Because of jetliner noise, a state senator representing parts of three counties is organizing opposition to new commercial flight patterns meant to reduce delays at metro-area airports. State Sen. Kevin O’Toole (R-Essex) has sent a proposed resolution opposing the FAA’s change in regional flight patterns to two dozen local and county governments in his district in Bergen, Essex and...
Newark International Airport in this May 2010 file photo.Because of jetliner noise, a state senator representing parts of three counties is organizing opposition to new commercial flight patterns meant to reduce delays at metro-area airports.
State Sen. Kevin O’Toole (R-Essex) has sent a proposed resolution opposing the FAA’s change in regional flight patterns to two dozen local and county governments in his district in Bergen, Essex and Passaic counties.
O’Toole has also received letters from Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, a fellow Republican from northwest New Jersey, and Rep. Robert Andrews, a Democrat from southern New Jersey. Those areas would be affected by flight-pattern changes at Philadelphia International Airport and the two congressmen said they would pressure the Federal Aviation Administration to modify the plan.
O’Toole said today Gov. Chris Christie plans to meet with him on the issue next week.
The new flight patterns are to reduce chronic delays at Newark Liberty, John F. Kennedy International and LaGuardia Airports. But half of the 12 new departure routes for flights out of JFK would take jets over densely populated central and northern New Jersey.
Arlene Salac, an FAA spokeswoman, said the plan has cleared all necessary environmental and legal hurtles and would take effect sometime in early 2011.
Previous coverage:
• N.J. Sen. Kevin O'Toole fights FAA plan to redirect planes over northern N.J.
• N.J. senator enlists support against FAA plan to route JFK airport flights over Garden State
• FAA redesign of N.J., N.Y. airspace will send hundreds more flights over N.J.
• FAA should re-examine flight caps to help curb delays at N.J., N.Y. airports, U.S. report says