Telecommunications upgrades and additional air traffic control hiring are planned for the busy New Jersey airport.
A United Express CRJ aircraft in Newark. (Photo: Shutterstock – Bui Le Manh Hung)
The Federal Aviation Administration has mandated a reduction in flight arrival and departure rates at Newark Airport.
According to an FAA interim order issued on Tuesday, maximum hourly rates at the New Jersey airport will be dropped to 28 arrivals and 28 departures until construction finishes on two of its runways.
A news release from the agency stated that daily construction will end on June 15, but is expected to continue on Saturdays afterward until the end of the year. On days when construction is not occurring, the airport will have a 34 arrival and departure limit until October 25.
The limits took effect on Tuesday after the FAA discussed the plan with airlines during a delay reduction meeting last week.
“Our goal is to relieve the substantial inconvenience to the traveling public from excessive flight delays due to construction, staffing challenges, and recent equipment issues, which magnify as they spread through the National Airspace System,” said acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau in the release.
The FAA stated in its release that it may increase or decrease the limits as deemed necessary.
The FAA is currently working to add three new telecommunications connections to the Philadelphia TRACON for more speed and reliability.
The agency stated that it is replacing copper telecommunications connections with updated fiberoptic technology for “greater bandwidth and speed.”
Additionally, the FAA will be creating a STARS hub at the Philadelphia TRACON so that the facility won’t have to depend on telecommunications from the New York STARS hub.
Staffing at Philadelphia TRACON Area C will also be increased, and controllers are being cross trained for multiple positions, the agency said.
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