Warwick lashes out at FAA
2:35 PM Thu, Jan 10, 2008 | Permalink
Email this author | Email this entry |
 |
Projo Biz Blog |
|
« KVH named 'Supplier of the Year' by General Dynamics |
Main
| Update: Labor director Orefice taking new state job »
In a sharply worded letter, Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian has lambasted the Federal Aviation Administration for rejecting the city's proposal that it consider limiting any runway expansion at T.F. Green Airport to 8,300 feet. This past summer, Avedisian called on the FAA to broaden the alternatives it is considering for a runway expansion beyond the 8,700 feet and 9,350 feet options. Last month, the FAA denied that request, arguing that any shorter expansion would unacceptably restrict the number of passengers the airport could send on cross-country flights. In an interview with The Providence Journal at the time, Avedisian criticized that decision. Now, he has sent a formal response to the FAA, saying the FAA's letter "simply reiterates the assumptions and inaccuracies that have been consistently presented by the FAA." "The most recent FAA response simply reiterates its previous position in order to validate a predetermined minimum runway length," Avedisian said. Avedisian, a longtime airport critic, said the FAA had not seriously considered the potential impacts on homes and businesses near Green Airport. As he has in the past, he also argued that the plane the FAA is trying to accommodate, the Boeing 737-500, is not fuel efficient and is increasingly less popular among airlines flying across the country. That decision, Avedisian said, could be grounds for a lawsuit against the FAA. "The FAA ignores this fact and continues its support for the use of the B737-500 aircraft in order to justify its argument for a longer-than-necessary runway," Avedisian said. "Current industry trends indicate that air carriers are reallocating aircraft in a manner that maximizes efficiency and profitability within their networks. This trend does not include the use of the 737-500 for non-stop coast-to-coast service. "The FAA’s continued insistence that the B737-500 must be used in the fleet mix for non-stop coast-to-coast legs is technically flawed; it is not accepted by most industry professionals and defies common sense," Avedisian said. Discussions of a runway expansion began more than eight years ago. The FAA does not plan to issue a draft environmental impact statement, the next step in the process, for at least a year, and a final report is not expected until late 2009. 
CommentsLeave a comment |
New comments
New photos
New posts
Projo blogs
Archives
I could not agree more with the Mayor,about these folks who want to trample all over the rights of Warwick and its citizens in the name of progress, (lets face it folks), the business community wants this and the RIAC folks want it to grow another government entity. Throw more money at it and hope that it will pay off (that is pay off, not payoff) which we are used to in R.I. The business community shipped all the jobs overseas and now we are to provide an easier way to import more Chinese junk in here directly by giving up the city of Warwick and its quality of life in the name of progress. I wonder whose progress?
Report Abuse
Boeing delivered Jets in July 2006 that will LAND and TAKEOFF on less than a 5,000 foot runway....
Where is the need to expand? It will take about
8 years to complete the runway expansion. After that it will take 5 years or more before any profit is realized. Remember...the FAA is only
contributing $150 million to the project! Airlines
are having problems with fuel and airport rate hikes. Based on a recent articles some our the airlines are not happy with the rate hikes. What
if Southwest pulls out of TF Green? Will TF Green
recover losing almost 50% of its service? Sure the other airlines can pick-up some of the destinations but that will not happen over night.
Another point...TF Green is $300 million in the hole with old debt. The State of RI is about $600 million in debt.The State of RI cannot help with the expansion! This project may help RI in 20 to 30 years. But, not when we need it!
Report Abuse
The shorter proposal for an 8300' runway is more relistic givin the scope of the massive road work that would be necessary to complete the optimum project. By the time all this is settled, one way or the other, Green will be a "has been" airport. Nonetheless a long succession of Warwick Mayors, area politicians and bureaucrats have have used the airport for political trumpeting and the area anti-airport groups under their various names and guises have been happy to dance to the tune. A longer runway is safer for the aircraft in and out, despite what business implications it will have. Though safe, Green's pattern has long been substandard but Warwick is resolute to either bleed it or impede it.
Report Abuse