PHL-CAW
12/06/2007
Petition seeks curbs on aviation emissions
The Air Transport Association (ATA) claims of emission reduction is contradicted by Tyndall Centre for Climate Change and FOE Europe in recent reports. The EU and FOE predict that by 2030 in the most pessimistic scenario, all available emission credits in the European Emission Trading Scheme (EU ETS) will need to be purchased by the aviation industry.
The Clean Air Association of the Northeast States (NESCAUM) study of 2003 states that in the period between 1970 and 1998, while all industry and automobile emissions increased by only 3% or less overall, aviation emissions rose by 133% in the same time period.
EPA certifies new aircraft engines by standards set by the industry. Aircraft emissions emitted at the nation's airports are not regulated, monitored or controlled by EPA or any other agency delegated responsibility by EPA in individual states. FAA cites safety and freedom of international commerce clauses to obfuscate their responsibility to the American Public to protect public health and the environment.
Airport sponsors and their consultants lie to the public about the true effects of their operations. EPA needs to take a proactive role NOW to curb the industry mindset of more is better, expansionism at all cost, free flight and the like since the deleterious environmental effects of aviation are already beyond a tolerable limit.
EPA has shirked its responsibility by turning a blind eye to the lies and rhetoric of FAA and airport sponsors in their expansion programs and justification in purpose and need by claiming increased operations with or without projects.
Thank you to Jerry Brown and the Friends of the Earth South Coast Group for continuing to address this critical issue.
Debi Wagner
US - Citizens Aviation Watch
_____________________________
Petition seeks curbs on plane emissions
The complaint says aircraft account for 12 percent of carbon dioxide emissions from U.S. transportation sources and 3 percent of the nation's total such emissions. The United States is responsible for nearly half of worldwide carbon dioxide emissions from aircraft. Aircraft emit other chemicals, and together the pollution has a greater global warming impact than if the emissions were at ground level. The Federal Aviation Administration expects domestic aircraft emissions to rise by 60 percent by 2025, according to the petition.
The Clean Air Association of the Northeast States (NESCAUM) study of 2003 states that in the period between 1970 and 1998, while all industry and automobile emissions increased by only 3% or less overall, aviation emissions rose by 133% in the same time period.
EPA certifies new aircraft engines by standards set by the industry. Aircraft emissions emitted at the nation's airports are not regulated, monitored or controlled by EPA or any other agency delegated responsibility by EPA in individual states. FAA cites safety and freedom of international commerce clauses to obfuscate their responsibility to the American Public to protect public health and the environment.
Airport sponsors and their consultants lie to the public about the true effects of their operations. EPA needs to take a proactive role NOW to curb the industry mindset of more is better, expansionism at all cost, free flight and the like since the deleterious environmental effects of aviation are already beyond a tolerable limit.
EPA has shirked its responsibility by turning a blind eye to the lies and rhetoric of FAA and airport sponsors in their expansion programs and justification in purpose and need by claiming increased operations with or without projects.
Thank you to Jerry Brown and the Friends of the Earth South Coast Group for continuing to address this critical issue.
Debi Wagner
US - Citizens Aviation Watch
_____________________________
Petition seeks curbs on plane emissions
The complaint says aircraft account for 12 percent of carbon dioxide emissions from U.S. transportation sources and 3 percent of the nation's total such emissions. The United States is responsible for nearly half of worldwide carbon dioxide emissions from aircraft. Aircraft emit other chemicals, and together the pollution has a greater global warming impact than if the emissions were at ground level. The Federal Aviation Administration expects domestic aircraft emissions to rise by 60 percent by 2025, according to the petition.
Labels: EPA, FAA, Global Warming
11/11/2007
Some Kind of Monster - NY/NJ/PHL Airspace Redesign Litigation Update
A conference call was held Thurs. evening (Nov. 8.) at 6:30pm with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Department of Justice (DOJ) attorneys and representatives from parties that have filed appeals challenging the NY/NJ/PHL Airpsace Redesign Project. Eleven of appeals have been filed in the various federal circuits. A majority of the appeals were filed in the 3rd Circuit. The FAA is trying to consolidate the airspace redesign appeals and have all of them heard in the DC Circuit. No party has yet to oppose the motion to consolidate. The Delaware parties plan to oppose the change of venue as they believe the 3rd Circuit is a more favorable forum for Delawareans.
