PlusFAA Re-evaluates JFK Runway ProceduresFAA Re-evaluates JFK Runway ProceduresThe Associated PressThe Federal Aviation Administration is studying whether to again change takeoff and landing procedures after a second near-collision at John F. Kennedy International Airport in less than a week. (July 14)[Notes:ANCHOR VOICE] (FAA Administrator Robert Sturgell) "I must tell you it's a problem that keeps me up at night"FEDERAL AVIATION OFFICIALS ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE THE SKIES SAFER FOR TRAVELERS WHO FLY(FAA Administrator Robert Sturgell) "So far this year we have 19 runway incursions"AFTER TWO RECENT INCIDENTS IN NEW YORK WHERE PLANES GOT A LITTLE TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT, STURGELL SAYS THEY ARE LOOKING INTO WHAT CAN BE DONE TO PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING AGAIN....THE ADMINISTRATION PLANS TO IMPLEMENT A RUNWAY LIGHTS PLAN THAT WILL HELP EASE THE CONFUSION OVER RUNWAY CONGESTION(FAA Administrator Robert Sturgell)"we're going to deploy runway statis lights nationwide...this is the system that acts as a traffic light for pilots to indicate the runway is clear"THE LIGHT SYSTEM IS ALREADY BEING TESTED AT AIRPORTS IN DALLAS AND SAN DIEGO, BUT WILL SOON BE OPENED UP TO TWENTY OTHER AIRPORTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING JOHN F KENNEDY AIRPORT IN NEW YORK.(STANDUP) "Just last week there were two incidents of planes getting too close to one another here at JKF airport, the near collisions have travellers here visibly worried"(KIMBERLY DREW) "that's kind of frightening, makes me scared to fly a little"(JEANNETT FAKHOUR) "flying by itself is scary enough but knowing this kind of stuff is happening is scary"(JOE NOPTIO) "(Bonny asking) "does it make you nervous?" (JOE answering) "very much not just nervous that's not even the word, it's a matter of life and death."ALTHOUGH IN BOTH INSTANCES THE PLANES WERE WITHIN HALF A MILE OF EACH OTHER, F-A-A OFFICIALS SAY THE PLANES WERE NEVER IN DANGER OF CRASHING....BUT FOR NOW TAKEOFF AND LANDING PROCEDURES ARE BEING CAREFULLY LOOKED AT TO SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE DIFFERENTLY"Both events are being looked at. What we are doing is just, given that we had to in this short a time frame, we're going to take a look at the procedure, we're going to see if there are additional considerations we should add to the procedure and in the meantime, the airport will be using different configuration to handle the traffic at that airport."AND THEY HOPE THE RUNWAY LIGHT SYSTEM WILL BE ONE CHANGE IN PROCEDURE THAT WILL HELP ASSURE TRAVELLERS THE TWO MISHAPS WERE JUST ISOLATED INCIDENTS.....IN NEW YORK BONNY GHOSH THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. (****END****)
Tags: airport incursions faa re-evaluates jfk runway procedures
Tags: airport incursions faa re-evaluates jfk runway procedures
