Is the airport safe? Really?

BY ED FELIEN

FAA statement on July 31:
“On Friday, July 24, the Federal Aviation Administrat-ion temporarily suspended certain operations on Runway 30-Left and Runway 35 at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.”
They suspended operations because the heavy congestion was causing planes to intersect each other’s flight patterns while trying to land and take off.  They suspended operations because the Federal Aviation Administration was afraid planes would start to run into each other.
More and more, it seems, the Metropolitan Airport Commission (MAC) is trying to pound 10 pounds of sand into a 5-pound bag.
Right now MAC is running between 124 and 136 flight operations per hour.  The South Metro Airport Action Council (SMAAC), a local non-governmental watchdog group, is asking for an immediate reduction to 120 to 130 operations.
Local FAA officials did a risk management study “that appeared to address the risks associated with converging runway operations” but the national FAA found their conclusions dangerously inadequate.  A serious review of that study was the reason they closed down the runways.
There is always going to be pressure to increase flights at MSP.  The more people fly, the more pressure there will be to add flights.  The more flights, the greater the danger of planes flying into each other.  It is a disaster waiting to happen.
There had been plans to move some MSP operations to an expanded Airlake Airport in Farmington 21 miles south.  With an easy expansion of the Hiawatha light rail line, that could bring passengers into the Twin Cities in just a few extra minutes, and the result would be a quieter and safer MSP.  But the MAC doesn’t seem interested in that option.
Also, increased air traffic means airlines want bigger airplanes which require greater thrust to climb into the sky which means greater noise for residents and businesses on the ground in South Minneapolis.
If you have concerns about noise levels or safety issues at MSP, you should contact Ward 11 City Council Member John Quincy, 612-673-2211.  He is our representative on the Metropolitan Airports Commission.  He has the power to change things for the better, or do nothing until things get much worse.