PHL Capacity Enhancement Program Updates
Philadelphia airport officials announced in June that the PHL Capacity Enhancement Program (CEP) Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be delayed for one year pending airspace redesign deliberations. Also mentioned by PHL and DVRPC officials that better highways, rail and diversion of flights to regional airports could also reduce demand. The Capacity Enhancement Program website still has not been updated with this most recent information.
Images above: RNP routes used for noise mitigation into Reagan National (DCA) over Potomac River and JFK 13L.
PHL Part 150 Study Updates
Public notification has not been adequate. PHL says they want the community’s involvement, yet they do very little to notify communities in advance about important meetings. Two meetings were held this past week in Delaware and New Jersey regarding the Part 150 Study (see below for additional information).
The following information was taken from Part 150 website..
A Part 150 Study is a voluntary process initiated by an airport to develop, evaluate and recommend actions that an airport, local municipalities, airlines, and/or the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) could take to help reduce the impact of aircraft noise in communities surrounding an airport. Since the airport has experienced changes in the number and type of aircraft operating at the airport, as well as the current extension of Runway 17/35 and the potential operational changes that may occur due to the FAA’s airspace redesign project; the Division of Aviation is implementing this recommended measure by conducting this update.
Inquiries were made about this study via email to PHL officials back in August as the Part 150 study was mentioned in airspace redesign comments from the FAA. Very little information was received in return from PHL. Meeting dates were not provided at that time and were not forwarded after they had been scheduled. In closing, a little bird has told me that FAA has released an ATC draft and is already starting to make airspace changes around PHL. From what I understand they could go into effect as early as 12/12/07.
Stephen Donato
www.phl-caw.org
Being defeated is often a temporary condition. Giving up is what makes it permanent.
______________________________
Southwest Airlines commits to fleetwide RNP capability
Wednesday May 9, 2007
Nevertheless, Southwest is the largest airline to commit to RNP capability across its entire fleet. Alaska Airlines, which pioneered the development of RNP procedures, previously had made the same commitment. Blakey said 37 RNP approaches currently are available at 17 airports, with an additional 34 scheduled to be in place by year end and another 25 published next year. Delta Air Lines Executive VP-Operations Joe Kolshak was on hand to detail the benefits performance-based navigation has brought to his carrier. DL received approval in March for its 737-800s to fly RNP approaches, joining Alaska Airlines, Horizon Air and Continental Airlines, and ATL has been RNAV-equipped since FY05.
Specter likens US Airways' Pennsylvania plans to 'extortion'
PHL Capacity Enhancement Program Updates
Philadelphia airport officials announced in June that the PHL Capacity Enhancement Program (CEP) Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be delayed for one year pending airspace redesign deliberations. Also mentioned by PHL and DVRPC officials that better highways, rail and diversion of flights to regional airports could also reduce demand. The Capacity Enhancement Program website still has not been updated with this most recent information.
PHL Part 150 Study Updates
Public notification has not been adequate. PHL says they want the community’s involvement, yet they do very little to notify communities in advance about important meetings. Two meetings were held this past week in Delaware and New Jersey regarding the Part 150 Study (see below for additional information).
The following information was taken from Part 150 website..
A Part 150 Study is a voluntary process initiated by an airport to develop, evaluate and recommend actions that an airport, local municipalities, airlines, and/or the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) could take to help reduce the impact of aircraft noise in communities surrounding an airport. Since the airport has experienced changes in the number and type of aircraft operating at the airport, as well as the current extension of Runway 17/35 and the potential operational changes that may occur due to the FAA’s airspace redesign project; the Division of Aviation is implementing this recommended measure by conducting this update.
