From Deseret News archives:
Delta opposes FAA airspace proposal
Airline sees no need to put jets over bench areas
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.
Desing said the FAA recently completed noise testing in several areas along the eastern benches and in the mountains to help determine what sort of noise levels the jets would produce.
That information will be placed in a draft environmental impact study due out in May. The public will have at least 30 days to comment on that study before it is made final about six months later, Desing said. The outcome of that study, as well as public comments, will determine whether the FAA goes through with the plan to create the eastern downwind.
Christensen said the plan should be killed, especially since the largest carrier at the airport doesn't see the need.
"The controllers are not having a problem, the pilots are not having a problem and therefore we do not have a problem," he said. "So let's not try to solve a problem that doesn't exist."
Tim Campbell, Salt Lake City Department of Airport's director, is against the plan, saying the FAA is overly optimistic about air traffic growth at the airport.
E-MAIL: bsnyder@desnews.com
