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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMiami Airline Liaison Office - Letter dated 12-10-2019'./' MIAMI AIRLINE LIAISON OFFICE I , - , I Sandra Cisneros — Officer -in -Charge 2045 W. North Ave, Ste 2B 312.498.4170 Chicago IL, 60647 December 10, 2019 Mr. Jose A. Ramos Division Director Aviation Planning Miami Dade Aviation Department Miami International Airport P.O. Box 025504 Miami, FL 33102-5504 VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL RE: Miami Freedom Park Development Dear Mr. Ramos, I am writing on behalf of the Miami Airport Affairs Committee (MAAC) to provide the Miami Dade Aviation Department (MDAD) with airline (including air cargo carrier) comments and to request additional information regarding the Miami Freedom Park Development (Freedom Park). We have outlined initial concerns expressed by the airlines based on the available information for the proposed Freedom Park and the data presented at the MDAD-hosted meeting held on Tuesday, November 5, 2019. The chief concern of the airlines is the potential for Freedom Park to adversely impact their ability to operate flights safely without the loss of operational capacity or efficiency and to impede roadway access to Miami International Airport (MIA) for passengers and employees. The proposed Freedom Park would be located less than one mile east of Runway 9-27, Miami International Airport's (MIA's) longest runway. This runway is especially critical for the many long haul operations departing MIA. To ensure operational safety, Runway 9-27's extended centerline must remain clear of obstructions as per FAA regulations and at this point it is not clear whether the Freedom Park development complies with this requirement. In addition, it is unclear whether or not Freedom Park will present obstructions to the One -Engine - Inoperable surface for all aircraft in the airlines' respective fleets. Beyond flight operations concerns, the airlines are also alarmed by the proximity and expected high volume of roadway traffic to Freedom Park and the expected congestion that could impede or delay access to MIA by passengers and airport employees. A number of destinations from MIA, including to South America, may have only one daily frequency, increasing the adverse impact to customers who miss a flight due to surrounding traffic congestion. Flight operations could be delayed or cancelled if crew or support staff cannot gain timely access to MIA. The following is a list of operating concerns compiled from airline input and requests for information regarding the proposed Freedom Park: Operating Concerns: • Miami ATC often uses a vector from the runway to avoid thunderstorm cells on departure. The stadium and additional buildings will restrict the available open departure headings, limiting capacity. Page 2of3 • Development of the stadium and facility may encourage further potentially disruptive development around the airport • Payload impacts from ancillary lighting, obstacle clearance, or alternate runway • Structural heights should not impede departure or arrival minimums or have any impact to revenue cargo • Light interference to pilots during night operations and potential for laser events • Restrictions which may be proposed to mitigate noise with the development of the proposed soccer stadium; instead noise levels associated with normal flight operations should be expected at the stadium • The potential for increased drone activity, as evident at other stadiums in the country; drone usage is difficult to prevent and police • Event day vehicular traffic causing traffic delays to the airport and blocking airport access on Le Jeune Road • Potential for construction cranes to create obstructions, adversely affecting operations and impacting minimums; communication of crane UP/DOWN status will be critical • Potential for structures to interfere with navigational signals • Banner towing impacting air traffic arrivals and departures at MIA • Evaluation of proposed roofing material of Freedom Park structures should be required to ensure no light, including sunlight, is reflected into aircraft cockpits • Helicopter traffic • Potential loss of efficiency due to temporary flight restrictions during VIP events This preliminary list of concerns may be amended as additional information, analyses, studies are provided for review and/or airline participation surrounding the development of the stadium. Requests for Information: • A comprehensive traffic study analyzing current traffic, anticipated traffic at the airport and, upon completion, anticipated traffic related to the proposed Freedom Park • A copy of an airspace analysis and any airspace related coordination between the FAA and MDAD • Proposed structure plans and renderings for all facilities at Freedom Park with GPS coordinates and structure heights • The construction schedule and phasing for Freedom Park with details on how construction will be coordinated with MDAD and the airlines • An expected usage analysis of Freedom Park, inclusive of expected games and events • Confirmation that the construction will comply with the FAA's Advisory Circular 150-5300 13A, the One -Engine -Inoperable surface, and all Miami -Dade County Ordinances • Benchmark analyses and impacts of other airports with nearby stadiums • Recently approved MIA Zoning Amendment documents Outlined below are observed impacts at other airports with a stadium nearby: • LAX- The roof at the new Los Angeles Rams Stadium in Inglewood has been determined to cause multiple radar issues including duplicate targets for the same aircraft and inaccurate targets. After one year of debate and troubleshooting, the stadium finally agreed to purchase a secondary radar for LAX airport. • LAS- The new Las Vegas Raiders football stadium in downtown Las Vegas presents a significant impact to vehicular access to McCarran Airport LAS. The Raiders and LAS have not yet reached an agreeable solution for this problem. Page 3of3 • PHX- FAA discovered they did not have the authority to prevent Arizona State University from detonating fireworks during football games at Sun Devil Stadium. PHX TRACON facility was forced to shut down landing access to the south runway complex at PHX due to firework usage. • SJC- San Francisco 49ers stadium in Santa Clara creates routine concerns for flight crews due to bright lights. The MAAC looks forward to continued engagement with MDAD and other airport stakeholders to ensure safe airport operations and reasonable access to the airport in light of the proposed Freedom Park. Respectfully, Sandra Cisneros Miami Airline Liaison Office CC: MAAC Chairperson, Kendra Kennedy MIA MAAC Ken Scarborough, Planning Technology, Inc. Lenore Diamond, American Airlines