Inquiries were made about this study via email to PHL officials back in August as the Part 150 study was mentioned in airspace redesign comments from the FAA. Very little information was received in return from PHL. Meeting dates were not provided at that time and were not forwarded after they had been scheduled. In closing, a little bird has told me that FAA has released an ATC draft and is already starting to make airspace changes around PHL. From what I understand they could go into effect as early as 12/12/07.
Stephen Donato
www.phl-caw.org
Being defeated is often a temporary condition. Giving up is what makes it permanent.
______________________________
Southwest Airlines commits to fleetwide RNP capability
Wednesday May 9, 2007
Nevertheless, Southwest is the largest airline to commit to RNP capability across its entire fleet. Alaska Airlines, which pioneered the development of RNP procedures, previously had made the same commitment. Blakey said 37 RNP approaches currently are available at 17 airports, with an additional 34 scheduled to be in place by year end and another 25 published next year. Delta Air Lines Executive VP-Operations Joe Kolshak was on hand to detail the benefits performance-based navigation has brought to his carrier. DL received approval in March for its 737-800s to fly RNP approaches, joining Alaska Airlines, Horizon Air and Continental Airlines, and ATL has been RNAV-equipped since FY05.
Specter likens US Airways' Pennsylvania plans to 'extortion'
Labels: Airspace Redesign, Capacity Enhancement Program, CEP, Part 150 Study
9/13/2007
Haddonfield/South Jersey Aircraft Noise Coalition Mtg.
Aircraft Noise Coalition Meeting, Sept. 13, 7:00pm
Tired of noisy aircraft ruining your sleep or aircraft flying over your home at ninety second intervals ?
Come voice your concerns over the unnecessarily loud aircraft arrivals over our neighborhoods into the Philadelphia International Airport.
Haddonfield/SJ Aircraft Noise Coalition Meeting
Haddonfield Borough Hall Auditorium, 242 Kings Highway East
Questions, contact Mike Bonnette at mbbonnette@comcast.net
Airport route upgrade should reduce noise -- www.courierpostonline.com
Tired of noisy aircraft ruining your sleep or aircraft flying over your home at ninety second intervals ?
Come voice your concerns over the unnecessarily loud aircraft arrivals over our neighborhoods into the Philadelphia International Airport.
Haddonfield/SJ Aircraft Noise Coalition Meeting
Haddonfield Borough Hall Auditorium, 242 Kings Highway East
Questions, contact Mike Bonnette at mbbonnette@comcast.net
Airport route upgrade should reduce noise -- www.courierpostonline.com
Labels: South Jersey
9/05/2007
FAA Issues Final Decision on Airspace Redesign
Graphs above show estimated arrivals & departures per hour ,in and out of PHL, comparing the Airspace DEIS estimate vs. estimate used for PHL CEP on Annual Average Day (AAD).
Stephen Donato
www.phl-caw.org
______________________________________________________
Washington Headquarters Press Release
For Immediate Release
September 5, 2007
Contact: Arlene Salac-Murray or Jim Peters
Phone: (718) 553-3015
FAA Issues Final Decision on Airspace Redesign
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a final decision for redesigning the New York, New Jersey, and
Philadelphia metropolitan area airspace that is expected to reduce delays, fuel consumption, aircraft emissions and noise.
“This new concept in airspace design will help us handle the rapidly growing number of flights in the Northeast in a much more efficient way,” said FAA
Administrator Marion C. Blakey. “This airspace was first designed in the 1960s and has become much more complex. We now need to look at creative
new ways to avoid delays.”
The formal Record of Decision (ROD) for the Airspace Redesign Study supports the FAA’s preferred alternative.
The FAA did extensive analysis and held more than 120 public meetings in five states throughout the environmental process. The airspace redesign
involved a 31,000-square-mile area over New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Connecticut with a population of 29 million residents.
Twenty-one airports were included in the study.
In December 2006, FAA released its Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) on the study. In March 2007, FAA identified the Integrated Airspace
Alternative as its preferred alternative. On August 3, 2007, notice of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) was published in the Federal
Register.
FAA studies show this alternative will reduce delays, complexity of the current air traffic system, fuel consumption and carbon emissions and aircraft noise.
