Quote of the Week: "If the FAA thinks ocean routing isn't worth doing during the day time, then it isn't worth doing at all" enigmatic statement from Sen. "Chuck" Schumer in a Staten Island Advance story on a change in the Airspace Redesign Plan that would send Newark night flights over Staten Island
Aviation Conspiracy Newsletter #440................................................................................August 5, 2007 Past newsletters can be accessed at: http://pages.prodigy.net/rockaway/ACNewsmenu.htm The PASSUR airport flight tracking system at many major U.S. airports http://www.passur.com/sites.htm (you must have Java installed to view it). If you want to get the newsletter sent to you every week, sign up to AviationWatch. Bill Mulcahy rockaway@prodigy.net
FAA Issues "Final" Airspace Redesign Atrocity Plan!!!"
As
Bill Sees It (Editorial): FAA
Rats Release Their "Final" Airspace
Redesign Impact Statement!!! The public has 30 days to respond to the
FAA's "final"
environmental impact statement (FEIS) on their northeast airspace redesign plan.
As the FAA will ignore any "comments" because they have already
decided what they are going to do, the 
only
recourse the victims of this scheme have are LAWSUITS!!! That is the
only thing the FAA pays attention to. People who want to save their quality of
life and sleep shouldn't wait until the 30 day comment period ends and the FAA
issues their "Record of Decision." Do not let this agency destroy
your health and peace of mind without a fight. FAA
Stabs Staten Island, New York Communities In The Back With Newark Airport Night
Flights!!! I
have heard that some people in Staten Island are upset that the FAA pulled a
last minute flim-flam when they decided to send NIGHTTIME flights over Staten
Island!!! On the (above right) map the FAA shows their nighttime Newark
Airport "over water" route that strangely goes along a small waterway
before it cuts over Staten
Island. They show it now as not fanning out until it 
reaches the ocean, but
you can be sure that will change once they start dumping flights on this New
York City borough.
What Is Sen. Chuck Schumer's Role In The
Staten 
Island Night Flight Dumping? It is interesting that New York's Senator
"Chuck" Schumer, an ardent supporter of aviation expansion and
increased airport pollution, commented on the plan saying that "
If the FAA thinks ocean routing isn't worth doing during the
day time, then it isn't worth doing at all." That sounds like Schumer wants
daytime flights as well as nighttime flights over Staten Island!!! Is
Schumer is secretly working with New Jersey democRATS and communities who want to dump
their air traffic on New Yorkers? Now I see why "Chuck" recently
called for the FAA's boss's resignation. Maybe Blakey wouldn't send daytime
flights over Staten Island as well as night flights. I have a feeling this is going to awaken (pardon the pun) the a
sleeping giant in New York City's borough of Staten Island. FAA
FINALLY Puts Readable Maps In Airspace Redesign Plan, But Continues To Hide And
Lie: No doubt after many complaints, including my own, about how
the FAA
used technically obscure, unreadable (see one on the right) maps in their
original Airspace Redesign Plan proposal. However, a quick look at the final EIS
shows that the FAA is still up to their old tricks. For example, nowhere can the
many letters with comments and questions on the Airspace change be found.
Instead there is a carefully edited "summary" of all the many comments.
The FAA completely
ignored my letter questioning their concentrating present, and future increased
JFK A
irport impacts, on the poor and minority communities. FAA
ADMITS They Ignored Environmental
Justice Issues!!! I was a
bit surprised that the FAA criminals ADMITTED
(see Comments on Environmental Justice above) they didn't address environmental
justice issues. No doubt that is because they knew this would bring up the
fact that they have been avoiding overflying wealthy, politically connected
areas years and the the Airspace Redesign Plan is just a continuation of the
same, old corrupt policies. It might even bring jail terms if they were caught
lying. I guess they thought it was safer just to avoid the issue entirely. All
of these increased impacts on poor and minority communities "should"
generate lawsuits. Poor and minority communities don't have the organization to
do that; which is why the FAA continues to get away with their criminal
behavior. I would LOVE to see a lawsuit by a law firm representing a poor and
minority area like Rockaway, New York or Elisabeth, New Jersey that will have
their quality of life further destroyed by this unjust, racist and corrupt
scheme. The fact that impacts of future increased flights at JFK Airport
have been completely ignored shows the depth of political intrigue, manipulation
and corruption that is at the heart of the airspace change. I'm sure
"Chuck" Schumer was a moving force in keeping the protections of
favored communities, like Lawrence, Long Island intact in the airspace plan.
They may have won a battle now but they are a long way from winning the war.
How
The FAA Justifies Dumping On Poor And Minority Communities!!! 13.1.2
Question on FAA dumping flight on Elizabeth, New Jersey. Response: It
has been a longstanding policy of the FAA to avoid shifting noise from one
community to another solely for noise
abatement purposes. Headings east of 190 adversely impact Staten Island,
and there is no safety or efficiency gain to justify the increased noise
exposure. It
has been
a longstanding policy of the FAA to avoid shifting
noise from one community to another solely for
noise abatement purposes. Headings east of 190 adversely
impact Staten Island, and there is no safety
or efficiency gain to justify the increased noise exposure. Editor's Note:
Translation of FAAspeak: The FAA will not fairly "shift" noise
away from poor and minority communities they have dumped on for years and onto
wealthier communities that have enjoyed FAA and political protection in the
past. Where are the various private and governmental organizations that are
"supposed" to be advocates for environmental justice?
