The FAA has proposed a rule new rule to enhance current practices for landings and takeoffs during the busiest travel times at New York-area airports and make those practices permanent. The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) is designed to maintain efficiency levels, better reflect accepted international practices, and promote fairness in airline competition.
“This proposed rulemaking allows us to manage delays in this high-demand airspace and encourage competition at the same time," said FAA Administrator Michael P. Huerta.
A “slot" is a landing or takeoff assigned during a specific time of day to a designated carrier. Slot controls are currently in place at four U.S. airports. The proposed rule covers three of those airports: LaGuardia, John F. Kennedy and Newark Liberty. It does not affect current slot rules at Washington Ronald Reagan National Airport.
The proposed rule would establish hourly slot limits at current existing levels for assigned carriers between 6 a.m. and 10:59 p.m. and would add daily limits for the period between 6 a.m. and 9:59 p.m. The proposed rulemaking also would provide a system to ensure that carriers use each allocated slots at least 80 percent of the time or relinquish the slot.
In addition, the proposed rulemaking encourages airline competition by proposing five “secondary market" alternatives to allow selling, buying, trading, or leasing assigned slots. The rule also outlines proposed procedures to review slot transactions that involve potentially anti-competitive practices.
The FAA will accept public comment on the NPRM for 90 days after publication in the Federal Register.
> Fact Sheet outlining specifics of the NPRM, including the number of slots per airport, times of slots, and potential secondary market alternatives.
> Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM)
Source: Federal Aviation Administration