Benefits, in the form of reduced delays, are estimated to reach 20 percent by the year 2011 compared to the amount of delays the air traffic system would
have without the changes. Half a million fewer people will be exposed to noise under this alternative compared to no change.
This Alternative integrates the airspace surrounding the metropolitan area and expands the use of more efficient separation standards. This alternative will
also allow the FAA to move more rapidly toward satellite-based technology.
Carper says Del. task force won't go quietly on issue
Graphs above show estimated arrivals & departures per hour ,in and out of PHL, comparing the Airspace DEIS estimate vs. estimate used for PHL CEP on Annual Average Day (AAD).
Stephen Donato
www.phl-caw.org
______________________________________________________
Washington Headquarters Press Release
For Immediate Release
September 5, 2007
Contact: Arlene Salac-Murray or Jim Peters
Phone: (718) 553-3015
FAA Issues Final Decision on Airspace Redesign
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a final decision for redesigning the New York, New Jersey, and
Philadelphia metropolitan area airspace that is expected to reduce delays, fuel consumption, aircraft emissions and noise.
“This new concept in airspace design will help us handle the rapidly growing number of flights in the Northeast in a much more efficient way,” said FAA
Administrator Marion C. Blakey. “This airspace was first designed in the 1960s and has become much more complex. We now need to look at creative
new ways to avoid delays.”
The formal Record of Decision (ROD) for the Airspace Redesign Study supports the FAA’s preferred alternative.
The FAA did extensive analysis and held more than 120 public meetings in five states throughout the environmental process. The airspace redesign
involved a 31,000-square-mile area over New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Connecticut with a population of 29 million residents.
Twenty-one airports were included in the study.
In December 2006, FAA released its Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) on the study. In March 2007, FAA identified the Integrated Airspace
Alternative as its preferred alternative. On August 3, 2007, notice of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) was published in the Federal
Register.
FAA studies show this alternative will reduce delays, complexity of the current air traffic system, fuel consumption and carbon emissions and aircraft noise.
Benefits, in the form of reduced delays, are estimated to reach 20 percent by the year 2011 compared to the amount of delays the air traffic system would
have without the changes. Half a million fewer people will be exposed to noise under this alternative compared to no change.
This Alternative integrates the airspace surrounding the metropolitan area and expands the use of more efficient separation standards. This alternative will
also allow the FAA to move more rapidly toward satellite-based technology.
Carper says Del. task force won't go quietly on issue
8/23/2007
FAA taskforce urged to address worsening delays in Northeast
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) today urged the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)’s congestion taskforce to immediately address flight delays in the New Jersey/New York area and provided some of his recommendations in a letter. The Senator welcomes the formation of the taskforce especially when in June 2007 only 54% of the flights arriving at the Newark Liberty International Airport were on time.
“We have a severely overburdened aviation network and market forces alone will not fix the problem," said Menendez, “For immediate relief, it is incumbent on the FAA congestion taskforce to develop sensible regulations to ease delays, cancellations and other disruptions in the near-term at our region’s major airports.”
Menendez believes the FAA should:
To read full text of the letter to the FAA: http://menendez.senate.gov/pdf/082107lettertofaa.pdf
___________________________________
Crowds Heed Amtrak's 'All Aboard'
Wall Street Journal - 1 hour ago
While airlines are running later and with more delays than ever -- a third of flights arrived late at La Guardia Airport between June 1 and Aug. 15, according to Flightstats.com -- Acela's performance is improving. The train is running on time 88% of the time, so far this year -- up from 84% a year ago. It was 90% on time in June. With Amtrak selling every seat on some Acela trains in peak travel periods, Amtrak recently added another weekday Acela round trip between New York and Washington to keep up with growing demand.
Flight times slip in Phila., Baltimore
The News Journal, DE - Aug 7, 2007 The Department of Transportation said Monday that the nation's carriers posted an on-time performance of 68.1 percent for the month -- the second-worst month since the depart- ment began reporting data in its current format in 1995. The figure was down from 72.8 percent in June 2006. Philadelphia International Airport had just 58.6 percent of flights arrive within 15 minutes of their scheduled time in June.
