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PLEASE HELP STOP THE FAA FROM GUTTING GRAND CANYON'S FLIGHT FREE
ZONES!
The FAA has announced yet another proposed rule which would establish
two
new air tour routes in Grand Canyon RIGHT THROUGH TWO FLIGHT FREE
ZONES.
A proposed route through the section of Toroweap/Shinumo flight free
zone
which was extended in last year's rulemaking in order to protect
National
Canyon. The Havasupai have formally requested removal of all air tour
routes from their lands, which include all of Havasu Canyon. The FAA
is
ignoring that request, and mocking the concept of "flight free zones".
In an effort to provide incentives for tour operators to convert to
more
"noise efficient aircraft", the FAA proposes a second route that is
even
more appalling. This one would parallel the river over the North Rim,
slightly north of North Rim Village and right through the heart of the
Canyon. This route will cut through, and effectively gut, the Bright
Angel
Flight Free Zone. Although the route will only be open to aircraft that
is
less noisy, even the quietest of aircraft still make a lot of noise.
The
sound of aircraft engines would be audible for several miles on either
side
of the route.
We support providing incentive routes for tour companies which utilize
less
noisy aircraft. However, this may be better accomplished by closing
current
routes, such as the Dragon Corridor to all but the quietest of
aircraft.
This action was proposed several years ago by the National Park
Service,
yet has been ignored by the FAA. Clearly, the FAA is still basing
their
decisions not on safety as is their mandate, but rather on the
economic
interests of the air tour industry.
*****Please write the FAA now. Tell them that no aircraft - even less
noisy
ones - should be allowed to penetrate flight free zones.
Comments must be marked with "Docket No. 28902"
The e-mail address is:
9-nprm-cmts@faa.dot.gov
Please send us as copy, too. Sometimes the FAA has given us an
incorrect
address, and at times the mail is returned for no apparent reason. If
you
send us a copy, we will see to it that your comments are mailed, if
necessary, to the FAA.
Should you have any questions, please contact us.
Jeri Ledbetter
President,
Grand Canyon River Guides
gcrg@infomagic.com
Leonard Thurman http://river.ihs.gov
Len@Songbird.com Grand Canyon River Running
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