Rep. Jay Obernolte on Proposed Airspace Restrictions Impacting California Airports and Off-Roading

Proposed Airspace Restrictions

• 🎯 Rep. Jay Obernolte is addressing a proposed amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act concerning restricted airspace in Southern California.
• ⚠️ The Marine Corps plans to expand training operations at the Marine Air Ground Combat Center in 29 Palms, requiring more restricted airspace.
• ✈️ The proposed restricted airspace would be effectively full-time, despite the Marine Corps only needing it less than 20% of the time.

Impact on Local Communities

• 💥 This full-time restriction will have a devastating impact on four local area airports.
• ⛰️ Operations in Johnson Valley, home to the King of the Hammers off-roading race with over 80,000 spectators, will also be jeopardized.

Alternative Solutions and Congressional Direction

• 💡 Obernolte suggests alternatives like temporary flight restrictions on days of actual use, communicated to airspace users.
• 📣 He also proposes better communication systems to inform the public when the airspace is in use and when it is accessible.
• 📜 Congress previously directed the Department of Defense and FAA in the 2021 NDAA to develop a system for digitally informing the public about restricted airspace status, a directive that has not yet been acted upon.

Proposed Amendment

• ⚖️ Obernolte's amendment conditions the issuance of a new restricted area on the Marine Corps' compliance with Congress's prior directive to create this information system.
• ✅ The amendment aims to solve the problem by ensuring compliance with existing congressional direction.