Politics & Government
New Protocol at SFO Should Help Ease Delays on Foggy Days
The FAA is going to allow staggered landings on both runways on low-visibility days. Most delays at SFO are weather related.
By Bay City News
Frequent flyers weary of fog-related delays at San FranciscoĀ International Airport have some relief on the horizon: the airport hasĀ implemented a new landing protocol that will increase the rate of flightĀ arrivals when skies are gray.
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"It should help a little bit during the bad weather," airportĀ spokesman Doug Yakel said.
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Yakel explained that on sunny days, there are dual landings onĀ parallel runways at SFO. "On a clear day like today, airplanes can land sideĀ by side," he said.
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However, in times of low visibility, such as on foggy days, theĀ Federal Aviation Administration has prohibited such landings, and planesĀ landed one by one, using a single runway.
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"Essentially what you had was a single-file line," Yakel said.
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Now, planes still won't be able to land side-by-side in inclementĀ weather, but the FAA will allow staggered landings using both runways.
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FAA spokesman Ian Gregor said that under the new protocol, anĀ additional one to six aircraft should be able to land at SFO each hour onĀ low-visibility days.
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He said the new rules are "not a panacea" but that they shouldĀ help alleviate some of the air traffic backup that occurs on rainy or foggyĀ days.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā
"Every additional aircraft you can get in is a good thing," heĀ said.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā
The change was made only after years of safety studies, GregorĀ said.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā
"We're always looking to see what we can do safely ... Before weĀ make any change, we're going to study that extensively to make sure it'sĀ absolutely safe," he said.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā
The new landing rules were implemented onĀ Sept. 30, and Yakel saidĀ it's too early to tell how much they will reduce flight delays on bad-weatherĀ days -- partly because the weather was so nice for much of October.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā
However, he said it should make a difference, as most delays atĀ SFO are weather-related.
Frequent flyers weary of fog-related delays at San FranciscoĀ International Airport have some relief on the horizon: the airport hasĀ implemented a new landing protocol that will increase the rate of flightĀ arrivals when skies are gray.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā
"It should help a little bit during the bad weather," airportĀ spokesman Doug Yakel said.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā
Yakel explained that on sunny days, there are dual landings onĀ parallel runways at SFO. "On a clear day like today, airplanes can land sideĀ by side," he said.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā
However, in times of low visibility, such as on foggy days, theĀ Federal Aviation Administration has prohibited such landings, and planesĀ landed one by one, using a single runway.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā
"Essentially what you had was a single-file line," Yakel said.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā
Now, planes still won't be able to land side-by-side in inclementĀ weather, but the FAA will allow staggered landings using both runways.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā
FAA spokesman Ian Gregor said that under the new protocol, anĀ additional one to six aircraft should be able to land at SFO each hour onĀ low-visibility days.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā
He said the new rules are "not a panacea" but that they shouldĀ help alleviate some of the air traffic backup that occurs on rainy or foggyĀ days.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā
"Every additional aircraft you can get in is a good thing," heĀ said.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā
The change was made only after years of safety studies, GregorĀ said.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā
"We're always looking to see what we can do safely ... Before weĀ make any change, we're going to study that extensively to make sure it'sĀ absolutely safe," he said.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā
The new landing rules were implemented onĀ Sept. 30, and Yakel saidĀ it's too early to tell how much they will reduce flight delays on bad-weatherĀ days -- partly because the weather was so nice for much of October.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā
However, he said it should make a difference, as most delays atĀ SFO are weather-related.
Copyright Ā© 2013 by Bay City News, Inc. -- Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
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