Bush Proposes More Runways
April 30, 2001
In an effort to reduce the alarming number of airline delays, the Bush administration is encouraging the construction of new runways across the country. The administration is planning on reducing the complexity of environmental reviews that must accompany runway construction. The FAA has concluded that the fastest way to reduce delays is not through improved technology or more air traffic controllers but rather by expanding runways. Environmental groups have already criticized the plan claiming that due consideration will not be given to the additional air and noise pollution created by the new runways.
The current environmental review process takes an average of ten years to complete. As a result, only 6 new runways were built over the last decade, despite a 25% increase in air traffic. One runway under consideration in Orlando, Florida has been in the design and build phases for almost 20 years, with completion not expected until 2003. Currently, over 30 runways are in some stage of planning. Aviation experts expect air traffic to grow by more than 50% by 2010, with over 900 million people flying.
The FAA does not feel that streamlining the review process will negatively impact the environment. "We have to reduce the delays in trying to bring new runways on line while still maintaining a balanced and protective view of the environment," Catherine M. Lang, the FAA's head of airport planning said. Added airport proponent Bruce Nestande, "My message was that the FAA must become more proactive in identifying and bringing on-line safe airport expansions and new airport construction," he said. "It's clearly in the national interest."
Through the years the FAA has assumed that more air traffic controllers and better technology are the keys to reducing flight delays. No longer according to Steven Brown, the FAA's head of air traffic services. "Overall, runways produce the greatest amount of capacity compared to all other actions out there," he noted. Darryl Jenkins, director of George Washington University's aviation program agrees. "Even if we were to have the most modern air traffic control system, we could not increase capacity significantly," he said. "So runways are where we should be concentrating our efforts."
The FAA is particularly interested in runway expansions in Los Angeles, Cincinnati, and Washington's Dulles airport. Congress is even considering amending Federal laws to make it more difficult for environmental groups to challenge new runway proposals. "The effort here is not to change the regulatory requirements, but to limit the time period in which they happen and in which appeals must occur," Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) said. "You can't move people if you can't land them on runways."
-- Article Courtesy of InjuryBoard.com
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