FAA Chief To Become Aerospace Lobbyist
Washington Post, United States - Aug 21, 2007
Blakey's successor at the FAA has not been named. But administration officials discussed with members of Congress the possibility of naming Barbara Barrett, a former deputy FAA administrator under President Ronald Reagan and the wife of Craig R. Barrett, chairman of Intel.
‘Unfavorable Decision’
“We have a severely overburdened aviation network and market forces alone will not fix the problem," said Menendez, “For immediate relief, it is incumbent on the FAA congestion taskforce to develop sensible regulations to ease delays, cancellations and other disruptions in the near-term at our region’s major airports.”
Menendez believes the FAA should:
- examine whether temporary limits on operations (otherwise known as “caps”) should be placed on all of the region’s airports,
- immediately convene schedule reduction meetings with all relevant airlines and operators in the region,
- reexamine whether these increased delays can be managed by giving more priority to larger planes, particularly during periods of extreme congestion,
- determine whether the increased number of international flights coming into the region have increased delays for domestic flights.
To read full text of the letter to the FAA: http://menendez.senate.gov/pdf/082107lettertofaa.pdf
___________________________________
Crowds Heed Amtrak's 'All Aboard'
Wall Street Journal - 1 hour ago
While airlines are running later and with more delays than ever -- a third of flights arrived late at La Guardia Airport between June 1 and Aug. 15, according to Flightstats.com -- Acela's performance is improving. The train is running on time 88% of the time, so far this year -- up from 84% a year ago. It was 90% on time in June. With Amtrak selling every seat on some Acela trains in peak travel periods, Amtrak recently added another weekday Acela round trip between New York and Washington to keep up with growing demand.
Flight times slip in Phila., Baltimore
The News Journal, DE - Aug 7, 2007
FAA Chief To Become Aerospace Lobbyist
Washington Post, United States - Aug 21, 2007
Blakey's successor at the FAA has not been named. But administration officials discussed with members of Congress the possibility of naming Barbara Barrett, a former deputy FAA administrator under President Ronald Reagan and the wife of Craig R. Barrett, chairman of Intel.
‘Unfavorable Decision’
8/04/2007
FAA Airspace (FIES) published to Federal Register
The FAA's Airspace Redesign proposal Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the New York/New Jersey/Philadelphia airspace was officially published in the Federal Register on Friday, August 3. The Record of Decision (ROD) is expected to be issued sometime soon. Information about the (ROD) release date could not be easily found on the FAA website.
The NY/NJ/PHL Airspace Redesign FIES documents can be viewed by clicking on the link below :
Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS)
Stephen Donato
www.phl-caw.org
________________________
House gives OK to change flight patterns
Bridgeton News, United States - July 25, 2007
The agency proposed to "combine high-altitude and low-altitude airspace to create more efficient arrival and departure routes,". Some Northeastern lawmakers were all too happy to see the FAA propose changes to the flight patterns around New York City, Newark and Philadelphia.
Delco's Brady votes to approve FAA airspace redesign
The NY/NJ/PHL Airspace Redesign FIES documents can be viewed by clicking on the link below :
Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS)
Stephen Donato
www.phl-caw.org
________________________
House gives OK to change flight patterns
Bridgeton News, United States - July 25, 2007
The agency proposed to "combine high-altitude and low-altitude airspace to create more efficient arrival and departure routes,". Some Northeastern lawmakers were all too happy to see the FAA propose changes to the flight patterns around New York City, Newark and Philadelphia.
Delco's Brady votes to approve FAA airspace redesign
6/27/2007
Analyze This -- Last Chance to Submit Airspace Redesign Comments
What goes up must come down? FAA rolled the 2003 Dual Modena departures (additional aprox. 60,000 flights since 2003 with no NEPA review) into the NY/NJ/PHL redesign's baseline. Dual modena doubled PHL's westbound departure flow and as a result understates the environmental impacts of the overall airspace redesign to residents living in Southern New Jersey, New Castle County, Delaware and Delaware County, Pennsylvania.
