FAA wants bigger planes to ease LaGuardia crowding

[moose135]

US wants bigger planes to ease LaGuardia crowding

From: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14517976/


WASHINGTON - Airlines would have to fly larger planes into New York's LaGuardia Airport under a proposal unveiled by U.S. regulators Friday to reduce congestion at one of the nation's most crowded airports. The Federal Aviation Administration hopes to accommodate up to 4 million more passengers per year and end what the agency says is the practice of big airlines underutilizing aircraft to hog precious gate space. The FAA has proposed a series of options for airlines to boost their average yearly capacity on flights into and out of LaGuardia as part of a long-anticipated permanent fix to ease overcrowding and delays.

LaGuardia is among a handful of relatively small U.S. airports in or very close to cities that remain hugely popular -- especially with business travelers -- but have little or no room to expand and operate under tight air traffic restrictions. Scheduled airline flights at LaGuardia are limited by the FAA to 75 per hour. There are more than 1,300 flights per day, including commuter service, with about a third running behind schedule.

"We're trying to get more people through with the same number of flights," Nancy LoBue, the FAA's policy chief, said about the new plan.

US Airways, Delta Air Lines and American Airlines have big operations at LaGuardia. Other major carriers also fly there as do small commuter airlines. The FAA has been studying a response for LaGuardia congestion for several years, having imposed a temporary fix to manage skyrocketing congestion caused by ambitious capacity planning and overscheduling by carriers.

A current cap on flight operations at LaGuardia expires in January 2007. The agency plans a similar restriction while it works to finalize the new plan by next summer. FAA hopes to phase in the permanent strategy by 2010. Regulators are focusing on big airlines underutilizing their fleets to "baby sit" gate space at LaGuardia, keeping rivals out and traffic levels high. About half the the flights at LaGuardia are serviced by 50-seat regional jets, which are losing their value in most other markets because airlines are building their businesses around bigger planes.

LoBue and her agency colleagues believe carriers can make small fleet changes and fly bigger planes to bring their passenger load for LaGuardia up to an annual average of 122 people per aircraft, from about 98.

Some exemptions to small communities would be allowed and the FAA does not anticipate any city losing service to LaGuardia because of the change.

URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14517976/

[PhilDernerJr]

I've been saying this for years!!! Where are my press conferences?!?!

I must now block the FAA's IP's from viewing the site...they keep stealing my ideas!

[Midnight Mike]

I've been saying this for years!!! Where are my press conferences?!?!

I must now block the FAA's IP's from viewing the site...they keep stealing my ideas!

You don't count, you just want to take photos of the pretty airplanes! :D :lol:

[Matt Molnar]

This sounds good, but none of the articles I've read explain how it will be done. Can the FAA actually assign minimum sizes to slots or specific routes?

[T-Bird76]

Does the FAA think cities like SYR, ROC, PVD, RDU, JAX, GSO, and others alike can support larger aircraft? Absolutely not! Sorry but this is not the answer and it never was the answer. The FAA in no way can mandate size of aircraft for specific slots, the airlines would drop the route vs losing money. The only cities I can see this happening is with is ORD and ATL and somehow I doubt reducing a few movements a day is going to do anything to reduce LGA congestion.

[Matt Molnar]

A non-wire story from the Post, which doesn't explain anything either, but does throw the 1,500 mile rule into the equation:

BIG IDEA FOR AIRPORT


FEDS WOULD ALLOW MORE LARGE JETS AT LAG [sic]


By BILL SANDERSON

August 26, 2006 -- More big jets could be headed for La Guardia in the next few years under a proposed federal rule that would boost the number of people using the airport without adding more flights.
"We are trying to get as much use out of that airport as we can," said Nancy LoBue, a Federal Aviation Administration administrator.

The rule would make way for La Guardia to handle another 4 million passengers yearly without increasing the number of delays, the FAA says.

La Guardia handles about 1,250 takeoffs and landings a day - including many for aircraft with about 50 seats, such as Bombardier and Embraer models.

Under the proposed FAA rule, the average size of the jets using the airport would rise to around 120 seats - about the size of a Boeing 737 or an Airbus A319.

Plenty of Boeing 737-size jets use La Guardia now - the biggest jet the airport handles regularly is a Boeing 767-300 - and Port Authority officials say the slightly bigger Boeing 767-400s are the largest allowed.

Although aircraft makers over the years have quieted engines on the bigger jets, local officials still fear that the proposed changes will mean more noise in their neighborhoods.

"If larger planes would mean fewer flights, I am open to this proposed rule change," said Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-Queens).

"But if larger planes flying in and out of La Guardia would lead to an increase in noise pollution or poorer air-quality conditions for the neighborhoods around the airport, I have concerns."

While Port Authority officials haven't yet scrutinized the proposed rule, posted on the FAA's Web site yesterday, the agency generally backs the idea.

"Our goal has always been to see that airport serve more passengers on the same number or fewer operations," said Port Authority spokesman Pasquale DiFulco.

The FAA hopes to structure the new rule so that airlines won't be discouraged from serving smaller cities upstate.

But some airlines wants to use the proposal as a way to open talks about lengthening flights out of La Guardia.

Under Port Authority rules, La Guardia's nonstop destinations on weekdays can be no more than 1,500 miles away - with the sole exception being Denver.

