ACI-NA Urges FAA to Allow Airports to Manage Congestion

 


CONTACT:
Lyndsay Rossman, lrossman@aci-na.aero, (202) 293-4532
Eileen Denne, edenne@aci-na.aero, (202) 293-4537


WASHINGTON (December 29, 2006) – On behalf of its U.S. airport members, Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA) filed comments today in response to the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking [Docket No. FAA-2006-25709] issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on managing congestion at LaGuardia (LGA) Airport. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey operates LGA.

"While we understand the importance of avoiding gridlock at LGA and we share many of the goals of the FAA's proposed rule, ACI-NA believes that that much of the proposed rule is unnecessarily complicated, conflicts with the Port Authority's role as the airport proprietor, is not authorized by law and will not be effective," stated ACI-NA president Greg Principato.

"This rulemaking is not a cure-all for congestion management at LaGuardia," Principato added. "We urge the FAA to recognize that the Port Authority should have the lead role in managing operations at its airport. Airport operators should be able to develop congestion management plans consistent with the FAA's guidelines to best fit the needs of their communities."

The High Density Rule, which currently limits the number of flights at LaGuardia, was set to expire on Dec. 31, 2006, but the FAA on Dec. 27 adopted temporary limitations to extend the current rule until the FAA can implement a final congestion management plan.

ACI-NA looks forward to continuing to work with the FAA in developing fair, efficient and reliable methods of relieving airspace and airport congestion that properly reflect the complementary powers, responsibilities and competencies of the FAA and local airport proprietors.

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About ACI-NA:
The mission of Airports Council International - North America (ACI-NA) is to advocate policies and provide services that strengthen the ability of air carrier airports to serve their passengers, customers and communities. ACI-NA represents local, regional and state governing bodies that own and operate commercial airports in the United States and Canada. ACI-NA member airports enplane more than 95 percent of the domestic and virtually all the international airline passenger and cargo traffic in North America. Nearly 400 aviation-related businesses are also members of the association, which is the largest of the five worldwide regions of Airports Council International.