AOPA Propaganda, cont.

AOPA prepares "independent" report on economic "impacts" (they mean
effects, but impact is becoming a verb in AOPA vernacular) of ADIZ on
Washington area airports. They say it is "clearly apparent" (I guess
just saying apparent is not clear enough) that the ADIZ is "impacting" the
area economy.

LOL. I like best the way they talk about direct, indirect, and induced
jobs lost.

"AOPA-commissioned ADIZ economic impact study reveals negative impact on
GA

The Washington, D.C., ADIZ
with Flight Restricted Zone
Ten general aviation airports inside the Washington, D.C., Air Defense
Identification Zone (ADIZ) that are dependent on providing services to
pilots of light aircraft are losing nearly $43 million per year in wages,
revenue, taxes, and local spending. That's what AOPA's independent
economic study of 13 airports impacted by the ADIZ has revealed.

"The study shows that those most affected by the ADIZ are GA aircraft
owners and pilots, and the businesses that serve this group, even though
they pose the least threat," said AOPA President Phil Boyer. "If the ADIZ
is not modified, it could permanently jeopardize the economic viability of
GA operations in the Washington, D.C., area."

Total revenue at the impacted airports has dropped $27.5 million since the
ADIZ imposition in 2003. And more than 100 jobs have been lost, sales of
aviation gasoline are down by nearly 20 percent, a flight school has
closed, and many pilots have either stopped flying or have moved out of
the area.

"Overall, it is clearly apparent that airports within the ADIZ have been
negatively impacted (both operationally and economically) by the events of
9/11 and that their recovery had lagged the recovery experienced at
airports outside of the ADIZ," the study conducted by Aviation Management
and Consulting Group and Martin Associates revealed.

AOPA commissioned the study to find out just how much the ADIZ is
negatively impacting those airports because the FAA failed to gather any
data about the impact the ADIZ has on general aviation airports.

The firms analyzed economic data from 2002 through 2004 at 13 airports
within the ADIZ and 20 airports around the perimeter of the ADIZ. Airports
within the ADIZ were also compared to other national and regional airports.
In addition to gathering specific economic data, the firms conducted
one-on-one meetings and telephone conversations with airport operators,
airport businesses, and airport users.

Some of the specifics at individual airports are telling examples of the
negative effect an ADIZ can have on a GA airport.

Take Martin State Airport in Baltimo From 2002 to 2004, Martin State
has lost nearly $7 million each year in local spending. It also reports an
annual loss of $15 million in airport revenue.

Or look at Montgomery County Airpark in Gaithersburg, Maryland: It has
lost 72 direct, induced, and indirect jobs, which equates to about $2.5
million in lost annual personal income. And airport revenue is down $3.7
million.

AOPA will be including copies of the executive summary in its comments on
the FAA proposal to make the ADIZ permanent."

Yeah, ok. Negative impact indeed.