U.S. Airways, which says it offers about 200 departures daily at La Guardia, says it might use the FAA proposal to argue for a lifting of the 1,500-mile rule so it can serve its hubs in Las Vegas and Phoenix.

The current federal "slot" rules capping the number of flights at La Guardia expire in January. FAA officials hope the replacement rules will be in effect in mid-2007.

[T-Bird76]

Yep certainly proof the FAA are a bunch of morons..... :roll: Noise pollution is the least and should be the least of these people's concerns. I want to know where another 4 million people are going to park, eat, and sit at LGA, and then there's the increase in traffic which already is a pain in the ass on the roads around LGA. Where does all this fall into play in this grand plan of there's?

[Midnight Mike]

Yep certainly proof the FAA are a bunch of morons..... :roll: Noise pollution is the least and should be the least of these people's concerns. I want to know where another 4 million people are going to park, eat, and sit at LGA, and then there's the increase in traffic which already is a pain in the ass on the roads around LGA. Where does all this fall into play in this grand plan of there's?

The FAA reacts to the problem, meaning airlines are probably submitting their applications & the FAA has to come up with a plan to accomdate the additional requests.

There will be another report submitted which will detail, what needs to be done to accomdate the additional passengers, additional an EIR (ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT} will be submitted, detailing traffic conditions, additional people. etc.


[quote]Regulators are focusing on big airlines underutilizing their fleets to "baby sit" gate space at LaGuardia, keeping rivals out and traffic levels high.

The Federal Aviation Administration hopes to accommodate up to 4 million more passengers per year and end what the agency says is the practice of big airlines underutilizing aircraft to hog precious gate space.

[T-Bird76]

[quote=Midnight Mike]

Yep certainly proof the FAA are a bunch of morons..... :roll: Noise pollution is the least and should be the least of these people's concerns. I want to know where another 4 million people are going to park, eat, and sit at LGA, and then there's the increase in traffic which already is a pain in the ass on the roads around LGA. Where does all this fall into play in this grand plan of there's?

The FAA reacts to the problem, meaning airlines are probably submitting their applications & the FAA has to come up with a plan to accomdate the additional requests.

There will be another report submitted which will detail, what needs to be done to accomdate the additional passengers, additional an EIR (ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT} will be submitted, detailing traffic conditions, additional people. etc.

Regulators are focusing on big airlines underutilizing their fleets to "baby sit" gate space at LaGuardia, keeping rivals out and traffic levels high.

The Federal Aviation Administration hopes to accommodate up to 4 million more passengers per year and end what the agency says is the practice of big airlines underutilizing aircraft to hog precious gate space.

[/quote:ef7c9]

Mike I think you summed up the problem in your first line "reacts." The FAA needs to stop reacting and start planning for the future!

[mirrodie]

I heard this on the radio this morning.

What is the biggest AC that LGA could handle, anyway?

[LGA777]

I heard this on the radio this morning.

What is the biggest AC that LGA could handle, anyway?

Mario, three way tie. DC-10. L-1011. 764.
777,330,340 and of course 744 not permitted. I assume this will apply to the 787 also.

LGA777

[T-Bird76]

I heard this on the radio this morning.

What is the biggest AC that LGA could handle, anyway?

Mario, three way tie. DC-10. L-1011. 764.
777,330,340 and of course 744 not permitted. I assume this will apply to the 787 also.

LGA777

787 might be allowed. the 787-8 is about the same size at a 767-300.

[Midnight Mike]

Mike I think you summed up the problem in your first line "reacts." The FAA needs to stop reacting and start planning for the future!

That is not the job of the FAA. Advanced planning should fall under the city/state government, but, certainly not the FAA.

The role of the FAA is many things, but, primarily, safety....

[AAGold]

In almost thirty years of business flying LGA was my favored airport before EWR joined the big leagues and started offerring flights to almost any destination. Back in the late 70's and 80's you had to go to LGA for the good flights, and guess what ...

Many of those flights were on DC-10s and L-1011s. Back then the larger aircraft were very common. I used to fly AA DC-10s to ORD and EA L-1011s on the shuttle to BOS. My last few trips cross country have been on a CO 738 and a UA A319. Hell, my most recent trip to AMS was on a CO 757. Gone are the days (at least it seems so) when you traveled cross country on 74s, DC-10s and L-1011s. And the excuse, smaller aircraft and more frequent flights. Not sure that's the best way to go. I can tell you, flying cross country on a 738 and A319 is not at all comfortable compared to a DC-10 or L-1011.

And LGA has always been a bottleneck. I remember many hours circling north of the city waiting for our slot into LGA to open up. It was common practice back in the 70s and 80s to keep'em circling until they could land. Not like today where you end up sitting on the ground waiting for a slot to open up before you can even takeoff.

Art

[T-Bird76]

[quote=Midnight Mike]

Mike I think you summed up the problem in your first line "reacts." The FAA needs to stop reacting and start planning for the future!

That is not the job of the FAA. Advanced planning should fall under the city/state government, but, certainly not the FAA.

The role of the FAA is many things, but, primarily, safety....[/quote:f4884]

Mike has the California sun gotten to you???? Of course the FAA is in the business of planning and planning for future air growth in the U.S skies. Half the problem with LGA is the FAA's fault. The trafic control system in the entire country is so dam old that it leads congestion. The FAA needs to move its ass into the 21st century.