Too Much Traffic And Some Of It Is Too Heavy

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Monday slapped strict limits on the number and weight of aircraft that can fly into Teterboro, NJ, and plans to impose higher landing fees for those aircraft that continue to operate at the airport new New York City.

Gone will be Federal Reserve overnight flights and all Stage Two aircraft -- noisier jets built more than 20-years ago.

"We have to be very aggressive," said Port Authority Chairman Anthony Coscia, quoted by the Newark Star-Ledger. He was testifying at a hearing of the Senate Legislative Oversight Committee. "We need to reduce the flights at Teterboro."

Permissible weight limits would be reduced from 100,000 pounds to 80,000 under the PA's plan.

Some lawmakers applauded the PA's decision. "This is the first time we've had aggressive action like this from the Port Authority," NJ State Sen. Paul Sarlo told the Star-Ledger. "Previous administrations have taken a hands-off approach to requests for reducing flights, claiming it was a federal issue beyond their control. But I just have to believe a bistate agency overseeing the major metropolitan airports will have the needed clout with the FAA."

Others thought it wasn't enough.

"Conditions at the airport are unsafe and a 25 percent reduction is called for immediately in order to reduce a reasonable level the possibility of a terrible accident occurring there," State Rep. Steve Rothman told the Newark paper. He had asked for a Stage Two ban seven years ago, but got nowhere with the request.

"All four proposed actions would require review by FAA and would be subject to our approval before anything can be implemented," FAA spokesman Jim Peters told the Star-Ledger.

There was no immediate indication when the new restrictions and fees would be made effective -- and there was no indication of what those new fees would be. But already, some Teterboro-based pilots are worried about paying more and flying less.

FMI: www.teb.com/aviation/tetframe.HTM