Date: 1996-09-17
Speaker: CAROLYN BLUM (democrat)
Chamber: S

Regional Administrator. Federal Aviation Administration. Southern Region. College Park. GA. DEAR Ms. BLtUM: The Federal Aviation Administration. airport operators. and the users of the national air transportation system a few years ago initiated Airport Capacity Design Teams- to identify. develop and evaluate means of reducing delays at high activity airports. such as Charlotte. Ancillary benefits based upon implementation of a number of these recommendations have resulted in increased air traffic control system safety and efficiency. In April of 1991. the Charlotte/Douglas International Airport Capacity. Enhancement Plan. completed by the Charlotte Capacity Design Team. was published by the Federal Aviation Administration. This plan was the result of a two year collaborative effort by a design team which included representatives from: the FAA System Capacity and Requirements Office. the FAA Technical Center. Aviation Capacity Branch. the FAA Southern Region Air Traffic Division. Airway Facilities Division. Airport District Office. and the Charlotte Tower. USAir. Air Transport Association. Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. and the City of Charlottes Aviation Department. One of the key recommendations of this plan was the upgrade of capabilities and services offered by the reliever airports serving the Charlotte area. In fact. an estimated savings of $5.6 million per year in 1991 dollars was forecast as a result of reducing demand at the Charlotte/Douglas International Airport generated by general aviation. business and corporate aviation demand. Much of this demand at the Charlotte/Douglas International Airport occurs during critical periods of instrument meteorological conditions when reliever airports are simply not equipped to serve aircraft in these weather conditions. The resultant involuntary movement of general aviation. business and corporate aircraft from a reliever airport to a major commercial service airport hub could not come at a worse time or under worse conditions. In recognition of these critical capacity. efficiency and safety issues. the Rock HillYork County Airport. an FAA designated reliever airport to the CharlotteDouglas International Airport. has applied to the FAA Southern Region for approval and funding of an AIP project to upgrade its Runway 02 Localizer to a full Runway 02 ILS by the addition of a glideslope and related improvements. The benefits of lowering the approach minima to Rock Hill Airport. as a result of these Improvements. will accrue a substantial benefit to the Charlotte/Douglas International Airport as promised in the Charlotte/Douglas International Airport Capacity Enhancement Plan. Because of Rock Hills willingness to fund a major portion of this projects capital. design and maintenance costs from nonFAA funding sources. it appears this is a project of excellent value if the FAA considers its overall infrastructure benefits. I strongly endorse this initiative by Rock Hill and would appreciate your help in assisting Rock Hill in obtaining the necessary project approval and funding on a priority basis. Thank you for your kind consideration of this matter. Best personal regards.