Pilots from other airports can once again land at the historic College Park Airport on a limited basis after the U.S. Transportation Security Administration loosened its restrictions on three Prince George’s County airports last week.

Just days before the airports would have been closed by the expiration of a Federal Aviation Administration rule, the TSA allowed them to reopen to pilots who go through rigorous security procedures, said College Park Airport employee Dan Spicer. Previously, only pilots based out of College Park could take off and land at the airport due to increased security within the no-fly zone around Washington for small, private planes.

Pilots from other airports who want to land at College Park Airport, Potomac Airfield or Washington Executive Airport/Hyde Field may now apply with the FAA for special permission, Spicer said.

Pilots must be fingerprinted at Reagan National Airport, pass a background check and present their credentials to airport security, among other procedures. When the Department of Homeland Security sets its terror alert at orange or above, all pilots must land at Tipton Airport in Odenton to file a flight plan before continuing to College Park.

Spicer said the College Park Airport — which was closed completely for six months after Sept. 11 — should start to see some increase in traffic as pilots go through the vetting process.

College Park Aviation Museum Director Cathy Allen said vital tourist traffic coming through the airport would still be discouraged by the FAA’s strict security.

“It’s definitely a step in the right direction, but it’s deceiving,” Allen said. “For us in particular, or for the 94th Aero Squadron [restaurant], it’s the tourist traffic we’re after and that won’t be affected by this.”

Formerly, pilots from other states could come to the airport for brief stays, visiting the Aviation Museum or using the Metro to go into Washington, she said. Some would come just for the chance to say they landed at the nation’s oldest operating airport; College Park Airport was founded in 1909 for the Wright Brothers to teach the Army’s first aviators.

Even for pilots based out of College Park, the red tape may have been too much, Allen said. Where there had once been close to 120 planes based out of College Park before Sept. 11, she estimated the airport is down to 40. Pilots simply found it easier to move to airports in Montgomery County where there were nearly no restrictions, Allen said.

College Park Airport Manager Lee Schick had been one of the most persistent voices lobbying the TSA for looser restrictions and will likely continue to fight for opening the airport further, Allen said. Schick was unavailable for comment.

“This has been just one step, and we’re hoping these steps continue,” Allen said.