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Air Transport News

AirGuide Business, March 17, 2008

Mar 17, 2008

Airlines are criticizing the FAA's plan to modernize the air traffic control system by using a satellite tracking system to replace radar equipment. Carriers say the plan is too expensive and will not substantially change the way planes operate. Mar 14, 2008

Groups urge Senate to pass FAA reauthorization bill. A group of 37 organizations is urging the Senate to pass legislation that would reauthorize the FAA. The House in September passed a reauthorization bill that would boost fuel taxes for commercial jetliners and use the funds to modernize systems. Mar 14, 2008

Industry groups, pilots and technical experts are criticizing the FAA's plan to modernize the air traffic control system by using a satellite tracking system to replace radar equipment. Several comments submitted advocate for tax credits and other ways to help subsidize the new equipment. "The proposal does not measure up to the task of updating our national airspace system," the Air Transport Association wrote. Mar 14, 2008

US Transportation Secretary Mary Peters announced that DoT and FAA will begin using Florida this summer as a "test-bed" for the planned satellite-based Next-Gen ATC system, including a "rollout" of undisclosed technology at Daytona Beach International, use of "a new descent technique in Miami that saves fuel and reduces noise and emissions" and deployment of ADS-B technology along the state's Gulf Coast. Mar 11, 2008

Oberstar criticizes FAA for complacency, relationship with carriers. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman James Oberstar, D-Minn., on Friday criticized the FAA for having a close relationship with the airline industry and for lax oversight of the carriers. An FAA spokesman said the agency's system works well and cited the airlines' low accident rate. Oberstar also said Congress should consider legislation that would bar FAA inspectors from working for an airline immediately after leaving their FAA positions. Mar 10, 2008

Flight Safety Foundation, Eurocontrol

Flight Safety Foundation announced a partnership with Eurocontrol aimed at strengthening cooperation between the two organizations in order to reduce safety risks. The accord follows a similar agreement between FSF and Aviation Safety Foundation-Australasia announced last week and will focus on mitigating risks posed by the combination of traffic growth and a shortage of controllers and pilots, the creation of a Just Culture in aviation and the promotion of SKYbary, an online repository for safety-related information. Mar 13, 2008

New York John F. Kennedy International

US Transportation Secretary Mary Peters announced that airlines serving Newark International have agreed formally to cap flights temporarily 83 per hr. beginning in early May. DoT, which imposed a cap at New York JFK of 83 flights per hr. beginning this month, announced in December that it would impose a similar cap at EWR and pegged the airport's capacity at 83 flights per hr. The cap will apply to both domestic and international flights. Speaking at the FAA Forecast Conference, she added that as capacity at Newark grows, DoT will auction slots, an approach that encourages competition, allows new entrants and responds to customer demand. United Airlines Director-Regulatory Affairs Julie Oettinger, also speaking at the conference, warned DoT against trying to impose congestion pricing to solve flight delays, saying, Mar 11, 2008

New York Newark Liberty International

U.S. DoT has set flight caps for Newark Liberty International Airport during peak hours at 83 flights per hour. New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport will have the same cap starting on Saturday. The caps are part of a plan to ease heavy delays and congestion, the DoT said. Mar 10, 2008

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