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Operating Limitations at Chicago O'Hare - Comments of The Regional Airline Association

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Operating Limitations at Chicago O'Hare International Airport

FAA-04-16944

September 20, 2004

Response of The Regional Airline Association to the Air Carrier Association of America

RJ operations at O'Hare have increased, providing additional service and price competition for many communities of all sizes. However, the use of regional jets - as opposed to other aircraft - has not caused reductions in airport capacity. ACAA quotes a footnote in the DOT Office of the Inspector General "Airline Industry Metrics" report issued on January 8, 2004 that "regional jets require greater separation times between operations than do larger jets" attributed to "FAA." An official of the FAA's Air Traffic Organization has confirmed with RAA that, from an air traffic control perspective, separation standards specifically related to RJ's do not limit capacity. The separation standards are the same for all aircraft in a particular weight category; the vast majority of RJ's are categorized as "large" and require the same separation as other narrowbody aircraft such as the Boeing 737 and Airbus 320. The OIG is reviewing the issue of aircraft separation requirements as part of it s overall study of the impact of regional jets on the National Airspace System, and its final report is expected to address this issue.

FAA should reject ACAA's request for limitations on regional jet service as there is no legal, technical or public policy basis to do so. Major and regional airlines are responding to market forces and passenger demand by adding new and supplemental regional jet service to markets of all sizes. Passengers traveling between Chicago and both large and small communities require the convenience and frequency made economically possible by the use of RJ's, and there is no basis whatever for singling out RJ operations at O'Hare for restrictions.

By: RAA, Deborah McElroy, mcelroy@raa.org

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