Aviation Conspiracy: GAO Report Says FAA's Airspace Redesign Scheme Is "Reasonable"!!

Aviation Conspiracy Newsletter
#496...............................................................................August
31, 2008 Past newsletters can be accessed at:
http://pages.prodigy.net/rockaway/ACNewsmenu.htm If you want to get the
newsletter sent to you every week, sign up to AviationWatch. Bill Mulcahy
rockaway@prodigy.net

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Quote of the Week: "FAA's methodology to assess operational and noise
impacts was reasonable, based on FAA's guidance for conducting airspace
redesigns, standards from the aviation and analytical community, and the
opinion of independent aviation operational and noise experts." said a
report from the Government Accountability Office on FAA Airspace Redesign
scheme released Friday.

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GAO Report Says FAA's Airspace Redesign Scheme Is "Reasonable"!!

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As Bill Sees It Editorial): General Accountability Office (GAO) Report Used
"FAA's Guidence" To Assess Airspace Redesign Scheme!!! Anti-Airspace
Redesign forces were handed a setback in their battle with the FAA when the
General Accountability Office said that the plan to change the routes over
many Northeast states was "reasonable." What can you expect from a federal
agency in the anti-environment, anti-people and pro-corporate polluter Bush
Administration. I wasn't surprised that the GAO said that the FAA plan was
"reasonable" and that minorities were not "disproportionately affected." For
example, the FAA cleverly got around their racist JFK Airport routing
policies by carefully excluding them from the redesign plan. They just kept
the old discriminatory policies and apparently intend to just send increased
flights over the minority areas (like Rockaway, Queens, where they
concentrate JFK Airport impacts). Of course the GAO report didn't address
the increased flights that expanded operations will impact on minority areas
already selected to be dumped on and not in the redesign plan!!! The report
further went on to explain how the GAO used the "FAA's guidance" to assess
"operational and noise impacts!!!" Talk about allowing the fox to guard the
henhouse!!! Why didn't they just have the FAA write the GAO report itself.
Maybe they did.

Congressmen Say FAA Should Have Done An Airspace Redesign "Cost-Benefit
Analysis!!!" While I'm glad to see congressmen (U.S. Reps. Joseph Sestak,
D-7, of Edgmont, and Rob Andrews, D-N.J.), criticize the FAA on their
Northeast Airspace Redesign scheme, I was disappointed that they were only
complaining about the GAO not doing a cost/benefit analysis of the plan. Is
THAT all they could find they disagreed with? This does not bode well for
the future victims of the FAA's and aviation industry expansion plans.

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GAO Report To Help With Airspace Redesign Fight? Two local congressmen are
relying on a soon-to-be-released report from the U.S. Government
Accountability Office to help turn back the Federal Aviation
Administration's plan to allow more jets to fly over their districts. The
FAA plan is part of an effort to reduce flight delays along the congested
Eastern Seaboard. U.S. Rep. Joseph Sestak, a Democrat who represents
Delaware County, and U.S. Rep. Robert E. Andrews, a Democrat representing
parts of South Jersey, say the report, scheduled for release Tuesday, will
show that the FAA did not conduct a cost-benefit analysis for the project,
estimated at $300 million. The report will also show that the FAA is not
required to conduct an analysis, they said. The congressmen said that even
if the law does not require an analysis, it is common sense that Congress
have information about costs and benefits before it funds any changes and
that the FAA should understand that. "Saying that you did the wrong thing in
the right way isn't enough," Andrews said. Andrews said the absence of a
cost-benefit analysis "will give us leverage in the Congress and in the
appointment of the next [FAA] administrator." The plan includes increased
air traffic over Delaware County and Gloucester County as jets climb away
from Philadelphia International Airport. Besides political opposition, the
FAA's plan is under litigation in a number of places, including Washington,
the congressmen said. Sestak said the congressmen might pursue litigation to
force Philadelphia International Airport to conduct its own noise study and
create a mitigation plan, which they say is required by law.
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/business/20080830_2_say_report_may_bolster_case_on_jets.html
GAO favors FAA in airspace redesign: State Attorney General Richard
Blumenthal stood defiant Tuesday in reaction to the release of a U.S.
Government Accountability Office report on the Federal Aviation
Administration's airspace redesign that favored the FAA. The FAA plans to
begin implementing a new air traffic pattern for the New York, New Jersey,
and Philadelphia metropolitan area, changing routes to major airports,
reducing delays and bringing annual savings, according to the FAA. The plan
would reroute commercial aircraft over Fairfield County towns. It has been
fought by Blumenthal in alliance with a group of 13 Fairfield County towns
calling themselves the Alliance for Sensible Airspace Planning. They cite
potential increases in aircraft noise and other adverse environmental
impacts. The GAO report concluded the FAA acted reasonably in designing the
air traffic plan and its ultimate decisions were reasonable and not
arbitrary. It reviewed the FAA's compliance with the National Environmental
Policy Act with respect to five key issues, including the statement of the
project's purpose and need, the evaluation of alternatives, and
consideration of the project's environmental effects. "Many of the
substantive points made in the study cut in our favor even if they are
interpreted to be contrary," Blumenthal said Tuesday. "Clearly the report is
strongly critical of the FAA's failure to do an accurate noise sensitivity
analysis or cost-benefit analysis." Blumenthal said he will.
http://www.newstimes.com/ci_10367757

