The Federal Aviation Administration on Tuesday gave air traffic controllers more leeway to increase jet traffic on secondary runways at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
That doesn't necessarily mean the airport's south runway, 9-Right, or its diagonal runway, Runway 13, will see an increase in jet traffic, FAA spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen said.
"We expect no change to the current use of 9-Right," she said. "Runway 13 usage is also expected to be rare."
The FAA decision, intended to ease congestion, comes after the agency determined an increase in the use of the two secondary runways would have no significant environmental impact and wouldn't increase noise over nearby neighborhoods.
As a result, controllers now have "discretion" to make the diagonal runway accessible to airliners when necessary, for instance if the main north runway is closed or because of the weather. Bergen said the diagonal runway was used fewer than 10 times last year.
"We're going to keep the bulk of the air traffic on the main runway," she said.
As dictated under a prior agreement with Broward County, controllers will continue to direct small jets up to 29 tons onto the airport's south runway, but only if necessary, Bergen said. The weight limit generally would bar the runway to commercial jetliners. |
