Congresswoman Maxine Waters Disappointed with FAA Recommendation for LAX
Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-35) sent the following letter to FAA Administrator Babbitt, expressing her disappointment at the FAA's request of the City of Los Angeles to reconfigure the north airfield at LAX:
April 12, 2010
Mr. J. Randolph Babbitt
Administrator
Federal Aviation Administration
800 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20591
Dear Mr. Babbitt:
I was deeply disappointed to learn of your recent letter to Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, urging the City of Los Angeles to reconfigure the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) north airfield.
This letter disregarded the conclusions of a credible study comparing the safety of the current configuration of the LAX north airfield with several proposed alternate configurations. This study, entitled "LAX North Airfield Safety Study," was conducted by an independent panel of experts, with the support of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), using simulations of airport operations at the NASA Ames Research Center. As you know, the study concluded, "The North Airfield of LAX is extremely safe under the current configuration."
Your letter also ignored the concerns of the communities surrounding LAX, most of which are in my congressional district. Residents of Westchester and Playa del Rey, which are located adjacent to the LAX north airfield, are strongly opposed to its reconfiguration, which could force families to leave their homes. Residents of the City of Inglewood, which is located under the flight path of aircraft using the north airfield, are concerned that reconfiguration will result in an increase in airport noise.
The families and small businesses in the communities surrounding LAX are already impacted by the noise, pollution, and traffic congestion that results from airport operations. To the best of my knowledge, your office made no attempt to meet with individuals in these communities prior to sending your letter. Nor was there any attempt to speak with me prior to sending this letter, despite the fact that LAX is located in my congressional district. I issued a statement applauding the study immediately after its release, a copy of which was shared with the FAA.
I am also concerned that your letter focuses on the efficiency of airport operations as a justification for reconfiguring the north runway. Safety and efficiency should be treated as separate issues. While airport safety is of paramount concern, air traffic efficiency must be evaluated in light of other issues affecting both the airport and local communities. The concerns of local communities should not be sacrificed in order to maximize the efficiency of airport operations.
I respectfully request that you reconsider your position on the LAX North Airfield Safety Study. I urge you to give due consideration to the extensive research and simulations of airport operations on which this study is based before urging the City of Los Angeles to disregard its conclusions. I also urge you to consider the concerns of the communities surrounding LAX before urging the City of Los Angeles to reconfigure the north airfield.
Sincerely,
Maxine Waters
Member of Congress
cc: The Honorable Antonio Villaraigosa, Mayor of Los Angeles
Ms. Gina Marie Lindsey, Executive Director, Los Angeles World Airports
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