FAA Issues Final Decision on Northeast Airspace Redesign

The FAA has issued a final decision for redesigning the New York, New Jersey, and Philadelphia metropolitan area airspace that is expected to reduce delays, noise and fuel consumption.

The redesign affects a 31,000-square-mile area over New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Connecticut.  Twenty-one airports were included in the study that led to the FAA's decision.

As one would expect, some of the most significant effects of the redesign will come from the three largest airports in the New York metropolitan area - Kennedy, LaGuardia, and Newark's Liberty International.

For example, the number of westbound departure routes out of New York will be increased by using more dispersed headings, which should reduce some of the current conflicts from the area's close-proximity airports.  Also, Newark will have dual arrival flows that allow arriving aircraft able to stay higher longer, and get better approach sequencing.  Controllers will have greater flexibility in rerouting aircraft around severe weather within the terminal area as well.

The FAA estimates that this alternative will reduce delays by about 20% from what was expected without it in 2011.

The Air Transport Association of America (ATA) applauded the FAA's action.  James May, the ATA's president and CEO said, "This long-awaited program is a much needed first step to relieve unprecedented congestion in the Northeast and to maintain high standards of safety."

Additional information is available by going here.  09-07-2007.

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