By Kate Reardon
Herald Writer
Flight restrictions following the Sept. 11 attacks are costing the aviation community millions of dollars, according to a national pilots association.
Warren Morningstar, spokesman for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association in Maryland, said that within just the first two weeks of the attacks, the general aviation industry saw $400 million in impacts nationwide.
"The impacts continue," Morningstar said, adding flight schools have been forced to lay off employees and some have gone bankrupt.
"When airspace is closed and pilots are not allowed to fly, they (businesses) just don’t have the resources to weather it," he said. "This has had a significant economic impact."
Closer to home, companies at Paine Field have had to lay off dozens of workers. One company at Paine had let go of 22 of its 37 employees, said Bruce Goetz, superintendent of operations at Paine.
"I’d say it’s been a pretty devastating blow for aviation so far," he said. You’ve got pilots who haven’t been able to fly, flight instructors who haven’t been able to teach, fuel operators who haven’t been able to sell and mechanics who haven’t been able to work, he said.
"It’s good this is starting back up," Goetz said.
You can call Herald Writer Kate Reardon at 425-339-3455
or send e-mail to reardon@heraldnet.com.
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