Sen. Chuck Schumer is pushing the feds to install new runway lighting systems at New York airports to prevent planes from colliding.
Schumer said a recent near-collision on the ground between the Caribbean Airways and JetBlue planes at JFK Airport shows a runway status light system is urgently needed — but he accused the Federal Aviation Administration of dragging its feet on installing them.
The system uses red signals to warn pilots of another plane nearby.
Schumer said Congress provided $36 million to build the lights at JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark airports in 2007, but the FAA has not completed construction.
“The FAA must get this working, ASAP. New York’s airspace is the busiest in the nation, yet JFK, LaGuardia and Newark Airports have been sent to the back of the FAA line for installation of this critical runway lighting system,” he said. “We cannot wait for a deadly collision to occur.”
The FAA says that installation of the system will be complete at LaGuardia this spring, at Newark this fall, and at JFK in two phases this year and next.
