Rep. Andrews Opposes Plan to Reroute Planes over South Jersey Neighborhoods

I have joined citizens of both South Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania in strong opposition to the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) proposed rerouting of air traffic in the Northeast. While the FAA claims the rerouting will reduce delays, I am extremely concerned that their plan is ill-conceived, wastes taxpayer resources and places an undue burden on the residents in our region.  The plan will reroute airplanes at lower altitudes over New Jersey and Pennsylvania, creating substantial increases in noise in these communities.  Unfortunately, it is clear that the only reductions resulting from this project will be in the quality of life in South Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Two years ago, the Inspector General of the US Department of Transportation published results of an audit of the FAA National Airspace Redesign (NAR) program raising questions about the cost-effectiveness of FAA redesigns.  This report raised specific concerns that the FAA cost and schedule estimates for the vast majority of airspace redesign projects were not reliable.  The FAA has not addressed the issues identified by the Inspector General, even in their current airspace redesign plan.

I am currently working with Rep. Joe Sestak (PA-07) to require the FAA to abandon this plan and develop a new alternative that will adequately address the delays at our region's airports while preserving the quality of life for the residents of New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

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