Runways And The Environment

            
             Introduction 1.
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
             This paper discusses Runways and the Environment.
            
             flown on a commercial air carrier and found yourself sitting at the end .
             of the runway for hours waiting to takeoff, then you are already.
             familiar with problems of our air transport system. Some people .
             suggest making better use of the airways, others say, update our air .
             traffic control systems. But the bottom line is, if you put more planes .
             in the air, they all have to land somewhere. One of the major issues .
             challenging our air transport system is the building or expanding of .
             our runways. And a major hurdle to doing this is the environmental .
             review process. This process should take about 1-2 years to complete .
             but in some cases it takes over 5. The FAA and Congress are making a .
             concerted effort to address this problem. They have come up with .
             several good initiatives to help with over crowdedness at our nations .
             airports. In this paper I will discuss the three I feel are most important.
             Pg. 1.
             Chapter 1.
             Runways and the Environment.
             "The U.S. aviation system is facing a capacity crisis. Airline passenger traffic and cargo growth has exploded since airline deregulation but aviation infrastructure has not kept pace. The rise in passenger complaints and air traffic delays are symptoms of an outdated and severely congested U.S. aviation system. While new technologies, proposed economic restrictions, and changes to airline schedules are all parts of the solution, many observers say that a long-term capacity solution must include significant airport growth in order to handle projected use of the aviation system" (AAAE, June 2001).
             "Pressure is mounting on the Administration and Congress to find a solution to air travel complaints and air traffic delays. Several lawmakers - most notably Senate Appropriations Chairman Ted Stevens - have announced their intentions to introduce legislation that would streamline the environmental review process, which would allow for airport construction projects to be completed in a timelier manner" (AAAE, June 2001).