Reagan National may soon reopen to private planes

Proposal is to go to Office of Homeland Security

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- "General aviation," or private plane flights may be allowed back at Reagan Washington National Airport by early June -- but there will be major restrictions.

Under a United States Transportation Department proposal to reopen the airport to private airplanes:

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Reagan National is the only major airport still closed to general aviation flights, which were restricted after the September 11 terror attacks. The airport only recently returned to pre-attack levels of commercial jet traffic.

Many restrictions apply to commercial flights as well. For instance, commercial pilots must provide a password to land at the airport. The reason for such restrictions is the airport's proximity to the nation's capital, with the White House, the Capitol building and monuments.

Transportation Department spokesman Leonardo Alcivar said improving security at Reagan National is behind the move to restore commercial flights, and now general aviation flights.

"What's changed," he said, "... has been the implementation of an entire series of security measures at the airport since 9-11 from the cockpit to the curbside. The secretary (Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta) has made this a key priority since 9-11."

Alcivar said details still need to be worked out with law enforcement agencies and the Defense Department. The Transportation Department intends to send its proposal to the Office of Homeland Security by the end of May.

The Homeland Security office will make the final decision about reopening Reagan National to general aviation flights, Alcivar said.

Before September 11, general aviation flights represented 20 percent of the flights at Reagan National Airport.

"We're thrilled," Washington Metropolitan Airports Authority spokesman Jonathan Gaffney said. "It's such an important part of the airport. Anyone who does business aviation knows you fly to Reagan National Airport and you're in the nation's capitol."