England: Air Passengers To Pay Compensation To Aviation Victims? THOUSANDS
of passengers flying from Glasgow Airport should be made to pay £1 each in
compensation to long-suffering residents living in the flight path. That was
the claim made last night as people in Clydebank vowed to seek compensation
for what they called their "daily nightmare". . They want a share of BAA
profits - possibly coupled with the £1-per-passenger flyover charge - to be
put into a community fund. If successful, it could result in upwards of
£20,000 a month being poured into the pot. A 160-strong meeting of Clydebank
East Community Council heard one resident say he was being forced to move
out of his home because of the aircraft noise.One woman said BAA should
install a monitor in her garden because when she holds barbecues "every two
minutes we have to stop talking when a plane flies overhead". Residents in
parts of Clydebank, including Whitecrook and Linnvale, have long complained
about the noise caused by aircraft coming in to land at Glasgow Airport. BAA
Glasgow, however, insists its noise-managing measures exceed statutory
obligations. Tom Brady, treasurer of Clydebank East Community Council, said:
"BAA continues to say it is trying to do something to alleviate the noise.
"Because they can't do anything about it, and the level of traffic, we are
seeking compensation.
http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/display.var.2438429.0.airport_noise_is_making_our_life_hell_so_pay_up.php

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Important Aviation News Stories
This Week

Airport noise is making our life hell . . . so pay up

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/display.var.2438429.0.airport_noise_is_making_our_life_hell_so_pay_up.php

THOUSANDS of passengers flying from Glasgow Airport should be made to pay £1
each in compensation to long-suffering residents living in the flight path.

That was the claim made last night as people in Clydebank vowed to seek
compensation for what they called their "daily nightmare".

They want a share of BAA profits - possibly coupled with the
£1-per-passenger flyover charge - to be put into a community fund.

If successful, it could result in upwards of £20,000 a month being poured
into the pot.

A 160-strong meeting of Clydebank East Community Council heard one resident
say he was being forced to move out of his home because of the aircraft
noise.

One woman said BAA should install a monitor in her garden because when she
holds barbecues "every two minutes we have to stop talking when a plane
flies overhead".

Residents in parts of Clydebank, including Whitecrook and Linnvale, have
long complained about the noise caused by aircraft coming in to land at
Glasgow Airport.

BAA Glasgow, however, insists its noise-managing measures exceed statutory
obligations.

Tom Brady, treasurer of Clydebank East Community Council, said: "BAA
continues to say it is trying to do something to alleviate the noise.

"Because they can't do anything about it, and the level of traffic, we are
seeking compensation.

"Whether it comes directly from BAA's profits, or from a mix of some of the
profits and a £1-per-passenger flyover charge, we want money to go into a
trust. That is our goal.

West of Scotland MSP Gil Paterson, who carried out a detailed noise survey,
told the meeting he was pressing for regulation of Scotland's airports to
bring them into line with England's.

He also wants four local authorities - Glasgow, Renfrew, and East and West
Dunbartonshire - to jointly buy a golden share' in any new business that
bought Glasgow Airport, giving the public a voice on issues.

Gary Donaghy, of Linnvale, said: "I've complained to BAA about the noise
levels for 18 years but it's ignored me. We're fighting a losing battle.

"We are going to sell up but the property value has dropped since the
airport announced its expansion plan.

"I don't even know where I want to move to, but I need to move away.

"You're trapped in your house because you can't open a window."

Lily Black, 35, said her 14-year-old son, Jamie, who is partially deaf, was
at risk when crossing roads while out playing as aircraft noise drowned out
the sound of traffic.

He also had "terror nightmares" because of planes flying overhead.

BAA Glasgow says the Civil Aviation Authority found that, despite a rise in
passengers, noise from planes operating from the airport "is less than at
any time in 20 years".

He added: "However, we're committed to taking further action to reduce the
impact of aircraft noise on our neighbouring communities."

Publication date 02/09/08

date: Wed, 3 Sep 2008 20:45:32 -0400 author: Bill Mulcahy