McCarthy Rips FAA for Proposed Flight Routes That Put New Takeoffs Over Nassau County

WASHINGTON, DC (April 1, 2011) – Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY04), who has been working to reduce airplane traffic noise from airports near her district for years, voted last night to stop a plan that would require westbound flights from JFK to start by flying east over Nassau County during the noisy takeoff procedure.

"Few things are more outrageous than clueless bureaucrats in Washington making illogical and harmful decisions about our quality of life back home,” Rep. McCarthy said.  “Routing westbound flights from JFK over Nassau County would be a noisy, disruptive burden to the residents there and makes about as much sense as driving through Connecticut to get to New Jersey.  I'll continue to fight, as I have for years, for ways to keep airplane noise out of Nassau County."

Rep. McCarthy got an amendment passed in 2009 calling for the FAA to study local noise levels and has supported amendments trying to stop this plan in the House four other times since 2007.  She voted yes last night on an amendment to the FAA’s budget that would require the FAA to stop implementation of its proposed flight routes until additional alternatives are considered.  The amendment failed but Rep. McCarthy said that she will continue to work with colleagues in the House and Senate in an effort to stop the plan.

A map of the proposed new flight paths is available in this document: http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/nas_redesign/regional_guidance/eastern_reg/nynjphl_redesign/briefings/media/20110128.pdf