FAA Works To Ease Delays For Thanksgiving Holiday Travel

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FAA Works To Ease Delays For Thanksgiving Holiday Travel By Steve Hall

		November 19, 2010 - The Federal Aviation Administration is preparing for a busy Thanksgiving holiday travel week by working with the Department of Defense to clear the way for commercial aircraft to fly in airspace normally reserved for the military. "We want to do everything we can to make it easier for people to travel so they can spend Thanksgiving with their loved ones," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "We appreciate the military's help in making this happen." Air traffic controllers may begin routing commercial aircraft through the restricted airspace at 6 a.m. EST on Tuesday, Nov. 23, a day earlier than in previous years. The use of restricted airspace will end at 6 a.m. EST on Monday, Nov. 29. The busiest travel days are expected to be Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday.

Under the agreement, DOD will release airspace off the east coast above 24,000 feet. The added capacity is expected to ease delays during one of the busiest travel periods of the year, saving time and money for passengers and airlines while reducing fuel burn. The FAA has developed dedicated routes off the east coast to allow airlines to plan their flights through the normally restricted airspace. Normal inland routes will still be available. Weather permitting, the combination of both sets of routes is expected to ease congestion. "The FAA is using all the tools available to try and give airlines the most efficient routes so air travelers can reach their destinations safely and on time," said FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt. "The nation's air traffic controllers are committed to upholding the safety of the system while working the most efficient airspace system in the world," said NATCA President Paul Rinaldi. "Over the past year we've experienced a movement toward collaboration at all levels of the agency and we look forward to continuing to work together to improve air travel for the flying public."

		The DOD is also allowing commercial flights to use restricted airspace in other parts of the country. These include airspace over the Gulf of Mexico to ease congestion for commercial aircraft flying between Florida and the Louisiana and Texas areas, as well as points beyond. The airspace over Twenty-nine Palms in California to ease congestion for commercial aircraft flying to and from markets in Southern California. And the airspace over the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico to allow for more direct routings for aircraft flying over the Southwest. Other News Stories FAA Proposes Requiring Pilot Certificates To Include Photos Air Force F-22 Raptor Wreckage Found Pilot Still Missing Combating The Sexual Exploitation Of Children In Travel Air Malta Denies It Is Planning To Dismiss 1000 Employees Sikorsky Helicopters Flying Strong In China Eurocopter Signs Agreement For Maintenance Company In China Japanese Airline Executives Indicted On Conspiracy To Fix Air Cargo Rates Two Boeing 787 Dreamliners ZA001 And ZA005 To Return To Seattle Airline Employment Down 0.6 Percent Airforwarders Called On Congress To Secure Air Cargo Flight Crews And Public Not In Support Of Backscatter Full Body Scanning Funding Committed For New O?Hare South Air Traffic Control Tower Black Hawk Helicopter Takes Historic First Flight In Poland Airbus CEO Joins Parachutists In Jump From A400M SkyTerra 1 Satellite Sends 1st Signals From Space TSA Employees Move Closer To Union Representation Florida Tech And FIT Aviation Pilots Killed In Plane Crash Unique Vacations Fined For Violating DOT Price Advertising Rules FTI Review Panel Report Out On FAA Telecommunications Outage FBI Reports Cargo Theft A Growing Multi Billion Dollar Problem Lockheed Martin Delivers Key GPS III Test Hardware Ahead of Schedule FAA Address Aging Commercial Aircraft In Finalized Rule Bombardier To Participate In Airshow China 2010 Jeppesen Introduces Cessna 172 Aircraft Flight Training Solution UPS Appoints Romaine Seguin As President Of UPS Americas LAN Selects GE To Develop RNP Navigation At Five Airports