Quote of the Week: "The FAA violated the 1990 Aviation Safety and Capacity Expansion Act, in which Congress made aircraft noise reduction a basic part of the FAA's mission." One of the objections filed by Rockland County, New York opposing the FAA's Airspace Redesign Scheme
Aviation Conspiracy Newsletter #444.............................................................................September 2, 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
Rockland County, NY Files "Objections" To Airspace Redesign Plan!!!
As
Bill Sees It (Editorial):
New York's Rockland County Writes Formal "Objections" To Airspace Redesign
Scheme:
I am glad in a story this week that there is
at least some local
government response to the public outcry against the FAA's Airspace Redesign
Scheme for the eastern region of the United States. I hope there are more
communities banding together to oppose it. However, it may be too little and
too late unless all these localities join together to form one large opposition
block and bring one legal suit. That is the one thing the FAA fears. But they shouldn't worry, the FAA never increases flights and
noise over communities quickly. It may take years before people are blasted out
of their nighttime sleep and people are forced to sell their homes. The
Time To Fight The Aviation Cabal Is Now!!! People have to demand that the government listen to
them. WE own the sky over our homes, not the aviation industry and their
government stooges!!! Sometimes it
takes acts of civil disobedience against a corrupt, oppressive government to
show them that their victims will not bow to their arrogance and greed!!! All over the world
people are fighting back against increased aviation noise and air pollution.
Americans should be in the lead of this rebellion, not just be spectators. We
threw off the yoke of foreign oppressors once. Now it is time to do they same
with our internal enemies. 
Thailand
Villages To Use Balloons To Stop
NIGHT Overflights? There was the story
this week from Thailand about people living near a large airport who were
protesting night flights being sent over their homes.
I was surprised to see that these people are thinking of using
"balloons" as a way to stop the government's disturbing their health
and sleep. I doubt if they have large barrage balloons in the picture at right,
but who knows. I'm sure if that if any communities in America said they were
planning such a thing the FBI, FAA and Homeland Security would be there in
minutes arresting people. The government
is always very quick to protect the aviation industry from their victims, but
when it comes to protecting the health and welfare of the people on the ground
they do everything in their power to oppose us. I hope the Thai people are successful in their
fight and think we can learn a few things from them about fighting a corrupt
government. Senator Schumer Issues Curious
Press Release On Airspace Redesign Scheme!!! I received a copy (read
below) of a letter by Sen. "Chuck" Schumer to the Dept. of
Transportation on the airspace scheme. I say alleged because I could only find one
story in a small local paper about it, which makes me think that it was only
sent to strategic recipients. It was titled "SCHUMER
GRILLS
DOT OVER AIRSPACE REDESIGN PLAN - DEMANDS SUFFICIENT ANSWERS TO
WESTCHESTER AND ROCKLAND CONCERNS"
I wonder what newspapers Chuck sent this press release and DOT
letter to? I couldn't find it on Schumer's official web site where he divides
his press releases by region rather than have a total summary. I did see a
lot of press releases where Schumer took credit for getting millions of dollars
for airport development (AKA expansion). Check out his
"transportation" web
page (it didn't have the DOT letter there either) to get a good picture of
Chuck's airport expansion activities. When are people going to realize that
Schumer is a the worst kind of political con man? While Schumer may be the best
example of political duplicity, he is not alone. Democrats are experts at reminding us how the
Republicans care only about the corporations, yet they are also out promoting
airport expansion. Cleverly, Democrats never say they are working for the increase
of pollution and the aviation industry profits; instead they say they are bringing JOBS to local
communities. I don't know which party I despise more. I wonder what the DOT
response will be and what Schumer's next press release is when the hundreds of
planes start bringing increased noise pollution on his upstate New York
constituents.
