A big step was taken today in putting a halt to regional airspace redesign that could negatively impact communities. The FAA moved flight paths in and out of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in September 2014 without notification or input from community members affected by the changes. The FAA is now beginning its even larger, Metroplex regional airspace redesign process.
Thursday an amendment was added to the Federal Transportation, Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill. This amendment, which could put a halt to the Phoenix Metroplex regional airspace redesign, was passed today by the US House of Representatives.
US Representative Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), who sponsored the amendment, said on the House floor, “This amendment is very straightforward. It would just simply ensure the FAA does not proceed with the redesign of the regional airspace around Sky Harbor Airport until these issues [noise impacts from the 2014 flight path changes] are resolved in the local neighborhoods.”
US Representative David Schweikert (R-AZ) backed Congressman Gallego’s amendment. “This is our opportunity to at least get our voices heard,” said Schweikert. “There are well established corridors where you don’t have the effects on the neighborhoods and we can still be moving to the Next Gen, if I could find someone at the FAA who would actually listen to our concerns.”
After pleading with the FAA for eight months to mitigate noise concerns in the community resulting from the September 2014 flight path changes, Phoenix filed a lawsuit on June 1. “The FAA has not functioned openly, and as a result, Phoenix residents are suffering. It simply is not fair nor just,” said Phoenix Councilwoman Laura Pastor (D4).
“As with the recent flight path changes in Phoenix, the Metroplex project has the potential to create problems throughout Arizona. We need to ensure that the FAA conducts appropriate community outreach, scoping and involvement at the beginning of the project; not after they’ve already decided what they want to do,” said Kate Gallego, Phoenix City Councilwoman (D8).
Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton, city leaders and community members are encouraged by this action as efforts to work with the FAA directly on the local noise issue have not resulted in any meaningful change. The Metroplex issue is even larger and could have more significant impact.
Phoenix Councilman Michael Nowakowski (D7) said, “We are grateful for the leadership shown by Congressman Gallego and Schweikert. It is imperative that we utilize every tool and resource available not only to correct the flight path changes that began in September of 2014, but also to prevent further impacts to our communities.”
