http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,157573,00.html

Reagan Nat'l Airport Reopening to Private Planes

Tuesday, May 24, 2005
WASHINGTON - Private planes will be allowed to take off and land at Reagan
National Airport (search) for the first time since Sept. 11, 2001, the
Transportation Security Administration is expected to announce Wednesday,
according to people in government and aviation who have seen the plan.

Congress (search) has long been pressuring the TSA to reopen the airport to
charter aircraft, business jets and private planes. It is far more
convenient to downtown Washington than the other two airports in the region,
Dulles International Airport and Baltimore-Washington International Airport.

But the TSA has been reluctant to reopen Reagan National Airport to private
aircraft because it's so close to the Capitol, the White House and other
potential terrorist targets.

It took weeks after the terror attacks for security officials to reopen the
airport to commercial airlines.

"It's overdue," said Rep. John Mica, the Florida Republican who chairs the
House Transportation Committee's (search) aviation subcommittee. "It can be
done safely. I've been convinced all along."

The requirements will be strict, said people familiar with the plan who
spoke on condition of anonymity because the TSA had not yet made an
announcement.

In 90 days, the plan would allow 48 flights into the airport a day. Their
crews will have to have their backgrounds checked and an armed law
enforcement officer will have to be on board, the people said.