currently active within the NAS. Special Exemptions • The requests for Electronic News Gathering organizations to conduct VFR operations and expand IFR operations within Enhanced Class B Airspace has been coordinated with FBI, DoD, ATS and ACS and have been denied. • U.S. Government contracted aircraft operations (e.g. USDA-contracted Medfly spray operations in S California and Miami) have been approved and clearance granted to USDA. • NSC has approved the operation of a Goodyear airship over the Cleveland Brown's Football Stadium for the upcoming (10/7/01) Browns vs. Chargers football game. Special validation procedures will be required prior to operation. • A special working group has been convened to develop a "Permit Process" for the granting of waivers for the operation of foreign-registered Part 91 aircraft within U.S. territorial airspace.
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3. Part 139 airport status. Airports are being approved for operation upon certification that new security requirements have been implemented. A list of these airports is posted on the FAA Intranet at: http://atcscc.faa.gov/ois/ • Temporary flight restrictions are in force for GA (Part 91) operations for the airspace around New York's JFK Airport and Washington's Reagan National out to a radius of 25 miles. In the New York vicinity, all major airports are open to traffic. • SFAR No. 90 - Prohibition Against Certain Flights Within the Territory and Airspace of Afghanistan - has been issued by the FAA. This emergency SFAR has been issued by NOT AM. • At the time of this report, all of the 455 Part 107 U.S. airports have been certified as complying with the emergency security directives. Washington's Reagan National (DCA) reopening this morning. One of the first aircraft bound for DCA from DFW was diverted to Washington's Dulles Airport after the cockpit crew failed to provide proper security identifiers to controllers. • To date, 98% of the foreign air carrier stations and 95% of commercial flights to the U.S. are certified to the new security directives. The remaining uncertified air carrier stations consist primarily of the smaller carriers and those with infrequent flight schedules. Additional certifications continue to be received. 4. Personnel. AHR is tracking information on casualties to FAA employees and families resulting from the attacks. Numerous FAA employees/families have been affected. • AHR has issued guidance on relaxed travel policies to assist for onward movement of employees. A toll-free hotline that was established to assist stranded FAA employees has been discontinued. Further questions can be directed to the Travel Policy Help Desk at 1-800-482-4044 or 202- 267-9056. 5.
Supplemental information. • ACO-1 and ADA-20 issued a joint memorandum detailing new communications guidelines between Regional 700's, the Washington Operations Center (WOC) Complex and the AGO Operations Watch (AGO OPS Watch). The memo further establishes the Aviation Command Center as a full-time (24/7) operation. • FAA (AFS-750) is working with FBI in the review of aircraft registration data. The data resulting from this review was so extensive, that it has been loaded onto a CD for use by FAA and FBI investigators. • AGO Operations Watch (OPSWATCH) is now monitoring a 24/7 communications net that includes the 21 ARTCCs and is managed by NORAD. This net provides immediate feedback for any intercept missions related to aviation. • DOT's Crisis Management Center (CMC) has reduced daily operations from 0600-2400 to 0600-2000 Monday through Friday. There will be no weekend or Columbus Day staffing of the CMC unless further activation is required. FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
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FAA is providing domestic and international premium and non-premium war risk insurance for U.S. carriers that request it. This is the first time domestic war risk insurance has ever been issued. FEMA's Washington-based Emergency Response Team (EST) has fully activated and on 24-hour operations. All 10 of the FEMA regions - headquartered in Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Chicago, Denton, TX, Denver, San Francisco and Bothell, Wash. - are also fully activated. FEMA has activated the Federal Response Plan. FEMA has activated its operations center, and is working closely with the FBI's Strategic Operation Information Center (SOIC). FEMA's SIOC liaison has been activated. CAPTURING IDEAS AND SUGGESTIONS: The Office of Research and Acquisition (ARA) has established a system for employees and others to offer suggestions on improving safety and security. The system has e-mail, fax, as well as telephone capability. The e-mail address is
[email protected]. The fax number is 202-267-5091. The telephone number, which will be staffed Mondays - Fridays, 8:30 a.m. is 1-866-289-9673. E-mail and fax are preferred. ACS is coordinating with NRC officials the monitoring of suspicious aircraft activity in the vicinity of nuclear power plants. See NOTAM FDC 0530. DOT has informed all modal administrations that DOT's Crisis Management Center will remain active until at least October 17, 2001.
Sources: FAA HQ WOC, ACC, ATCSCC, ANE ROC, AEA ROC, ASO ROC, DOT/OET, FEMA, NOAA, Media Authorized for Release:
Dan Noel Manager, Emergency Operations Staff
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