wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

Comments

• [1] O from Forest Hills August 06, 2008 - 10:27AM

  What's the average airline delays at JFK?

  
  
• [2] Larry in Nyack from Nyack, NY August 06, 2008 - 10:30AM

  There is no reason to increase capacity at airports. We need sustainable retreat from the "fly anywhere, anytime" business and marketing model. Every flight steals precious petroleum from my grandchildren's grandchildren.

  Will we need that fuel for defense, for fire-fighting or to produce and transport food?

  Let's start a musical chairs approach: every airline reduces flights by 5% PER YEAR EACH YEAR until we have broken the bad habbit of being so energy wasteful in the air.

  
  
• [3] Catherine from freeport (long island) August 06, 2008 - 10:31AM

  Why, in this time when global warming is accelerating, would we be talking about ADDING capacity for more flying?

  
  
• [4] Libby from Manhattan August 06, 2008 - 10:32AM

  Would it make sense to plan longterm and plan regionally, rather than deal with slots at three very overbooked airports? How about building smaller airports away from congested metro area in places like Westchester, New Jersey, Long Island, and Connecticut that could handle mid and small craft and divert some of the passenger traffic away from EWR, LGA, and JFK? Is this a discussion on the table?

  
  
• [5] the truth from Atlanta/New York August 06, 2008 - 10:36AM

  We should absolutely not add to the air space congestion. Too many close calls in the news lately. We need to add air traffic controllers!

  
  
• [6] Sammi from NYC August 06, 2008 - 10:37AM

  We already have "small" airports in Westchester and Long Island, but they are very difficult to access (if I flew to McArthur in LI, I'd have to spend $100 on a cab ride home, or haul my luggage on an LIRR train that runs very infrequently and takes 1.75 hours to get into the City). But is anyone else horrified (at least from a safety point of view) that NY aviation has not changed since the 60s?! I'm all for things retro, but I wonder if we are being wasteful by failing to upgrade. And as a business person, not flying is simply not an option.

  
  
• [7] Ellen from Greenpoint/Williamsburg August 06, 2008 - 10:39AM

  Why can't the private jets use the airspace over the rich peoples' neighborhoods (the connected people who don't want the airplanes flying overhead)....their own people, and the proletariat airlines can fly in regular airspace?

  I have a feeling this might reduce the number of private jets....

  
  
• [8] Catherine from freeport (long island) August 06, 2008 - 10:40AM

  GLOBAL WARMING GLOBAL WARMING GLOBAL WARMING GLOBAL WARMING.

  I am APPALLED that my public radio station has had this conversation for this long and not brought up the issue of how air travel contributes to GLOBAL WARMING. Hello??????????

  
  
• [9] derek from NYC August 06, 2008 - 10:40AM

  The host keeps interrupting the guests when they are making interesting points!--please follow the discussion and don't worry about being obsessed with giving equal time to everyone.

  
  
• [10] Karen from Brooklyn, NY August 06, 2008 - 10:42AM

  Where is Brian Lehrer?

  
  
• [11] O from Forest Hills August 06, 2008 - 10:43AM

  I think the last caller said the "f" word and WNYC can get a fine or lose their license for "obscene" language.

  What is obscene anyways?

  
  
• [12] the truth from Atlanta/New York August 06, 2008 - 10:44AM

  Not flying is not an option, that is why we are not discussing global warming.

  
  
• [13] O from Forest Hills August 06, 2008 - 10:47AM

  Karen,

  He is on vacation in the Adirondacks till Aug. 15, 8 more shows to get through and he will be back.

  
  
• [14] Sarah from Manhattan August 06, 2008 - 10:53AM

  We could reduce a significant amount of regional air traffic if we have a good high speed rail system. Why aren't we talking about that? The existing high speed rail (Acela to Boston and DC) is not truly high speed. I live near Penn Station, and the shuttle flights are still faster than the train - even with travel to LGA , from BOS/DCA, and dealing with security (don't get me started on the violation of my civil liberties).

  Europe has a good rail system. Do they have these problems?

  
  
• [15] Larry in Nyack from Nyack, NY August 06, 2008 - 11:02AM

  To our Atlanta "truth" teller:

  Of course "not-flying" IS an option.

  Fewer students choosing far-off colleges; fewer funerals, re-unions, and wedding showers that we "can make"; more corporate classes taught over fiber-optics than in person; similarly, fewer sales calls in person; fewer lawyers and consultants flying home every weekend.

  And the fictitious need for "resorts and vacations", created by Madison Avenue: second-homes, time-shares, "jet-setters" going for the "romantic getaway".

  When a "shuttle flight" NYC to DC costs $2000 who will justify it? And can we afford a visit to grandma NYC to LAX for $6000? In 30 years the decline in petroleum fuel production will produce these realities. Time to plan for greatly reduced air-travel is NOW, not when the fuel-caused inflation has wrecked an economy built on low-cost fuel.

  Elect leaders at all levels of government who understand this. Read "The Long Emergency"; "The revenge of Gaia"; "Beyond Peak Oil" and get the special interests, like the Port Authority and the Airline Transport Assoc. to think beyond their current high-paying jobs, with short-term objectives, to a future without oil in which their great-grandchildren's children will be suffering.

  
  
• [16] the truth from Atlanta/New York August 06, 2008 - 11:18AM

  Larry in Nyack, O'brilliant one, of course ithe other option is NOT TO FLY AT ALL.

  I was quoting the end of POST 6. Thanks for your observation.

  sincerly,

  the truth teller

  
  
• [17] the truth from Atlanta/New York August 06, 2008 - 11:20AM

  Nyack, that's New Jersery right? Figures.