Well as others have posted the new NOTAM is out. Still can't fly from my home airport though (about 10 miles from SFO and definitely under their Bravo).
I hope that in future days some additional restrictions are lifted.
If the FSS briefer quote I reproduced in my first post was true, I do hope that said briefer feels suitably chastened.
From the AOPA site:
"Some VFR operations restored
Boyer's town meeting interrupted with good news that FAA gives partial relief for VFR operations
Wednesday, September 19, 2001 8:20:58 PM — While conducting a Pilot Town Meeting in Columbus, Ohio, AOPA President Phil Boyer was called by his staff, advising him that a notam had just been released by the FAA authorizing the limited return of Part 91 VFR flights. "This is an crucial step in restoring the nation's important general aviation system. Rest assured the effort isn't finished," said Boyer.
VFR is now permitted for U.S. registered aircraft outside of "enhanced" Class B airspace; that is, Class B airspace within the lateral limits from the surface to infinity. No VFR flights are permitted over the top of Class B airspace, nor are VFR operations permitted from airports and airspace "under the shelf" of Class B airspace. In addition, several Temporary Flight Restrictions remain in effect.
Under the FAA notam, VFR flight training operations are prohibited. However, AOPA has been advised by the FAA that this will be discussed at a meeting with the White House on Thursday morning. In addition, restrictions continue to apply to banner towing, traffic watch/reporting, airship/blimps, and news reporting.
It is imperative that pilots receive a full briefing from FSS or DUATS and familiarize themselves with the text of the notam."
The NOTAM itself:
FDC 1/0224
ATTENTION ALL OPERATORS - SPECIAL NOTICE EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. PURSUANT TO 14 CFR 91.139 (EMERGENCY AIR TRAFFIC RULES), PART 91 IFR AND VFR AIRCRAFT OPERATION ARE AUTHORIZED AS SPECIFIED IN NOTAMS 1/0111 AND 1/0112. [0111 and 0112 are identical--ed.] TO THE EXTENT THAT CONTRARY LANGUAGE EXISTS, THIS NOTAM SHALL SUPERCEDE.
NOTE: FOR PURPOSES OF THIS NOTAM, THE "TERRITORIAL AIRSPACE OF THE U.S." MEANS THE AIRSPACE OVER THE U.S., ITS TERRITORIES AND POSSESSIONS AND THE AIRSPACE OVERLYING THE WATERS BETWEEN THE U.S. COAST AND 12 NAUTICAL MILES FROM THE U.S. COAST.
NOTE: FOR PURPOSES OF THIS NOTAM, AN OVERFLIGHT MEANS THE AIRCRAFT TAKES OFF FROM AND LANDS AT LOCATIONS OUTSIDE THE U.S., ITS TERRITORIES OR POSSESSIONS BUT ENROUTE TRANSITS THE TERRITORIAL AIRSPACE OF THE U.S. WITHOUT LANDING IN THE U.S., ITS TERRITORIES OR POSSESSIONS.
NOTE: FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS NOTAM, "ENHANCED CLASS B AIRSPACE" IS DEFINED AS THAT AIRSPACE WITHIN THE EXTREME LATERAL LIMIT OF CLASS B AIRPACE FROM SURFACE TO INFINITY (I.E. SUCH OPERATIONS ARE NOT AUTHORIZED WITHIN, BELOW, OR ABOVE CLASS B AIRSPACE):
PART I. EXCEPT FOR THE OPERATIONS LISTED BELOW, PART 91 VFR OPERATION ARE PERMITTED WITHIN THE TERRITORIAL AIRSPACE OF THE U.S., FOR U.S. REGISTERED AIRCRAFT PROVIDED THAT THOSE OPERATIONS ARE CONDUCTED OUTSIDE "ENHANCED CLASS B AIRSPACE."
THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF OPERATIONS ARE NOT AUTHORIZED:
CIVIL AIRCRAFT VFR FLIGHT TRAINING OPERATIONS
BANNER TOWING OPERATIONS
SIGHT SEEING FLIGHT OPERATIONS CONDUCTED FOR COMPENSATION OR HIRE (UNDER PART 91, PURSUANT TO THE EXCEPTION IN 119.1(e)(2))
TRAFFIC WATCH FLIGHT OPERATIONS
AIRSHIP/BLIMP OPERATIONS
NEWS REPORTING OPERATIONS
EXAMPLES OF AUTHORIZED OPERATIONS, OUTSIDE "ENHANCED CLASS B AIRSPACE" INCLUDE:
AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE REPOSITIONING.
BALLOONS.
CIVIL AIR PATROL.
GLIDERS.
MANUFACTURER PRODUCTION FLIGHT TESTS.
MAPPING/PHOTOGRAPHY MISSIONS.
PIPELINE/POWERLINE INSPECTIONS.
SEAPLANES.
SKYDIVING.
ULTRALIGHTS.
WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT OPERATIONS.
PART II. THE FOLLOWING PART 91 IFR OPERATIONS ARE AUTHORIZED WITHIN THE TERRITORIAL AIRSPACE OF THE U.S.
FOREIGN REGISTERED AIRCRAFT DEPARTING THE U.S. WITH NO INTERMEDIATE STOPS WITHIN THE U.S.
FOREIGN REGISTERED AIRCRAFT OVERFLYING THE U.S. WITH A GROSS TAKEOFF WEIGHT LESS THAN 95,000 POUNDS.
PART III. AUTHORIZATIONS.
ALL PART 91 IFR/VFR OPERATIONS ARE AUTHORIZED IN ALASKAN AIRSPACE.
WITHIN "ENHANCED CLASS B AIRSPACE," ALL MEDIVAC, RESCUE/RECOVERY, FIRE FIGHTING, LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND EMERGENCY EVACUATION AIRCRAFT CAN CONDUCT IFR OR VFR OPERATIONS USING AN ATC-ASSIGNED DISCRETE BEACON CODE.
COMMERCIAL SPACE OPERATIONS ARE AUTHORIZED AND MUST BE APPROVED IN ACCORDANCE WITH ESTABLISHED PROCEDURES.
PART IV. IF YOU ARE UNSURE OF YOUR AUTHORIZATION STATUS CONTACT LOCAL FAA FLIGHT SERVICE STATION AT 1-800-WXBRIEF.