June 28, 2006 Stay Away From Nuclear Plants -- Unless FAA Routes You There

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By Mary Grady , Newswriter, Editor

While GA pilots have been warned over and over to stay far away from nuclear plants (lest a Skyhawk might dive into one and ... bounce off), the FAA's proposed new departure routes from Westchester County Airport in New York would send airplanes directly above the Indian Point nuke. The plan is "a significant security risk that is not acceptable and must be avoided," according to Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano. U.S. Rep. Eliot Engel also was critical. "This decision by the FAA, coupled with the Homeland Security Department's decision to cut funding for New York City, makes me wonder what these people are smoking," he told midhudsonnews.com. Spano said the FAA's study of the airport was inadequate. "Precipitous reassignment of air traffic without the legally required level of review is unacceptable and could undo decades of hard work and good will," Spano said in a letter to the FAA's Steve Kelley. The county will soon unveil a Web site from which the public will be able to send "electronic postcards" to the FAA on the matter, Spano said.