Local News in Brief : Takeoff System to Go On
A national takeoff priority system, begun four months ago to benefit Los Angeles International Airport while one of its four runways was closed for repairs, will continue indefinitely, even though the runway has reopened, an FAA official said Friday. The system, called “free flow,” requires air-traffic controllers to give the go-ahead to jets taking off from Los Angeles before flights from other airports during bad weather or backups in air traffic.
Merle Clure, assistant manager of the western region of the FAA Air Traffic Division, said the free-flow system did not cause excessive delays at other airports.
“So far there have been no complaints,” Clure said.
The Los Angeles runway was reopened for regular use Thursday, after a four-month closure for resurfacing. The work was completed on time, at a cost of $9.8 million, officials said.
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