New
York: County Files Objections To Airspace Redesign Plan: NEW CITY - Rockland County yesterday filed several objections to a federal
plan that would bring hundreds of new flights over the county on the grounds
that the noise impacts were underestimated and weren't reliably measured. Holland & Knight, the law firm hired by the county last month to look
into whether the Federal Aviation Administration violated noise mitigation
laws while crafting its five-state airspace redesign plan, submitted 50 pages
of arguments and comments, County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef said. The firm concluded that the FAA did not comply with congressional actions
and U.S. Supreme Court rulings regarding noise mitigation requirements of the
National Environmental Policy Act, Vanderhoef said. The county has been seeking reasons to invalidate the FAA's final
environmental impact statement, which was submitted Aug. 3. The county had to
file its objections by Tuesday, when the 30-day comment period closes. "What we have been saying, these professional lawyers have
confirmed," Vanderhoef said. The FAA is proposing a new flight path to curb delays into airports around
New York, New Jersey and Philadelphia. By 2011, an average of 300 to 400
flights a day could travel over the county at 6,000 to 8,000 feet, raising
noise levels for about 11,000 residents. http://www.nyjournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070901/NEWS03/709010334
Thailand:
Airport Victims To Fight Back Using Balloons!!! Residents
from 32 housing projects who are affected by aircraft noise at Bangkok's
Suvarnabhumi International Airport has planed to release balloons to disrupt air
traffic next week, local media reported on Saturday. The residents demanded the
airport to stop any landing or take- off between 9 p.m. local time and 5 
a.m.
local time because they claim the noise disrupts their sleep.Prasert Boonkaew, a
leader of the residents, was quoted by Saturday's The Nation newspaper as saying
that the protest was being organized to show the people's anger at the airport's
slowness in dealing with their problem, including compensation, purchasing
houses located in excessively noisy areas and repairing houses affected by the
noise. "We had to take the ultimate step by announcing the night curfew on
air traffic. It will start on September 7," he said. Meanwhile, district
police chief Colonel Yongyuth Decharat said police would have no choice but to
arrest those who actually did release balloons, although he personally
sympathized with those affected by the noise pollution. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Transportation/Airlines__Aviation/Residents_threaten_airport_authorities_to_disrupt_flights/articleshow/2329137.cms
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Important Aviation News Stories This Week
NEW CITY - Rockland County yesterday filed several objections to a federal plan that would bring hundreds of new flights over the county on the grounds that the noise impacts were underestimated and weren't reliably measured.
Holland & Knight, the law firm hired by the county last month to look into whether the Federal Aviation Administration violated noise mitigation laws while crafting its five-state airspace redesign plan, submitted 50 pages of arguments and comments, County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef said.
The firm concluded that the FAA did not comply with congressional actions and U.S. Supreme Court rulings regarding noise mitigation requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act, Vanderhoef said.
The county has been seeking reasons to invalidate the FAA's final environmental impact statement, which was submitted Aug. 3. The county had to file its objections by Tuesday, when the 30-day comment period closes.
"What we have been saying, these professional lawyers have confirmed," Vanderhoef said.
The FAA is proposing a new flight path to curb delays into airports around New York, New Jersey and Philadelphia. By 2011, an average of 300 to 400 flights a day could travel over the county at 6,000 to 8,000 feet, raising noise levels for about 11,000 residents.
There were several different objections raised by the lawyers:
- The FAA violated the 1990 Aviation Safety and Capacity Expansion Act, in which Congress made aircraft noise reduction a basic part of the FAA's mission.
- The FAA used day-night average sound levels, which the lawyers called an outdated methodology because it underestimates noise impacts. They claim the FAA failed to properly determine what noise levels might actually be in Rockland under the plan.
- The FAA did not properly complete a full review of parks and recreation areas, nor did it look at environmental justice issues, such as steering flights over less affluent communities, for example.
- The FAA failed to factor in the impact of Stewart International Airport's acquisition by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The Port Authority expects to take over the Orange County airport's 93-year lease by the end of the year to use it to help relieve congestion at other airports.
A final decision on the FAA's plan is expected early this month.
FAA spokesman Jim Peters said the agency has received five comments to date.
"We're going to review them and answer them as part of the final document," Peters said.
The county wants the FAA to go back and change its redesign plan or, at the very least, re-examine it. Vanderhoef said the county could bring a lawsuit if the FAA opted not to reconsider.
