FAA study eyes more capacity in 2025
by Carol Henrichs

Chicago’s aviation future is positive, despite some concerns for capacity at Midway, according to a recent FAA study — Capacity Needs in the National Airspace System — released May 15.

In the Chicago area, the study considered O’Hare, Midway, and the airports at Gary, Milwaukee, and Rockford.

The approval for and beginning of construction of runways in the O’Hare Modernization Program figures prominently in the regional aspect of the report.

In 2003 and 2007, O’Hare was considered in need of additional capacity. And if the improvements planned are not made, additional capacity will be needed.

But the report indicated, "Although O’Hare is shown as needing additional capacity in 2007, the completion of the O’Hare Modernization Program will reduce delays to the point that the airport will not be capacity constrained in the future," according to the report.

"The Chicago Metropolitan Area was not identified as needing additional capacity in 2007 due to the capacity provided by other local airports."

The report also noted that runway improvements at other airports, as well, and numerous site-specific studies are underway.

That is not so with Midway. Even with planned improvements, Midway will have problems with capacity. The report indicated that Midway capacity would have to be monitored between 2007 and 2015.

In the past forty years, only two commercial service airports have been built - Dallas/Ft. Worth and most recently at Denver.

The report indicates that four more airports are needed nationally.

Chicago is one of the metropolitan areas where new airports "are being considered, or might be considered," notes the report

In a preface to the report, FAA Administrator Marion Blakey called the Chicago metropolitan area "a likely candidate" for a new airport.

But, she noted that two projects are in the works to improve airport capacity in the Chicago area, but both face uncertain futures.

The recently released study follows up on the 2003 Future Airport Capacity Task Force (FACT). The Capacity Needs in the National Airspace System, An Analysis of Airport and Metropolitan Area Demand and Operational Capacity in the Future (FACT 1) was published in 2004. The most recent study is being called FACT 2.

Both studies analyzed 291 commercial service airports, which include 35 hub airports, primarily the nation’s largest hubs and 256 commercial service airports as well as 223 metropolitan areas across the country.