The graphic (website) version of this newsletter can be accessed at:
http://pages.prodigy.net/rockaway/newsletter427.htm
Quote of the Week: "Our citizens sent a message not only to the FAA, but
also to our elected federal officials who have the ability to derail this
plan because we're dealing with a federally funded agency" Deleware
County,
Pennsylvania councilman commenting in story about FAA Airspace Redesign
hearing where two thousand people showed up opposing it
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Aviation Conspiracy Newsletter
#427.........................................................................May
6, 2007 Past newsletters can be accessed at:
http://pages.prodigy.net/rockaway/ACNewsmenu.htm
The PASSUR air****t
flight
tracking system at many major U.S. air****ts
http://www.passur.com/sites.htm
(you must have Java installed to view it). If you want to get the
newsletter
sent to you every week, sign up to AviationWatch. Bill Mulcahy
rockaway@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Acting Governor OK's Stewart Air****t Lease Buyout!!!
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As Bill Sees It: (Editorial): The Big Con Game Continues As Acting N.J.
Governor OK's Building N.Y.'s Stewart Air****t!!! The move to sneak a giant
air cargo hub into the quiet, natural upstate Hudson Valley took a step
ahead this week with the acting governor of another state (believe it or
not, New Jersey) approving the creation of a ****t Authority-controlled air
cargo hub at Stewart Air****t near Newburgh, New York. This takeover is
looking more ominous every day as the ****t Authority has already started
treating their future Hudson Valley victims with as much contempt as do
with
their victims in New York City. For example, in an article in the Hudson
Valley's Times Herald Record, a spokesman for the ****t Authority used the
usual trick of diverting attention away from their responsibility and onto
the FAA. Responding to the fact that there have been no public hearings on
the takeover of Stewart Air****t, he said the ****t Authority "already
answered the question of local input." He gave as an example the ****t
Authority's Executive Director, Anthony Shorris's visit to a "regional
economic summit" of businessmen, held twenty five miles from Stewart
Air****t!!! That may be the ****t Authority's idea of providing community
input; it isn't mine. When Shorris tells the people of the Hudson Valley
what the real plan is for Stewart Air****t and holds regular public
meetings,
near Stewart Air****t; then they can say they have asked for "community
input." Also, Shorris hasn't bothered to respond to the coalition of
environmental groups letter. Why? This is the kind of contempt New York
citizens get from their new governor..Spitizer, and congressmen.
Thousands Protest FAA's Planned Airspace Redesign Increase In
Pennsylvania's
Noise Levels!!! It was nice to see that thousands of people in
Pennsylvania
are finally becoming aware that they are going to be the FAA's latest
victims with the Airspace Redesign Plan. Rallies are good but what the FAA
doesn't care about how many people are brought out. The only thing they
care
about is lawsuits!!! A lawsuit against the FAA is what the FAA most fears
as
it exposes to outside review the unfair, racist and political nature of
their routing policies. I was amused at congressman, Joe Sestac's
(picture
right) comment that when he was a navy admiral he saw how the government
spent millions of dollars to protect dolphins against the health impacts
of
sonar, while the government treats treats Delaware County citizens "with
less regard than we do dolphins or whales!!!" Instead of talking lawsuits,
as he was three week's ago, now Sestak still seems to be trying to make a
deal with the FAA to divert the increased air traffic over other
communities!!! Maybe Sestak got a phone call for Democrat headquarters
warning him about threatening to sue the FAA. Has a deal has already been
made to divert the planes away from Sestak's community and over some other
community(s)?
Teterboro Air****t, New Jersey: Acting Governor Approves Air****t For New
York!!!: The ****t Authority plans a $78.5 million, 93-year lease of the
air****t 60 miles north of New York and hopes to take over operations by
October. Acting New Jersey Gov. Richard J. Codey signed a bill on Thursday
to match New Jersey law with legislation passed in New York in 1967. In
doing so, he authorized the ****t Authority to buy or build two new
air****ts - one in each state - outside the ****t Authority's district,
which
extends for a 25-mile radius from the Statue of Liberty. While ****t
Authority officials have said they have no plans to open a new air****t in
New Jersey, spokesman Marc La Vorgna said the agency would work with New
Jersey on any ideas it moves forward. On Thursday, Codey suggested turning
Atlantic City's air****t into the other major hub. "I would think, and I
speak for myself and not for the governor, that site could possibly be
Atlantic City," said Codey, speaking Thursday at Teterboro Air****t above
the
roar of planes overhead. "I think it's a natural." Editor's Note: These
lying, politician creeps are actually telling Teterboro Air****t communties
in New Jersey that an expanded Stewart Air****t is going to reduce their
noise. http://www.catskillsnews.com/News/SWF_PA_NJ-04May07.html
Delaware County, Pennsylvania: Massive Discontent Displayed At Airspace
Redesign Meeting!!! Discontent over the Federal Aviation Administration's
airspace redesign plan continues to spill over from Tuesday's public
meeting, with state and local officials exploring legal and legislative
challenges to thwart the proposal. If the FAA's final decision in August
on
the proposed flight plans for air****ts in Philadelphia, New Jersey and New
York includes flying over Delaware County communities, County Council will
file a suit, according to council Chairman Andrew Reilly. "(Council will)
go
to court and make the case that the FAA violated the National
Environmental
Policy Act," Reilly said Wednesday. "Federal law only allows challenges to
these plans under NEPA. We believe they (FAA) violated NEPA and we're
going
to exercise our citizens' rights to challenge their plan." Reilly said
similar plans have also been defeated in the past by political pressure.
