Idaho Sen. Jim Risch wants to reroute flights away from Southwest Boise, where he lives

https://www.eastidahonews.com/2023/09/idaho-sen-jim-risch-wants-to-reroute-flights-away-from-southwest-boise-where-he-lives/

Idaho Sen. Jim Risch wants to reroute flights away from Southwest Boise, where he lives

(Long read)

Published at 11:39 am, September 15, 2023

Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman

BOISE (Idaho Statesman) — Twice each decade, Congress approves a bill to fund and set the policies for the federal agency that oversees the nation’s air travel. This year, one airport was singled out in a standalone section marked “miscellaneous” in the Senate version of the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act. Inserted at the tail end of the 461-page document, the clause aimed to reroute flight paths at the Boise Airport.

High-ranking aviation officials in Idaho have since questioned U.S. Sen. Jim Risch’s decision to make the late addition to the federal bill in June. The provision would have altered the course of all commercial and military planes as they came and went from the Treasure Valley air hub with the stated goal of reducing aircraft noise. It would have forced pilots to fly through the heart of Meridian toward Nampa before taking off or touching down in Boise. And it would have made violations of those rules a misdemeanor, subject to civil penalties.

Leveraging a federal bill to change the way planes arrive and depart at a U.S. airport is an uncommon approach, according to aviation officials. The process of adjusting such airport operations typically involves lengthy FAA review, including environmental and noise impact studies. … When the FAA ultimately balked at any changes following its analysis, Risch went to Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who incorporated the Idaho senator’s demands into the bill that governs the FAA.

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Funneling the vast majority of louder/large aircraft over one specific point is anything but noise mitigation,” Williams wrote from his personal email account. “It may be mitigation for Mr. Risch, as overflight over his house would become a criminal misdemeanor. … Sen. Risch doesn’t seem to care about the folks in Meridian, Eagle, Star or Nampa. He only wants jets to stay away from his house.” Williams, a Boise resident, signed the email “A frustrated Idahoan.” In a follow-up response to the Statesman, Williams reiterated his concerns about the likelihood of Risch’s proposal causing flight delays, driving up air travel costs and creating safety issues. “Not only were they unsafe, they were not fully vetted by the FAA and would set a dangerous precedent that would have a detrimental effect on aviation safety, pilots, air traffic controllers and everyone involved in or served by aviation,” Williams said by email.

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