Aviation Conspiracy Newsletter

Quote of the Week: "we may have to take it tower by tower" Rep. Mica commenting on how they will pass the FAA Reauthorization Bill by removing air traffic control towers from the privatization list that are in Republican districts

As Bill Sees It: (Editorial): Student Shows Gaping Holes In Airport Security: Once again it is shown how easily someone can bring a weapon or bomb on a passenger plane. This time airport security was compromised by a college student. No doubt instead of being rewarded for efforts in exposing the security flaws, Nathaniel Heatwole will be jailed for doing so. The Aviation Cabal comes down hard on those who dare to expose its flaws. Airport Communities Finding Out About New FAA Re

authorization Bill: While congress is busy deciding how to throw more tax dollars down the Iraqi rat hole, communities are discovering some of the nastier items that are in the new FAA Reauthorization Bill that was almost quickly passed. According to one story in a Idaho newspaper this week "Managers of smaller U.S. airports learned ... of a new proposed FAA strategy that, if not derailed, will gut their authority to set and police standards for noise, safety and aircraft weight to meet the individual demands of communities they serve. Of course, the removing of local control over little things like noise, capacity and runway construction for airports that accept federal dollars is not holding up the bill; the privatization of air traffic control at 67 airports is. So I have no doubt that once this issue

is settled, the congresscriminals will pass it...unless some other scandal pops up. Senator McCain Talks About "Incestuous" Boeing /Air Force Ties!!! I love it! While I didn't like the idea of McCain for president (which I regret now) he certainly has shown that he is not an ordinary, slimy Republican who marches lockstep with President Moron. I hope he really exposes this Boeing tanker deal for the taxpayer ripoff (or worse!) that I and many others believe it is. I'm happy to see that McCain is getting some support from other senators who are starting to ask questions. The FAA/Industrial Complex and the FAA's "Centers of Excellence:" President Eisenhower warned us about the "military industrial complex," but today it is the FAA/Industrial Complex that we should be worried about. It should be no surprise that the FAA is STILL In The Aviation Promotion Business. Just check out the web site of Embry-Riddle

Aeronautical University, which is hosting the FAA's Centers of Excellence" (COE) joint meeting on November 4-7. I see one of their Centers of Excellence mentioned in a

story this week is labeled "aircraft noise." I checked up on it and I see MIT was selected "to lead the new partnership." The aircraft noise center's director (see picture at right) is John-Paul Clarke, who has been closely involved with the noise-polluting Boeing Corp. and the U.N.'s ICAO. I don't expect any fairness or justice from this guy as he appears to have been involved with developing the ph

ony FAA and ICAO noise "modeling," which averages aircraft noise impacts, and does not include other noise sources, to determine health impacts. Clarke's recent efforts to reduce noise by having planes fly at higher altitudes before landing only reduces noise on communities miles away from airports. While reducing noise miles away from airports, this actually INCREASES noise impacts on communities nearby airports. This is because the FAA and the airports use this alleged noise reduction as the basis for bringing in MORE planes. The whole purpose of the new procedure, like the Aircraft Noise Center Of Excellence itself, is not too protect the health of the people on the ground, but to increase the number of plane operations at airports. The FAA scheming and lies continue. MIT should be ashamed of being involved with this scheme to increase the noise pollution health impacts on Americans. I will send my comments to Doctor Clarke and print his reply, if any.

FAA Gets Subpoenaed By 9/11 For Withholding Evidence On World Trade Center Attack: WASHINGTON (AP)--The independent commission studying the Sept. 11 attacks has voted to subpoena the Federal Aviation Administration, ordering the agency to hand over documents for the investigation. The 10-member commission said it learned through interviews that the agency had not turned over tapes, statements, reports and other documents ``highly material to our inquiry.'' The FAA, which earlier told the panel it provided everything, provided additional material over the last few days and pledged to cooperate. But the commission said the delay ``has significantly impeded the progress of our investigation and undermined our confidence in the completeness of the FAA's production.'' http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/ny-uscomm163496812oct16,0,7333245.story?coll=ny-nationalnews-print

Terrorist Items STILL Getting On Airlines!!! The government ordered checks of all U.S. commercial airplanes Friday after small plastic bags containing box cutters, bleach, clay and suspicious notes were smuggled past security and hidden in lavatories of two Southwest Airlines airplanes, officials said. Federal rules now require airlines to do a security sweep of commercial planes before the first flight out every morning, but those inspections are typically done only by cabin cleaners, not security personnel. Congress remains critical of security. At a hearing Thursday morning, House aviation subcommittee chairman John Mica (R-Fla.) complained, "We are not one iota closer to routinely screening passengers and carry-on baggage for explosives." http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/ny-usair183499813oct18,0,3547091.story?coll=ny-nationalnews-headlines

Sen. McCain To Hold Hearings On 21 BILLION Dollar Boeing Tanker Lease Scheme: The most outspoken opponent of the lease plan, Senator John McCain, a Republican from Arizona, plans to hold a hearing on the deal in the Commerce Committee, according to Rebecca Hanks, a spokeswoman for the committee. The Air Force does not need that committee's approval for the plan, but Senator McCain has been urging colleagues on the House and Senate Armed Services Committees to take a hard, skeptical look at the deal. Another stumbling block to the deal has yet to be resolved. The Defense Department's inspector general is investigating whether the Air Force and Boeing engaged in anticompetitive practices while negotiating the lease plan. http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/18/business/18TANK.html?ex=1067054400&en=1eae7a0aed01b258&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE "Slam Dunk Is Now A Hot Potato:" The top Democrat on the House of Representatives' Armed Services Committee said he was having second thoughts on a $22.4 billion Air Force plan to lease then buy Boeing (nyse: BA - news - people) Co. refueling planes, citing studies that have challenged its financial soundness.
http://www.forbes.com/markets/newswire/2003/10/09/rtr1104615.html