He
added he was extremely proud Tuesday night to be a Delaware Countian
because
of the huge turnout of about 2,000 people at the Holiday Inn in Essington
to
voice their opposition to the FAA's preferred alternative. Reilly called
it
"the biggest issue to face the county in 20 years." "Our citizens sent a
message not only to the FAA, but also to our elected federal officials who
have the ability to derail this plan because we're dealing with a
federally
funded agency," he said, adding that County Council had been virtually a
lone voice in staunch opposition to the plan. "But now we have been joined
on a bipartisan basis by other elected officials." Editor's Note:
Lawsuit,
lawsuit, lawsuit!!!
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18281520&BRD=1675&PAG=461&dept_id=18168&rfi=6
@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Im****tant Aviation News Stories This
Week
Are noise levels taking off at Stewart International Air****t?
A UPS cargo plane is loaded at 6:30 a.m. Friday at Stewart International
Air****t in Newburgh. Cargo planes in particular are often scheduled to
take
off and land early in the morning and late at night, disturbing nearby
residents.
By Michael Randall mrandall@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Herald-Record
http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070430/NEWS/704300322/-1/NEWS
April 30, 2007 Stewart Air****t - Ever since commercial airlines Pan Am and
the now-defunct TWA began using Stewart Air****t (it wasn't "International"
yet) as a practice field in the early 1970s, air****t neighbors have been
complaining about the noise.
One Town of Newburgh woman even got arrested back in the '70s for shooting
at one of the offending planes.
The complaints have tended to rise and fall according to how busy air****t
traffic has been.
With commercial air passenger volume rising and air****t officials looking
for ways to turn around recent drops in cargo volume, noise once again is
becoming a hot topic for those who live near the air****t, or in current or
potential flight paths.
And some wonder whether local residents will have a say once the ****t
Authority of New York and New Jersey takes over the air****t lease later
this
year.
Jim Williams of the Town of Newburgh's Meadow Hill development just north
of
the air****t hears it all - from cargo flights coming and going in the
middle
of the night, to the Air National Guard 105th Airlift Wing's C-5A
trans****t
planes, each of which "sounds like it's right outside in my driveway when
it's warming up."
Williamson said he understands the C-5As "have to do their stuff." But
what
worries him is he's seen no indication amid all the hype and hoopla about
new airlines and other services coming into the air****t that those running
the place are "going to take care of the people in this area.
"Will local people get a voice?" he asks.
A loose-knit coalition of 10 environmental groups, led by Ulsterites Fight
Overflight Noise, sent a letter to ****t Authority Executive Director
Anthony
Shorris in mid-April offering its own recommendations for making Stewart
environmentally compatible and keeping it a regional air****t as its 1993
master plan proposed, not one to relieve traffic volume at the bigger
metropolitan-area air****ts.
Several of those suggestions touched on noise:
Restrict flights within two miles of state parklands. Direct air traffic
over major highways and other areas that already have lots of noise. Only
allow the newest and quietest aircraft to use the air****t. Cargo planes
often, but not always, tend to be older, noisier craft, and flights tend
to
be late at night or early in the morning.
And one sure to raise a few eyebrows:
Set a curfew: No flights between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.
Some of the group's concerns more likely would be addressed by the Federal
Aviation Administration, and that agency now is redesigning the air
traffic
patterns for the metropolitan area.
But ****t Authority spokesman Marc Lavorgna said they've already answered
the
question of local input. He noted the letter from the environmental groups
was a follow-up to a visit by Shorris to the area to speak with those
groups
and other groups and individuals.
"I don't think we can demonstrate any more commitment than having our top
official making the trip up there," Lavorgna said. "We're very committed
to
having an open dialogue."
The air****t still maintains a noise-complaint hot line, but spokeswoman
Tanya Vanasse said the few complaints registered there - probably less
than
one a month - all deal with the 105th's planes and are referred there.
But it can't be said that the 105th hasn't tried to cut down on noise. Six
years ago, they installed a $30 million flight simulator that ended the
need
for touch-and-go training flights.
Maureen Radl, co-chairwoman of Ulsterites Fight Overflight Noise, hopes
someone listens to the concerns of her group and the other groups.
"The whole world is becoming more aware of environmental concerns," she
said. "The airline industry needs to look at that as well. (Stewart) could
be a model for air****ts in the rest of the country."
