Max Cleland: “Hartsfield is operating beyond its capacity during peak departure and arrival times. This produces excessive delays…”

“Hartsfield is operating beyond its capacity during peak departure and arrival times. This produces excessive delays, inconveniences passengers, disrupts flight schedules, and increases operational cost for Hartsfield's carriers. Commuter, typically turboprop, and other prop aircraft operations compose approximately 18 percent of the airport's activity. These aircraft weigh much less than air carrier jets. During final approach, additional intrail separation must be used when a turboprop is behind an air carrier jet due to wake turbulence. This additional separation imposes delay to aircraft behind the turboprop, delaying passengers and increasing costs resulting from the downwind portion of flight. By removing the vast majority of commuter aircraft from both the downwind and final approach segments of flight, delay is reduced for both air carrier and commuter aircraft. Thus, an additional runway to handle turboprops and light commuter jets would provide many benefits to all Hartsfield carriers. I support priority consideration by the FAA and urge the FAA to issue an LOI for Atlanta.”