Last week, Ramapo Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence said the town would contribute money if a lawsuit became necessary to stop the FAA's airspace plan. Orangetown Supervisor Thom Kleiner has also said his town would join any legal proceedings.
Vanderhoef said Holland & Knight's legal fees were estimated about $500,000.
Federal lawmakers also are continuing to keep up the pressure on the FAA to reconsider.
Last week, Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., wrote to the U.S. Department of Transportation, which oversees the FAA, to detail his concerns with some of the recommendations in the FAA's environmental review.
Schumer, who has called on the FAA to fix airport congestion in the past, called its plan "premature" and sent a letter to Transportation Secretary Mary Peters with several questions that he said would address issues and concerns raised by Rockland and Westchester residents. They concerned raising the altitude ceiling to mitigate noise; costs and benefits to shifting the flight pattern; whether local elected officials, residents and media were contacted; and what FAA planners concluded regarding the option of flight patterns along the Hudson River.
"After multiple requests to the FAA, the agency has repeatedly failed to acknowledge the concerns of residents in communities adversely affected by the Airspace Redesign Plan," Schumer said in a statement. "It is my hope, on behalf of the residents of Rockland and Westchester counties, that these questions are answered before any implementation."
Earlier last month, Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., sent a letter to FAA Administrator Marion Blakey urging the FAA to "strongly consider" concerns of Rockland residents.
"While it is encouraging to see the FAA has finally opened a dialogue with the people of Rockland County, it is extremely important that they give their concerns a deliberate and thorough review," Clinton said in a statement.
On July 30, more than 1,000 Rockland residents attended a meeting with FAA officials in Hillburn. Rep. Eliot Engel, D-Bronx, organized the town hall meeting.
On Sunday, nearly 100 people protested the FAA plan in Nanuet. The Pearl River organizer vowed to hold more rallies in the county, as well as at FAA headquarters in New York and Washington, D.C.
New York's Senator
CHARLES E. SCHUMER
313 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-7433 Fax: (202) 228-1218 Web: schumer.senate.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Alex Detrick
August 28, 2007
(202) 224-7433
SCHUMER GRILLS DOT OVER AIRSPACE REDESIGN PLAN - DEMANDS SUFFICIENT
ANSWERS TO WESTCHESTER AND ROCKLAND CONCERNS
Schumer Issues 7 Questions to the DOT Concerning New Flight Patterns
over Rockland and Westchester Counties - Including How Routes were
Selected and Whether Alternative Routes Were Given Short Shrift
Airspace Redesign Plan Set to go into Effect As Early As September will
Bring an Increase in Air Traffic Over Sections of Westchester and
Rockland Counties
Schumer: It's Essential that the FAA Properly Address Local Concerns
before Implementing Final Redesign Plan
Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer demanded that the U.S. Department
of Transportation (DOT) adequately address concerns raised by Rockland
and Westchester county residents on how the new Airspace Redesign Plan
will affect the region's quality of life. While the plan is designed to
reduce plane congestion in the Tri-state area, it creates new flight
paths for aircrafts over Rockland and Westchester counties which are
expected to usher in a spike in noise and pollution over residential
neighborhoods.
Schumer today called the FAA's plan premature and issued 7 questions to
the agency that he said would address issues and concerns raised by
local residents. In addition, Schumer, in his letter to Transportation
Secretary Mary Peters, blasted the FAA for failing to hold additional
meetings despite repeated requests by local residents and leaders.
"Plain and simple, this plan is premature because it fails to properly
address valid concerns raised by Westchester and Rockland county
residents," said Senator Schumer. "I expect the DOT to answer the
questions I issued today in a timely and sufficient manner so local
residents can have more confidence that the agency is taking their
concerns into consideration."
The FAA Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the New York/New
Jersey/Philadelphia Metropolitan Area is the first airspace redesign
project for the region in nearly 50 years. The FAA's goal is to achieve
the highest levels of safety and the most efficient airspace design for
customer operations by reviewing and reworking domestic and oceanic
airspace. The final version of this study has been delivered to the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and was officially published in
the Federal Register Friday, August 3.
Upon this publication NEPA requires that a 30 day comment period be held
for those affected by the plan to voice all remaining concerns. As the
final step in the NEPA process, the FAA will release a Record of
Decision (ROD) which includes issues raised during the comment period.