Delco officials continue to simmer in FAA fight By JOHN M. ROMAN,
jroman@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
05/03/2007
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18293461&BRD=1675&PAG=461&dept_id=18171&rfi=15
ANDY REILLY ... Leading air****t fight
Discontent over the Federal Aviation Administration's airspace redesign
plan
continues to spill over from Tuesday's public meeting, with state and
local
officials exploring legal and legislative challenges to thwart the
proposal.
If the FAA's final decision in August on the proposed flight plans for
air****ts in Philadelphia, New Jersey and New York includes flying over
Delaware County communities, County Council will file a suit, according to
council Chairman Andrew Reilly.
"(Council will) go to court and make the case that the FAA violated the
National Environmental Policy Act," Reilly said Wednesday. "Federal law
only
allows challenges to these plans under NEPA. We believe they (FAA)
violated
NEPA and we're going to exercise our citizens' rights to challenge their
plan."
Reilly said similar plans have also been defeated in the past by political
pressure.
He added he was extremely proud Tuesday night to be a Delaware Countian
because of the huge turnout of about 2,000 people at the Holiday Inn in
Essington to voice their opposition to the FAA's preferred alternative.
Reilly called it "the biggest issue to face the county in 20 years."
"Our citizens sent a message not only to the FAA, but also to our elected
federal officials who have the ability to derail this plan because we're
dealing with a federally funded agency," he said, adding that County
Council
had been virtually a lone voice in staunch opposition to the plan. "But
now
we have been joined on a bipartisan basis by other elected officials."
The bigger issue, he said, is that for the first time, the FAA conceded it
is planning on 700,000 flights total departing and arriving annually out
of
Philadelphia International Air****tby 2011.
"An estimated reduction in delay time of 289,000 minutes spread over
700,000
flights is approximately a savings of 24 seconds per flight," Reilly said.
"And the question is: Is a reduction of 24 seconds per flight worth the
damage that this will do to Delaware County communities?"
"They (FAA) have awakened a sleeping giant," said Tini*** Commissioners
President Thomas Giancristoforo, who rallied residents to attend the
meeting
along with other elected officials.
"I didn't see one person who was in favor of their proposals other than a
pilot who lives in Tini***, and he was representing the pilots
association,"
he said.
"The residents of Tini*** and Delaware County deserve an apology for the
way
they (the FAA) ran the thing."
Giancristoforo said it was the largest public turnout on one issue he's
ever
seen in his 17-year political career.
He commended U.S. Reps. Joe Sestak, D-7, of Edgmont, and Rob Andrews,
D-N.J., and state Reps. Ron Raymond, R-162, of Ridley Park, and Bryan
Lentz,
D-161, of Swarthmore, for their bipartisan stand on the issue.
Giancristoforo said he asked both Sestak and Andrews Tuesday not to fund
the
FAA project.
"I think the whole theory is that the FAA is the federal government and
individuals think that the federal government can never be challenged or
defeated," he said. "But in this case, I honestly feel we're going to stop
this proposal."
Sestak said Tuesday night's meeting showed "a resounding loud voice of the
public," which was disappointed by the facts that were missing from the
FAA's
presentation.
He said Steve Kelley, FAA airspace redesign project manager, admitted he
didn't have all the answers.
Sestak said he wrote a letter to Kelley Wednesday morning and his boss
regarding the project's shortcomings. He also spoke with Andrews about
their
next steps.
All options to "stop this colossal mistake are going to be pursued,"
Sestak
said, including litigation by County Council, legislation and the FAA
reauthorization bill with regard to whether to proceed on various
projects.
Sestak said he's also asking the head of trans****tation to look at data on
alternatives such as outlying underused airfields.
"We all need to work together in a bipartisan way in order to stop a
redesign project that has little, if any, operational gain, but has a lot
of
significant negative impact on our citizens," he said.
Sestak said he told the FAA at the public meeting that while he served in
the Navy as an admiral, millions were spent on determining the impact of
noise on mammals at sea from sonar "so we know where to operate so we
don't
impact their health and their breeding."
"Why does the FAA treat our citizens in Delaware County with less regard
than we do dolphins or whales?" he said.
Sestak said the FAA in 2003 was given exclusive authority to determine the
options for airspace redesign, and then noise abatement was removed from
its
scoping do***ent on the Philadelphia airspace proposal.
Stephen Keeney, 52, of Ridley Park, a father of four children aged 16 to
33
with two granddaughters aged 6 and 4, said he attended Tuesday's meeting
and
was impressed with the large turnout.
"Studies show that kids in school who live near air****ts, their education
falls a year behind," he said.
The quality of life for the area is the im****tant issue, Keeney said.
"It's
your property, your quality of life, it's very detrimental to the
children's
learning process."
Keeney said he felt ignored by the FAA representatives at the meeting.
"They
had no real answers."
©DelcoTimes 2007
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