PRESERVATION
OF SAFE AIRSPACE BILL
The
“Preservation of Safe Airspace” bill is common sense legislation needed to
ensure the safety of the public – including pilots, passengers, neighbors and
surrounding communities. Recognizing that one cannot have safe airports
without ensuring safe airspace, the bill provides a statewide solution to
address airspace obstructions by clarifying state law, as consistent with
federal law, while improving airspace protection coordination among local,
state and federal jurisdictions for publicly owned airports.
Under
federal law, when obstructions threatening safe airspace are encountered, the
Rhode Island Airport Corporation (RIAC) is required to mitigate such
obstructions. The majority of obstructions identified at Rhode Island
Airports (of which there are six that RIAC operates), are trees that have been
allowed to grow over a period of decades. If an obstruction/tree is
identified on a private property near an airport, RIAC is required to follow a
FAA prescribed process to enter into negotiations with landowners to negotiate
a fair and equitable compensation for airspace easements which allows for trees
to be cut and/or removed.
RIAC has
been very successful in engaging and negotiating necessary airspace easements
with a vast majority of property owners in Westerly and Newport. However
a small percentage of property owners unfortunately, have filed suit, resulting
in more than three years of ongoing litigation while airspace-obstructing trees
have continued to grow.
Because
RIAC is required to mitigate obstructions, without the ability to remove the
trees, RIAC has had to displace runway ends (in essence shorten runways) as the
only remaining method of mitigation. This has occurred at Westerly State
Airport and will soon be occurring at Newport State Airport. Quite simply,
if no action is taken to correct this issue, airport runways will continue to
be effectively shortened until they can no longer safely accommodate takeoff
and landing.
Although
the Airport Corporation remains confident that the public’s interest of
preserving safe airspace will be affirmed by the courts, RIAC is seeking the
passage of S2547/H7900, which will address airspace obstructions by clarifying
state law as consistent with federal law.
Below is additional information regarding the bill as well as documented
Town and City support or opposition for the bill.
2020 -- S 2547aa As Amended on 7-13-20
RIAC ANNOUNCES SUPPORT FORS2547/H7900 “PRESERVATION OF SAFE AIRSPACE” BILLS
2020 -- S 2547 AnAct Relating to Aeronautics – Airports and Landing Fields – Airport Zoning
2020 – H 7900 AnAct Relating to Aeronautics – Airports and Landing Fields – Airport Zoning
TOWN AND CITY LETTERS OF SUPPORT
Blackstone Valley Tourism
Block Island Tourism Council Letter of Support
New Shoreham Letter of support
North Kingston Letter of Support
TOWN AND CITY LETTERS OF OPPOSITION
https://clerkshq.com/Content/Attachments/Middletown-ri/200316_10.pdf?clientSite=Middletown-ri
City of Warwick’s concerns
STAKEHOLDER LETTERS OF SUPPORT
Skydive Newport Letter of Support
AOPA Letter of Support
Flight Level Letter of Support
RIPA Letter of Support
Federal Aviation Administration Letter of Support
Newport Helicopter Tours Letter of Support
R.Langseth Letter of Support
Dooney Aviation Letter of Support
PERSERVATION OF AIRSPACE
BILL PRESS
https://www.newportthisweek.com/articles/proposed-legislation-creates-airspace-easements/
https://www.newportthisweek.com/articles/communities-should-decide-scope-of-airport/
https://www.newportthisweek.com/articles/consensus-of-community-will-be-respected/
https://www.thewesterlysun.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/letter-riac-focused-on-preserving-safe-airspace/article_4a322914-6fef-11ea-bc1c-1fe75f386b58.html
NK supports passage of airspace preservation bill