The FAA Power Grab In The Reauthorization Bill: The pattern is familiar: One by one, federal departments and agencies are instructed by the Bush White House to pander to industry and ease up on enforcement of rules and regulations. Check them off: Interior, Environmental Protection Agency, Federal Communications Commission, Energy and down the list, each altering or abandoning rules to accommodate industries over which they once asserted control as a public trust. Now, the Federal Aviation Administration seems ready to roll over to accommodate aviation interests rather than community interests. Read story below or at: http://www.mtexpress.com/2003/03-10-15/03-10-15edfaa.htm

'I said Concorde would be an expensive mistake. I was right' Less than 30 years after making its debut for paying passengers, the distinctive white plane which was the world's only supersonic airliner is to become a historical relic. Mary Goldring was aviation correspondent for the Economist newspaper in the 1960s when Concorde was being developed. She became a steadfast opponent of the project, an often lone sceptical voice. Now as the plane prepares for a new life in the museum, Goldring says her scepticism has been proved right. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/3199974.stm

"Floating Airports" Proposed: Mega-Float is a Very Large Floating Structure (VLFS) with potential long-term durability for use in sea areas. It’s several units, which are constructed from iron and steel products are welded together offshore. Through the construction of facilities on its artificial landbase, Mega-Float promotes the extensive use of our ocean spaces. Mega-Float is characterized by features that include being unaffected by earthquake, having few environmental impacts on ocean currents and marine eco-systems, being able to be constructed at low cost and in a short period of time independent of ocean depth and ground condition, and also earmarking the possible use of its immense internal spaces. Furthermore, Mega- Float is expected to supplement current construction technology on land filling and other construction as a new technology that can be applied to many fields. http://www.floatinc.com/WhatItIs.html

FAA Has Community "Workshop" For 6.6 BILLION Dollar Runway Expansion: CHICAGO -- Alternative proposals to relieve congestion at O'Hare International Airport were discussed Friday at a Federal Aviation Administration workshop by officials from Chicago and 12 Illinois suburbs. But key players from potential relief-valve airports were not in attendance. Paul Karas, administrator of the Gary/Chicago International Airport, wagered a guess that no one from the Bloomington or Rockford airports was at the table, either. But FAA spokesman Tony Molinaro said the meeting's focus was not to discuss congestion, but to obtain input on the federally required environmental review process for O'Hare's proposed $6.6 billion runway expansion. Editor's Note: "Relief-valve" airports; is that the new FAA name for their "reliever" airports? These FAA workshops are really designed for the FAA to gauge community opposition to their evil plans so they can more easily crush it. http://www.thetimesonline.com/articles/2003/10/18/news/region_and_state/6a57db506c4f962786256dc30002dd71.txt

To understand why more homeowners are upset about larger, lower flying, loud jets, you need to remember that the FAA controls planes while they are in the air. And it appears to me that the FAA wants to maximize the use of every airport that it can find. The federal government seems to feel that we are all better off if our airports are handling more planes that are larger and noisier than their predecessors. And if they run 24/7, that is fine too. If you remember this doctrine, the rest will fall into place.

How do homeowners feel? They hate it when they can't watch a television show or talk to someone on the phone without jet interruption. They cannot tolerate the soot on their cars, the pollution in the air, and the noise pollution. That noise alone can make people crazy. But the FAA cares very little.

Don't get me wrong. You will be told it cares. But without a fight, nothing will likely happen. You usually need to organize and fight. And it's not easy.

As I write this column, I represent several municipalities in a lawsuit concerning expansions at a regional airport. When I first met some of the mayors to discuss this matter, I was shocked at the noise levels with which they, and everyone who lives in that area, must contend.

Throughout the country people are filing lawsuits over noise and air pollution. These airports are literally ruining people's lives. Constant loud noise exposure can be a horrible nuisance and people should not have to live with this.

If you don't live near one, you can't appreciate the problem. Many airports are expanding and changing flight patterns. This often translates into more planes, that are often larger, flying over people's homes.

If you don't live near an airport, you figure these people are just complaining for no reason. But often the problems were minimal or nonexistent when the homeowners first moved into their communities. Then, as the airports expanded and planes got bigger, their lives became miserable. It's no big deal, unless it has happens to you. Once it happens, it tends to consume your entire life.

Right now a lawsuit is pending in federal court in Arizona over noise pollution. Brought by the towns of Carefree (I guess no longer) and Cave Creek, these people have had enough.

Another suit was filed last year in the Dayton, Ohio area. Residents there claim that the government is violating an agreement in which they promised that planes would fly away from residential areas.

So much for promises. Many airport operators are specially created governments formed with laws that insulate them from much legal liability. So attempts to fight the operators are easily frustrated. And for this reason, promises then go ignored.

In 1999, about 105 Toledo residents accepted a $4.6 million settlement with the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority. The settlement ended a legal battle that began in 1993 and threatened to bankrupt the port authority.

A court found that the airport operator created a nuisance in enticing a large air carrier to locate an air-cargo hub at the airport. Good news for the community. The good guys won.

Don't be victimized by airport noise. Don't believe you have to live with it. No one should be exploited. I suggest that you fight back.

Published: October 16, 2003