FAA History Lesson -- October 22

From the FAA Historical Chronology, 1926-1996...

”Oct 22, 1962: President Kennedy made a national broadcast on the Cuban missile crisis and U.S. "quarantine" of Cuba. On the previous day, FAA had set up a temporary air traffic control tower at Key West about 5 hours after receiving a request for this action to assist military operations. During the crisis, the Miami air route traffic control center became a focal control point for air operations to support preparedness. The center also administered a special regulation, placed in effect on Oct 24, banning civil flights over the southern two-thirds of Florida and adjacent waters without a flight plan or functioning navigational equipment and two-way radio.“

Food for thought. If the military found itself facing such a situation today, could the FAA respond ? Could the military ? How about a contractor ?

Don Brown
October 22, 2007