The issue also not to be overlooked is the proposed massive increase in capacity by FAA and the aviation industry that the NY/NJ/PHL Airspace Redesign will accommodate. As a result the emissions and noise will go up despite any operational efficiency improvements. Preventing carriers from scheduling operations in excess of facility (PHL/EWR) capacity would serve to reduce emissions and delays and has not been proposed by the FAA. Why?
Have not had a chance to attend an FAA Airspace meeting? Well tonight is your last chance to review the document and submit comments. Thanks to the hard work by Reps. Andrews and Sestak the NY/NJ/NY Airspace Redesign is now going to be reviewed by the GAO.
Stephen Donato
www.phl-caw.org
Wednesday June 27, 2007
6:30pm – 9:00 pm
Crowne Plaza
2349 Marlton Pike W.
Cherry Hill, NJ
856-665-6666
Thursday June 28, 2007
6:30pm – 9:00 pm
Hilton Woodcliff
Lake200 Tice Blvd.
Woodcliff Lake, NJ
201-391-3600
________________
Cities hail court ruling on rerouting jets at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood airport
By Thomas Monnay, Posted May 16 2007, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
In a significant legal victory for two cities near Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled May 11 that the Federal Aviation Administration failed to follow environmental review procedures required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and its own environmental review policies in seeking to alter a longstanding informal runway use program at Ft. Lauderdale International Airport without first conducting an environmental impact analysis.
Airspace plan set for review
Tuesday, May 29, 2007, By EILEEN STILWELL, Courier-Post Staff
Both congressmen oppose the plan because of the noise impact on constituents and potential cost. To date, the FAA has spent $50 million studying ways to overhaul the region's crowded airspace. "The FAA still has been unable to answer how much this plan will cost in software, training and new hires. I was told it will be in excess of $200 million," Andrews said.
If the GAO concludes that the cost outweighs the benefits, Congress could withdraw future funding. "The strategy is the same we've used on dredging the Delaware River," Andrews said.
Weather
Philly Road Warrior | What mayoral hopefuls want for the airport
The issue also not to be overlooked is the proposed massive increase in capacity by FAA and the aviation industry that the NY/NJ/PHL Airspace Redesign will accommodate. As a result the emissions and noise will go up despite any operational efficiency improvements. Preventing carriers from scheduling operations in excess of facility (PHL/EWR) capacity would serve to reduce emissions and delays and has not been proposed by the FAA. Why?
Have not had a chance to attend an FAA Airspace meeting? Well tonight is your last chance to review the document and submit comments. Thanks to the hard work by Reps. Andrews and Sestak the NY/NJ/NY Airspace Redesign is now going to be reviewed by the GAO.
Stephen Donato
www.phl-caw.org
Wednesday June 27, 2007
6:30pm – 9:00 pm
Crowne Plaza
2349 Marlton Pike W.
Cherry Hill, NJ
856-665-6666
Thursday June 28, 2007
6:30pm – 9:00 pm
Hilton Woodcliff
Lake200 Tice Blvd.
Woodcliff Lake, NJ
201-391-3600
________________
Cities hail court ruling on rerouting jets at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood airport
By Thomas Monnay, Posted May 16 2007, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
In a significant legal victory for two cities near Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled May 11 that the Federal Aviation Administration failed to follow environmental review procedures required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and its own environmental review policies in seeking to alter a longstanding informal runway use program at Ft. Lauderdale International Airport without first conducting an environmental impact analysis.
Airspace plan set for review
Tuesday, May 29, 2007, By EILEEN STILWELL, Courier-Post Staff
Both congressmen oppose the plan because of the noise impact on constituents and potential cost. To date, the FAA has spent $50 million studying ways to overhaul the region's crowded airspace. "The FAA still has been unable to answer how much this plan will cost in software, training and new hires. I was told it will be in excess of $200 million," Andrews said.
If the GAO concludes that the cost outweighs the benefits, Congress could withdraw future funding. "The strategy is the same we've used on dredging the Delaware River," Andrews said.
Weather
Philly Road Warrior | What mayoral hopefuls want for the airport