Implementation of the redesign plan may begin once the ROD is released.
Limited analysis by Westchester County indicates there will be
significant noise increases throughout Westchester, particularly in
Yonkers, Hawthorne, Thornwood, Peekskill, North Salem, Pound Ridge and
Chappaqua. Though the county was able to submit comments on two separate
occasions, it has repeatedly asked for additional data to continue its
analysis only to receive it at the eleventh hour, or not at all.
The FAA's plan includes a new flight path over Rockland County to handle
Newark Liberty International Airport arrivals, potentially leading to an
average of 600 flights flying over the county each day. The majority of
the flights would travel in a corridor which runs between Suffern and
Hillcrest and includes Wesley Hills, Montebello, Kaser, Monsey, Chestnut
Ridge and Pearl River. Local residents are concerned that with planes
flying as low as 6,000-8,000 feet above the ground, communities in
Ramapo and Orangetown will experience a significant rise in noise
levels. Many people believe that having so many planes flying overhead
could lead to an overall reduction in the quality of life.
Schumer today wrote to Transportation Secretary Mary Peters expressing
serious concern about the impacts that the Airspace Redesign Plan will
have on Westchester and Rockland Counties. While Schumer has long called
for the FAA to alleviate airport congestion with a congestion mitigation
plan and through the recruitment of additional air traffic controllers,
today he wrote, "I am seriously concerned, however, with some of the
recommendations found in the FAA's Final Environmental Impact Statement
(FEIS)."
Schumer believes that the FAA has not adequately taken into account the
concerns of residents in Westchester and Rockland Counties regarding the
effects that the proposed changes will have on their overall quality of
life and the area's natural environment. Schumer demanded that the
concerns be addressed prior to the implementation of the Airspace
Redesign Plan, and issued the following 7 questions:
1. Did planners consider raising the altitude ceiling over Rockland
and Westchester Counties to mitigate increased noise?
2. How is the FAA incorporating continuous descent approach
patterns into the requirements over Rockland and Westchester Counties as
a way to decrease noise pollution for local residents?
3. When exploring options for the flight path over Rockland County,
why didn't the planners develop a flight pattern to the west in order to
minimize the impact to local communities? How did planners decide that
the current Rockland flight path provides the minimal negative impact on
the environment and quality of life for local residents? What are the
relative costs and benefits of a more westerly flight pattern?
4. What direct outreach was done to residents in Westchester and
Rockland Counties to make them aware of the increase in noise,
pollution, and planes flying overhead? Were notices mailed directly to
residents clearly explaining how the Airspace Redesign would affect
them? Were public notices posted in local newspapers and with local
municipal governments? If not, why?
5. How did planners study the option of routing flights over the
Long Island Sound? Given the obvious lower impacts on various
communities, why wasn't this chosen as the best alternative?
6. How was the allocation of additional resources to hire more air
traffic controllers considered as a way to alleviate air congestion?
Why wasn't this used as an alternative?
7. What did planners conclude regarding the option of flight
patterns along the Hudson River?
"After multiple requests to the FAA, the agency has repeatedly failed to
acknowledge the concerns of residents in communities adversely affected
by the Airspace Redesign Plan. It is my hope, on behalf of the residents
of Rockland and Westchester counties, that these questions are answered
before any implementation," added Schumer.
Schumer has repeatedly called on the FAA to ensure that local concerns
are adequately expressed and considered in the Airspace Redesign
Project. In early July, he sent a letter to FAA Administrator Marion
Blakey to schedule additional meetings in the New York metropolitan area
in order to hear the concerns of local residents. In his letter he
expressed that he understood that the priority of the redesign project
was efficiency, but that the FAA could not overlook the fact that
increased efficiency and increased traffic would mean an increase in air
traffic noise and pollution for many communities in Rockland Counties.
In July of this year, Schumer called for Blakey's resignation due to her
inability to effectively lead the FAA. Today, Schumer wrote to
Secretary Peters in an attempt to secure firm leadership and hard
answers on this aviation-related issue.
# # #
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