Story ID: 
Scheduled Special VFR Ban at IAD Withdrawn
By: Gordon Gilbert
Caption: FAA amends rule on the basis of a negative comment.
Word Count: 171
On Monday the FAA withdrew a direct final rule that would have prohibited Special VFR starting Tuesday, May 26, for fixed-wing aircraft at Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD). The FAA issued the requirement as a direct final rule because the continued growth in the number of IAD instrument operations and complex airspace has long qualified the airport for this restriction.

The ban was revoked because the agency received one adverse comment. Under the agency "direct final rule" process, any negative comments the FAA receives serve to revoke the rule and possibly initiate a full notice of proposed rulemaking process. The commenter, a pilot, said that the blanket prohibition of SVFR was "inappropriate and unnecessary." He further stated that he had personally used SVFR twice in the last few years to land at IAD to participate in an event at the National Air and Space Museum's Udvar-Hazy Center, which is located adjacent to IAD. The commenter suggested that the IAD tower should approve or disapprove SVFR case by case.