The ban applies to private planes whose pilots do not file flight plans and who rely on visual flight rules (VFR).

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But aircraft operating under "visual flight rules" still are prohibited from flying within 25 nautical miles of New York and Washington.

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And news reporting aircraft, traffic planes and helicopters, and airships and blimps operating under visual flight rules continue to be grounded.

CNN: FAA lifts some restrictions on small aircraft

The restrictions over New York City prohibit any aircraft that is operating under visual flight rules from flying within 30 nautical miles of John F.

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This includes flying under both visual flight rules and instrument-rated rules.

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Planes operated under visual flight rules -- rules that require only limited contact with air traffic controllers -- were grounded along with commercial aircraft in the hours immediately following the hijackings.

CNN: FAA lifts some restrictions on small aircraft

But aircraft operating under "visual flight rules" still are prohibited from flying within 25 nautical miles of New York and Washington, and are banned from large swaths of airspace around the nation's largest airports.

CNN: FAA lifts some restrictions on small aircraft