The Bad, Worse,and Worst about RJs

RJs are causing noise disturbances in Minneapolis neighborhoods.

Re-routed traffic at MSP intended to reduce the potential for planes to cross paths after a near-collision between a commercial jetliner and a cargo plane in 2010, has resulted in more flights over neighborhoods.

What are RJs?

They are aircraft that can accommodate anywhere from 19 to 100 passengers. Commercial RJs used by the airlines are 50 to 100 seat aircraft that require 5,500 to 6,500ft runways, which are the runway lengths required to achieve FAA- certified takeoff.

Anoka and Flying Cloud have 5,000ft runways.

According to Consumer Travel Magazine there are 7 regional jet sins against passengers. (which ironically means profits for the airlines.)

What are they?

They’re more delay prone, they have a harder time in rough weather, they’re more likely to run into weight issues, they have a more difficult time getting slots which are given to larger aircraft first, and they are more prone to delays. That’s only five and I can tell you all five happened to me on a trip from LGA to MSP during the Christmas Holiday.

But more importantly what are their sins against communities?

With RJs it’s their ability to flyer lower, thus frequency and altitude contribute to higher noise levels, something we argued with MAC related to the runway extension at Flying Cloud Airport. Frequency will result in more noise, whether it’s jets or props. At the time MAC argued that jets are quieter. Maybe, but lots and lots of them are not.

In a statement from the MAC’s Noise Manager Chad Leqve, regarding the noise increase at MSP he said while regional jets are considered quieter than some larger jets, "if they're frequent enough, they can be very annoying." (That was our point exactly, years and years ago.)

http://www.startribune.com/local/minneapolis/136984638.html


RJs help airlines cut costs on routes between major cities. They are cheaper to operate in terms of fuel and staff, they allow carriers to serve more cities and display those cities as part of their network.


So while Americans are getting bigger, national air travel is getting smaller. If you’ve flown an RJ lately you had to have noticed the seats are smaller, overhead is smaller and the bathrooms are smaller. Yes, even the cockpit is crazy small!

New MAC Noise Complaint Line

http://www.macnoise.com/complaint

SMALL PLANE TERROR THREAT

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44387746/ns/politics/



“WASHINGTON — The FBI and Homeland Security have issued a nationwide warning about al-Qaida threats to small airplanes, just days before the anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks”

An email went out to the Eden Prairie City Council, Tim Anderson of MAC, our MAC Commissioner Rick King asking that they be cognizant of the real threats that exist.
And to keep our community safe.

Zero Expansion and its members would like to hear that there is tightening of security at MSP and our neighborhood airports in the Metro.

MAC Responds to FOIA from Request Zero Expansion

MAC has emails dated 3-29-11 that reference Rick King and MAC appointment.

Once we receive them we will publish.

Our understanding is that both Rick King, Global Head of Technology and Operations Thomson Reuters and former US Attorney for Minnesota Tom Heffilfinger, both Eden Prairie residents, applied for the position.

Rick King was appointed to the MAC.

Both were at one time chairs of the Flying Cloud Airport Advisory Commission FCAAC.

Heffilfinger worked on a model security program with Mayor Nancy Tyra Lukens and was instrumental in negotiating with MAC on the Final Agreement.

King was appointed to the FCAAC by former Mayor Phil Young and was involved in securing funding for the 5,000ft expansion at Flying Cloud Airport, FCM.


Vicki Pellar Price on behalf of Zero Expansion members

RE: Zero Expansion serves Governor Dayton and the MAC with FOIA

March 30, 2011

From: Victoria Pellar Price on Behalf of Zero Expansion
16526 West 78th St. #163
Eden Prairie, MN 55346
www.zeroexpansion.com
transportationtalk@yahoo.com

Governor Mark Dayton
Office of the Governor
130 State Capitol
75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55155
mark.dayton@state.mn.us

Tim Anderson
Metropolitan Airports Commission
6040 28th Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55450
tim.anderson@mspmac.org

ATTN: Freedom of Information and Privacy Act Request

Dear Governor Dayton and Tim Anderson,

Under the Freedom of Information Act, I am requesting access to emails, correspondences and phone calls between the Governor’s office and the MAC, Metropolitan Airports Commission related to the selection of Rick King (former head of the Eden Prairie Flying Cloud Airports Advisory Commission) as new commissioner on the MAC representing Eden Prairie. Please include documents from the time period between Jan and March of 2011. I represent members of the community group, Zero Expansion, who opposed the expansion of Flying Cloud Airport.
If there are any fees charged for searching or copying the records, please let me know before you fill my request. Or, please supply the records without cost or inform me of the cost if the fees do not exceed $10.00, which I agree to pay. Please follow the FOIA guidelines and respond within the allowed time period.

If you have any questions processing this request, you may contact me at the following telephone number:

Sincerely,
Victoria Pellar Price

Thunderbird Aviation Locked Gate

How many years of complaining before the FAA/TSA played catch-up? Too many. What did it take to bring Thunderbird Aviation into compliance with security and safety, the 21st century risks, that are applicable to small aircraft and airports TOO?

Again, TOO long.

Who can forget their CEO telling the FCAAC, the city council that they WOULD NOT lock their gates.


Bottom line, the hassle free flights, they've been touting, are less free today.
Talk about an industry hanging on to the Lindberg days, refuting the real risks associated with accessible, open facilities and aircraft.

This is another no rules/no regulations industry that needs oversight by public activists who have no financial gain, only the result that they helped make airports and the communites they are in safer.

Candidate Questionnaire 2010

Zero Expansion/transportationtalk 2010 Candidate Questionnaire is available online at http://www.prairiehomeliving.com


Zero Expansion members have a keen interest in understanding the positions of elected officials related to the airport.

There were nine candidates who responded and three who did not. The three were: Hann, Loon and Duckstad.

Zero Expansion is a 20+ year community organization dedicated to all parties abiding by the Final Agreement, being security and safety conscious at the airport and no further expansion at Flying Cloud Airport.