Business Jet Access Becomes First Area Charter Provider Authorized to Fly Into D.C.'s Reagan National Since 9-11

Dallas-Fort Worth Travelers Now Have More Flight Options

August 16, 2006  Love Field, Dallas, TX

Business Jet Access (BJA ) has become the first Dallas-Fort Worth based FAA Part 135 Air Carrier since September 11, 2001 to be authorized by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to operate charter flights into and out of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).

No charter flights originating from the D/FW metroplex have been allowed to land at DCA since the 9-11 terrorist attack on the Pentagon shut down all general aviation flight activity to the airport.   Reagan National, once a very active general aviation airport in the Washington, D.C. area, handled 44,592 general aviation flights in 2000, an average of 122 a day.

"This is a significant announcement for all those who wish to charter aircraft into Washington, D.C. from the Dallas-Fort Worth area," said Brian Hoffman, General Manager, Business Jet Access.   "Because of the proximity of Reagan National to many of the areas top destinations, this authorization will allow far more travel flexibility for those traveling to and from our nation's capital."

Hoffman said the authorization process started several months ago after the TSA named 15 airports as authorized gateways from which direct general aviation flights into DCA can legally originate.   He said Love Field is one of the authorized airports and is the only one in the Dallas-Fort Worth Area.   The only other Texas airport to be authorized is Houston's Hobby.

In order to be authorized by the TSA, Business Jet Access was required to meet procedural and safety requirements in accordance with the federally mandated DCA Access Standard Security Program (DASSP).   These requirements include, among others, approval of flights up to 72 hours in advance of the planned flight arrival to, or departure from, DCA.

Also, background checks are conducted on all crew members and passengers and an Armed Security Officer (ASO) must be on-board the aircraft.   In addition, the aircraft crew and passengers must go through security screening by the TSA and must depart from an approved Gateway Station.   Currently there is only one approved Gateway Station at Love Field which is Business Jet Center (BJC), a fixed base operation (FBO) and an affiliated company of Business Jet Access.

"At the present time we are processing several requests to charter aircraft into DCA," Hoffman said.   "Once the word gets out about this new authorization, we feel there will be a significant increase in both inquiries and actual flights."

For more information about chartering a flight from the Dallas-Fort Worth area to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, please call the BJA charter department at 888-387-7477 or 214-654-1528.

About Business Jet Access and Business Jet Center
Business Jet Access (BJA) is a leading provider of aircraft charter, management, maintenance and pilot services.   BJA is based at Love Field, Dallas, TX and is located at 8611 Lemmon Ave.  
Phone: 888-387-7477   www.BusinessJetAccess.com

BJA is affiliated with Business Jet Center (BJC), a full-service fixed base operator (FBO) with strategic locations at Love Field (DAL), Dallas, TX and Oakland International Airport (OAK), Oakland, CA.   Services include fuel, line service, catering, hangaring, concierge and auto rental. Terminal services include customer and pilot lounges, flight planning services, conference rooms and wireless internet.  
Phone: 214-654-1500   www.BusinessJetCenter.com