Delta opposes FAA airspace proposal

Delta Air Lines, by far Salt Lake City International Airport's largest carrier, has formally come out against a federal proposal to place commercial jets over the eastern portions of Salt Lake and Davis counties.

In a Dec. 17 letter obtained Monday by the Deseret Morning News, Robert Dibblee, head of government and public affairs for the Western region, informed the FAA that Delta doesn't believe current air traffic warrants a change.

"Delta Air Lines does not experience measurable air traffic delays that would necessitate certain of the contemplated changes to the existing airspace structure or procedures at this time," the letter states.

In short, Dibblee said, Delta is happy with the existing airspace configuration, which has a single downwind — a holding pattern for approaching flights — over the western edges of Salt Lake County. Of course, that may change sometime in the future if Delta begins adding many more flights, Dibblee said.

"We see the current structure as fitting our needs for now," he said.

Salt Lake International's steady growth in air traffic, even after 9/11, has caused the FAA to rethink flight paths over Salt Lake and southern Davis counties. Instead of the existing western "downwind" — a flight pattern commercial jets use before beginning their final approach to the airport — FAA officials are considering adding another downwind over the eastern benches. The reconfiguration would ease safety and congestion concerns over the Wasatch Front, FAA officials say.

Clark Desing, air traffic manager for the FAA at Salt Lake International, said he hadn't seen Dibblee's letter and was surprised by it. Desing said no other carriers have commented, and he believes all of the carriers would remain neutral on the so-called Northern Utah Airspace Initiative.

Dibblee said Delta decided to take a stand against the plan at the urging of Salt Lake City's Airport Board.

Former City Council Chairman Keith Christensen, a current airport board member, said the board urged Delta to write the letter because of many concerns over the east downwind, which would put commercial jets, flying at 7,000 to 8,000 feet above the valley floor, over the most populated areas of Salt Lake County.

By comparison, airliners landing from the south are about 2,000 feet above the valley floor as they pass over 4500 South.

Many residents have voiced concerns about noise pollution, sight pollution and the effect the jets could have on pristine areas of the Wasatch Mountain Range.