Wow, another article with mis-information, also known to regular people as "lies."

The main problem, says Mr. Castelveter, is inefficient use of the airspace in the region, WRONG. The problem is scheduling 60 departures at an airport in one hour that can only handle 44 in one hour.

There are also technological fixes that can be implemented. For instance, at Atlanta's Hartsdale Airport, the FAA and Delta Airlines are using satellite-based navigation to allow more planes to land and take off at one time. Guess what? WRONG AGAIN!!! Atlanta aiport has been doing two takeoffs and landings at a time since it opened. The "new" navigation system just de-complicates the arrival and departure routes. Delays went down at Atlanta when they built a NEW RUNWAY!

The long-term solution is what the FAA calls its Next Generation Air Traffic Control - satellite-based technology that will allow more airplanes in the sky.

REALLY? How much closer do Comsumerist readers want to be to another tube of 120+ people at 500mph (groundspeed) than 5 miles and/or 1000 feet at cruising altitude? Or when you are approaching an airport 3 miles and/or 1000 feet? Seriously, I want to know.

Thanks for letting me rant.

--BK

well I will say one thing, the FAA's idea of restricting flights into JFK to 1969 levels is absolutely stupid which is what they want to do.

@BK88: JFK was handling 60 departures fine until 2000.

I've said before, and will now say again, that we need to connect the airports with the railways. Some (very few) are, but all should be connected in the congested areas. Such a configuration would make it possible for someone to get on a train at Penn Station or Grand Central (Penn more likely), and connect to a flight out of a less-crowded area.

Think about it. As it is now, the Acela Express can take you to BWI in a few hours. How many airports are there between Baltimore and Newark that are lightly travelled that could be connected similarly?

@Falconfire: What happened in 2000? And what other way of decreasing delays is there at JFK?

@kc2idf:

Excellent idea, although then airlines would have to offer more destinations from the smaller airports to make this work. Otherwise you are taking a train to East Podunk Regional Airport just to have a puddle-jumper take you to JFK, or another large airport for a connection.

@BK88: I took a look and its because your right, and wrong. JFK is handling 100+ flights a hour, but should only be handling 80. it was ok before 2000 because at that point they only where under 80.

as for ways of decreasing delays... well it would help if they where not flying flight plans laid out back in the days of using bonfires to signal airports, of which 77% of them are currently.

@kc2idf: "How many airports are there between Baltimore and Newark that are lightly travelled that could be connected similarly?"

0, unless you consider Philly lightly traveled.

Sometimes the delays are not that bad. I mean who here dosn't enjoy being held hostage on the tarmac for 3+ hours only to return to the gate. Then once at the gate if you unboard you will not be allowed back into the plane and told your luggage will not be fetched for you. Then when they finally cave you have 15 minutes off the plane before they recall a boarding then you sit there again for another half hour to an hour.

I want to send my thanks out to Continental, Flight 155 October 11th out of West Palm Beach. You knew we would not be taking off anytime soon, what with the weather or was it computer problem up there? I don't know anymore, we got told both several times then only one but it was worth it to sit inside a baking metal oven in the Florida sun.

@Falconfire: If the airlines schedule more flights (arrivals or departures or both) than the airport can handle, it does not matter if the planes are flying from one bon fire to another or from a LAT/LON to a LAT/LON, there will be delays.

Physics update, only one aircraft can safely land or depart one runway at one time. NexGen will help, but will not be the cure. Most airliners, more than the 23% you stated use a form on Area Navigation (RNAV). RNAV can be either GPS or a flight computer with near GPS accuracy. Check flightaware.com and you can see that if you know what you are looking for!