Staten
Island, New York City: Communities Discover Airspace Redesign
"Compromise" Will Hit With Them With
Heavy Night Flights!!! The
Federal Aviation Administration has completed its final environmental analysis,
and found its preferred plan for the first redesign to the region's airspace in
nearly 50 years is the most efficient and
reliable, to help cut down on some of
the worst airport delays in the country. But while the plan, which will send
departing flights from Newark Liberty International Airport out over the New
Jersey Turnpike during the day, was found to be the best solution and will
reduce jet noise over Staten Island, a compromise could keep some borough
residents tossing and turning overnight. Bowing to pressure from the
well-connected New Jersey Citizens Against Air Noise, the FAA decided to use an
alternate route overnight, to send flights over the Arthur Kill, before making a
loop over Tottenville and heading out over New Jersey, when the planes have
gained enough altitude and will be quieter from the ground. "The fact that
the FAA has chosen to allow ocean routing to limp along in the environmental
impact statement, despite claiming ocean routing does not meet the 'purpose or
need' of airspace redesign, strains credulity," said Sen. Charles E.
Schumer. "If the FAA thinks ocean routing isn't worth doing during the
day time, then it isn't worth doing at all. Starting Friday, the FAA must
now listen to the people of Staten Island over the 30 day comment period, as
well as the advice of their own experts, and take ocean routing off the table
for good." http://blog.silive.com/advanceupdate/2007/07/airspace_redesign_deal_could_k.html
Editor's Note: Sounds like "Chuck" is cleverly taking both sides
of the issue. I suspect that would sell out New Yorkers in an instant if it
would help him towards his ultimate goal of becoming president. No doubt with
the help of wealthy, grateful New Jersey communities. Not only has Schumer never
called for any kind of control on aviation, in the past Schumer has been
responsible for the lifting of limits (flight caps) on the numbers of planes per
hour at New York City airports!!!
US Airways Investigating
Near Collision at Philly International Airport: US
Airways is investigating a near miss at
Port Authority Of New York/New Jersey Board Moves Closer To Takeover Of Upstate Stewart Airport: New York – The purchase of the operating lease for Stewart Airport at Newburgh will have no adverse financial impact on the operations of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Port Chief Financial Officer Paul Blanco told the agency’s board Thursday. Following a report, the Board approved the facility certification for the purchase of the remaining 93 years of the airport’s leasutive Director Anthony Shorris told the board they are shooting for a Novemr/2007/07/28/1185339318736.html
Upstate New York Protests Airspace Redesign Plan: Hillburn — Warwick Town Councilman Jim Gerstner was one of nearly 1,000 residents of Orange, Rockland and surrounding counties to voice concern Monday night with the Federal Aviation Administration’s plan to reroute air traffic over these counties. Gerstner said the residents at the meeting were unhappy that the FAA decided on a plan before talking to the people who would be most affected by it. “The comments from the crowd were basically, Why didn’t you talk to us since we are the most affected?” said Gerstner. “Many residents wanted the new pattern moved five miles west, which would really affect us. Others asked why not send the air traffic over the Thruway, since there is traffic noise anyway.” The changes will affect Orange County but less than it will Bergen and Rockland since they are closer to the airports, and the flights will be descending closer to them. Steve Kelley, project manager for the FAA’s redesign project, did not directly answer the questions put to him but said the comments would go on the record. A final determination will be made in September. http://www.strausnews.com/articles/2007/08/04/warwick_advertiser/news/4.txt
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Important Aviation News Stories This Week
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A plan aimed at easing some of the worst airport delays in the country will mean more noisy nights for some Staten Islanders.
Now, the borough's elected officials are making some noise of their own, speaking out against the "ocean-routing" plan to send nighttime flights departing Newark Liberty International Airport over the Arthur Kill and Tottenville.
"It's a disgrace," said Borough President James Molinaro, who pledged to continue the fight against the proposal, which would send as many as 73 flights over the West Shore between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., while residents are sleeping.
The Federal Aviation Administration has said the Arthur Kill route does not meet the needs of the first redesign of the region's airspace in 50 years, because the additional distance each flight would travel would increase delays and waste fuel.
"If the FAA thinks ocean routing isn't worth doing during the daytime, then it isn't worth doing at all," said Sen. Charles E. Schumer.
But the agency's plan isn't all bad news for the borough. Flights leaving Newark during the day will be sent out over the New Jersey Turnpike, which would reduce jet noise here.
Incredulous critics say they can't believe the ocean routing plan is still alive.
"It should have been seven feet under by now," said Rep. Vito Fossella.
Island leaders charge that in making its decision to change the flight plans at night, the FAA was bowing to pressure from the well-connected New Jersey Citizens Against Air Noise, which wanted to cut down on noise over the Garden State.
And with 30 days left before the FAA makes its final decision on which redesign plan to implement, they have pledged to fight back.
"We're evaluating our options," Molinaro said. "Nothing is off the table."
Molinaro said he feels the borough is being ignored by the FAA, after he pointed out the agency's recently issued noise mitigation report did not include a single mention of Staten Island. In addition, the nearest two of the most recent round of public meetings regarding the plan were held in Newark and Queens, which made attendance difficult for Staten Islanders.
But plans are in the works to host a town hall meeting on Staten Island to discuss the plan.
Schumer demanded that the FAA now listen to the concerns of Islanders over the next month, and kill the ocean routing portion of the plan for good.
The FAA could not be reached for comment last night.
Maura Yates covers transportation news for the Advance. She may be reached at myates@siadvance.com.