'Let's Go'... No, Wait

Hours after the city of Chicago received approval from the FAA to begin immediate construction on new runways and facilities intended to ease congestion at O'Hare International Airport, the US Court of Appeals halted the process to consider an emergency appeal from opponents to the expansion.

"We think the federal courts will find this plan to be dead on arrival," said Derek Gaubtaz, director of litigation for the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, an organization representing a nearby church opposed to the expansion plan.

The group claims the O'Hare expansion would desecrate the St. Johannes cemetery, which lies directly in the path of one of the proposed new runways. Construction of the runway would force the relocation the 1,300 tombs ensconced there, some of which date back to the 1800s, according to the group.

Announcement of the appeal came on the heels of the FAA's official Record of Decision (ROD) on the matter, authorizing plans for O'Hare's expansion. As was reported in Aero-News Friday, FAA Administrator Marion Blakey stated the decision meant "O’Hare is now cleared for takeoff to a future with greater safety and capacity."

FAA Spokesman Greg Martin told reporters the agency was working on a response to the appeal Friday night.

Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley's office also intended to file a response with the court, according to media reports. A statement released by project spokesman Roderick Drew said city officials were confident the expansion plan would "withstand any and all judicial challenges."

Earlier in the day, Daley had issued the command "let's go" to waiting construction crews at a news conference announcing the FAA's decision to allow expansion at O'Hare. Daley has been a fervent proponent of the expansion plan.

The eight-year plan would allow O'Hare to increase the number of takeoffs and landings at the airport to 1.2 million per year, while reducing average delay times from over 17 minutes to just under six.

Stay tuned...

FMI: www.faa.gov, www.cityofchicago.org