FAA Okays New Plane Departure Schedule Over Belle Harbor

Anti-Noise Program Launched Ahead Of Schedule
Hundreds of JFK nighttime plane departures, formerly headed over Belle Harbor, are now diverted over an ocean inlet just west of the Rockaway peninsula by a space-age system, it was announced by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Citing the cooperation of the national Air Traffic Controllers Association, the FAA began the anti-noise program 6 a.m., last Monday, nearly one month ahead of schedule.
The FAA is also investigating the possibility of expanding the use of this controller-directed procedure during daytime operations at JFK, when traffic conditions permit. It also stressed that "weather and wind directions will determine when controls can use the manual procedure."
The FAA made a commitment to the residents of the Rockaways to work towards reducing aircraft noise over their community," said Frank Hatfield, manager, Air Traffic, FAAs Eastern Region. "We believe that using this procedure will help accomplish that goal."
During recent months, Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-7 CD) has been working with the FAA to determine the feasibility of implementing a similar program in north Queens to curb both the noise and air pollution that has impacted the area in the vicinity of LaGuardia Airport.
Crowley has called the LaGuardia air lanes among the busiest in the world. According to the Port Authority (PA), during an average day last December 850 planes flew into and from LaGuardia as compared to JFKs 665 daily volume. Crowley has just announced additional funding for a federal EPA study of air and noise pollution in the vicinity of LaGuardia Airport.
The new $50 million program, a prototype for a national system, will use a computer-based flight management system and satellite technology to guide departing airplanes away from populated areas of the Rockaways for an eight-hour stretch, between 11 p.m. until 7 a.m. As aircraft depart JFKs runway 31L, air traffic controllers will route pilots over an unpopulated water inlet between Breezy Point and Manhattan Beach.
Since volume varies by weather and time of year, there is no estimate as to how many departing airplanes will be affected by the new program. However, during the week of Jan. 5 through 12, there were 391 nighttime take-offs from Kennedy during the eight-day period, with the bulk of the departures using runway 31L. According to the FAA, 49 percent of the nighttime planes left between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m.; and another 36 percent flew out between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m.
During an average week, 4,655 planes fly into or depart from JFK Airport, according to the Port Authority.
The Port Authority also has approved the new program. "Anything that addresses the concerns of our neighbors, is welcome," said PA spokesman Pasquale DiFalco.