Local News in Brief : Takeoff Plan Continued

A national takeoff priority system that benefits Los Angeles International Airport will be continued for 90 days after one of the airport’s four runways is reopened, the Federal Aviation Administration said Thursday.

The “free flow” system, which allows flights out of LAX to leave before those at other airports during bad weather or backups in air traffic, was instituted as a temporary measure in February to reduce potential problems at LAX while Runway 24 Left was reconstructed.

But FAA officials found that there were fewer delays under the system, despite the temporary loss of the runway, and proposed in April that it be continued for a six-month trial after completion of the runway work, scheduled for mid-June.

After receiving comments from airlines, the FAA has decided on a 90-day trial, said Edd Woslum, an FAA operations manager in Los Angeles. During the period, the agency will evaluate the system to determine its impact on air traffic operations locally and nationwide. The FAA will then decide whether to continue the system permanently.

The number of takeoffs and landings at LAX will gradually be increased to as many as 140 an hour over the 90-day period, Woslum said. Before the runway closure, the airport handled a maximum of 125 takeoffs and landings an hour. The number has been cut to 100 during the work on the runway.