Reply to Amazon development in VA potentially affecting DCA flight patterns

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[quote=Anonymous]What do you think of the potential issue summarized in the letter below? It seems like VA gets economic development and shiny new buildings, while DC may just get more airplane traffic and noise. 
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Dear Councilmember Cheh and Council Chair Mendelson,

I am the Ward 3 representative on the CWG Noise committee sponsored by MWAA and the FAA.  At the CWG meeting on April 28, the topic of Amazon-related development in Arlington and Alexandria came up because of potential implications on DCA aircraft flight patterns. Recently, Arlington updated its Crystal City Sector Development Plan - (https://arlingtonva.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2021/09/CRYSTAL-CITY-SECTOR-PLAN_JAN112012_web.pdf)

Appendix A.4 "FAA Feasibility Review of Building Heights" on page 156, describes preliminary analysis regarding building height and potential necessary flight path mitigations for airline safety.  Page 158 provides a list of these issues and mitigations. The troubling and repeated mitigation recommended by the FAA is  "Impacts to circling minima can be mitigated by not allowing aircraft to circle to the west of DCA.”  This implies that planes circling DCA would be routed eastward towards DC.  This would affect not only affect Wards 2&3 north of DCA, but also Wards 6&7 south of DCA.  Arlington County recently approved the Amazon development plan.

Further troubling are Alexandria City development plans described by MWAA at the meeting.  The FAA indicated that several planned building development heights intruded into safe airspace, notably the proposed Virginia Tech Complex off of Route 1.  The incursions into safe airspace ranged from 47-90 feet.  The FAA is proceeding with a detailed aeronautical study with Alexandria planning.  I asked MWAA and the FAA how other nearby (read DC) DCA stakeholder jurisdictions would be included in the study outcome.  Neither MWAA or the FAA were able to cogently respond and appeared confused over what, if any, formal venue exists for including other jurisdictions.  I thought this was strange, but as I have often said, MWAA seems to only care about its revenue stream from airport gates and concessions.  Perhaps this is old news to you because you have already been briefed by DC’s MWAA representatives?

I would appreciate understanding how the District interacts with the FAA on Arlington and Alexandria development planning implications on aircraft flight paths.  More importantly, how will Ward 3 (and other Wards) communities be engaged in reviewing any plans?

Thank you for your courtesy.

Kind regards,

Ken Buckley
Ward 3 CWG representative[/quote]

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