Logan International Airport (BOS) – Boston, MA
New Runway 14/32 to Open at Boston Logan on Nov. 23
November 20, 2006
On November 23, 2006, the new Runway 14/32 at Logan International Airport (BOS) will be commissioned and available for use. This 5,000-foot runway will provide a second major arrival runway during times when strong northwest winds prevail. Currently, only Runway 33L is available for use during these wind conditions, which causes major delays at the airport. Simulations performed by the FAA indicate that utilizing the new Runway 32 for non-jet and regional jet aircraft in combination with the existing Runway 33L for larger aircraft will increase the combined airport arrival/departure rate to about 120 per hour. Learn more about the new runway.
Historical Material About Boston Logan
Please note: The following material about BOS is provided on this page for archival purposes. For the latest information about this airport visit the BOS web site at www.massport.com/logan or contact NBAA's Northeast Regional Representative Dean Saucier at dsaucier@nbaa.org.
NBAA Submits Written Comments on Boston Logan Peak Period Pricing Proposal
November 8, 2004
On November 8, 2004, NBAA filed written comments with respect to a peak period pricing scheme
proposed for Logan International Airport. NBAA took care to note that Massport is to be commended
for the Runway 14/32 project. However, NBAA continues to have concerns about a peak period
pricing proposal that could set a precedent for other airports. Consistent with concerns previously
raised by the FAA in a letter to Massport, NBAA discussed the manner in which a determination
of “over-scheduling” would be made, the alternative to a peak period fee and the
potential for discrimination against the operators of smaller aircraft. The comments will
be included in the docket of a state rulemaking proceeding. Download the NBAA letter to
the Massachusetts Port Authority (44 KB, PDF).
NBAA Offers Testimony on Peak Period Pricing Proposal at Boston-Logan
October 14, 2004
On October 14, 2004, an NBAA representative testified before the Massachusetts Port Authority
at a hearing on Massport’s proposed peak period pricing regulation for Boston-Logan
International Airport. The proposed regulation would permit Massport to use computer modeling
to predict future periods (known as “peak periods”) in which overscheduling will
result in operational delays at Logan exceeding certain defined thresholds, and to impose
a surcharge on takeoffs and landings at Logan during such “peak periods,” subject
to certain exemptions. Initially, the surcharge would be $150 for each “peak period”
operation. Download the Proposed Peak Period Surcharge
Regulation (30 KB, PDF).
NBAA Manager, Airports & Ground Infrastructure Jeff Gilley said the proposal raises three basic concerns for NBAA and its members: First, he said, the mechanism for determining what constitutes “overscheduling” must be “transparent and collaborative;” all users, and the FAA, should have a role in defining “overscheduling” and commenting on the computer model used to make that determination. Second, Gilley noted, a peak period surcharge should not be implemented unless and until it has been shown to be the only way to effectively reduce congestion. Third, Gilley said that although the details of the surcharge are not yet known, a flat fee “has a high probability of unjustly discriminating against the operators of smaller, general aviation aircraft,” particularly if that fee were $150 as presently proposed, a number that Gilley said “appears to bear no relationship to costs.”
NBAA plans to supplement its oral testimony with written comments. Massport’s deadline
for written comments is November 15, 2004. For more information on submitting comments, review
the Massport Notice of
Public Hearings (13 KB, PDF).
For more information contact NBAA’s Jeff Gilley at jgilley@nbaa.org.
FAA Identifies Legal Issues Raised By Logan Peak Period Pricing Plan
June 10, 2004
In a June 10 letter to the Massachusetts Port Authority, the FAA identified a number of legal
issues that will have to be resolved with respect the peak period pricing proposal for Logan.
Included among those issues is the effect of a flat fee on operators of small aircraft: “while
the FAA has not found the imposition of a flat surcharge per se unjustly discriminatory, we
cannot make a final determination on unjust discrimination until we are able to consider a
particular fee amount in the actual circumstances in effect at the time the surcharge is assessed.”
The FAA also stated that “we believe it will be to Massport’s benefit to continue
to involve all segments of the user community at Logan in all phases of the process.”
Finally, the FAA advised Massport that the proposed plan met the requirement to submit “a
detailed plan or draft proposal.” This will permit the Runway 14/32 project to proceed. Download the FAA letter to the
Massachusetts Port Authority (1.45 MB, PDF).
Massport has submitted its proposed “demand management program” to the FAA. Although
still in not much more than outline form, the program would work as follows:
- A schedule monitoring system will project air carrier flights four to six months ahead
on an on-going basis.
- When it appears that runway-related VFR delays will exceed a threshold of 15 minutes
per operation in a period (defined as “overscheduling”), air carriers and other
users will be asked to voluntarily reduce their operations in that period.
- If the schedule adjustments do not reduce the overscheduling, a flat surcharge will be
imposed on all arrivals and departures during that period. Massport estimates that the surcharge
would initially be in the “$150 range” for arrivals and departures. Each peak
period will contain at least three consecutive hours on a given day and will be applied
on a “seasonal” basis.
- Users will be given “advance notification” of the surcharges. If operations
are not reduced sufficiently to eliminate the overscheduling, the surcharge will be imposed.
This final notification will be at least one month before imposition of the surcharge.
- EAS air carrier service will be excepted from the surcharge at the level of service in
August 2003 (a level unlikely to change). Additional “hardship” exceptions will
be available to certain other New England communities based on August 2003 service levels
to Logan (and provided the DOT or FAA says the exception is legal). These exceptions will
apply to a total of eleven Logan city-pairs.
- The surcharge will be revenue neutral. To the extent that total landing fees are increased
during the peak periods by surcharge collections, the basic landing fees will be reduced
in other periods.
Although this is in many ways different from and more limited than Massport’s PACE
plan that was held unlawful in the late 1980s, it nonetheless discriminates against small
aircraft and small operators, and General Aviation in particular. Although GA operations accounted
for only 7.3% of total operations at Logan for the year ended June 30, 2003, those operations
averaged 76 per day (27,880 for the twelve months).
NBAA will continue to report updates to Members as this most important issue evolves. For
more information contact NBAA’s Jeff Gilley at jgilley@nbaa.org.
BOS web site – www.massport.com/logan
To report issues to NBAA regarding BOS, contact NBAA's
Dean Saucier at dsaucier@nbaa.org.
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