cfiaime@ihnp4.UUCP (Jeff Williams) (09/18/84)
Paraphrased from an article in "General Aviation News" - September 10, 1984: Washington, DC. - ...Harold J. Pareti, president of People Express, said in a letter to CAB (Civil Aeronautics Board)...that his company proposed "removing all G. A. (General Aviation) activity from congested urban airports" as a solution to the problem [of airport congestion]. In another letter, Alfred E. Kahn, the former CAB Chairman, suggested that the government "ration private corporate jets out of the crowded airports at peak hours." Kahn added that the assumption that general aviation is entitled to landing rights at these public airports "is simply shocking." The NBAA (National Business Aircraft Association) responded to these suggestions. NBAA said People Express "speaks of a 'phenomenal increase' in general aviation and military traffic and then fails to give one shred of data on which to base such a claim." Citing FAA airport data, the association noted that general aviation and military operations were down 10 percent from pre-strike levels in 1981 at Newark; down 42 percent at LaGuardia; down 20 percent at Atlanta; down by 46 percent at Denver; and down by 12 percent at O'Hare. In contrast, People Express has increased 87 percent over prestrike levels. A total of 21 airlines asked the CAB for anti-trust immunity so they could discuss scheduling after the FAA warned last month that if the carriers do not act, the government would impose its own restrictions at the airports. ---End of Paraphrase--- Now, what do we General Aviation types do about this? First, a letter writing campaign is in order. People Express is located in Newark, N.J. Mentioning that you will not fly People Express, and will attempt to persuade others not to fly People Express is in order. Letters to the FAA, Congressmen, and the like are also called for. If the airlines are allowed to totally take over airports, we will eventually not be able to fly anywhere. Another thing that we can do is to responsibly use the airspace. Taking a Cessna 150 into O'Hare at 17:00 hrs on a Friday is probably not a good idea. (Assuming, of course, that all of the TCA regulations are met.) Again, letter campaigns for reliever airports are in order. This is a flame against 121 carriers! Jeff Williams AT&T Bell Laboratories ihnp4!cfiaime