Flying home from Washington every week on the shuttle, I can see firsthand how crowded our airspace is. With three major airports within a 10-mile radius and several smaller airports nearby, the number of planes flying over Long Island is staggering. For those of us who live beneath the Kennedy and LaGuardia flight paths, the resulting noise can be deafening. In fact, sometimes when I'm on the phone from my home in Mineola, I can't hear myself think because of the noise from an airplane traveling above. Believe me, I know how important air travel is to our region for commerce and tourism, but I also know it is equally important to ensure that passengers are safe¬and that noise is contained.

Since coming to Congress, I have worked with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), local officials and community groups and air traffic controllers to reduce noise pollution in our communities. When the FAA announced last spring that it would begin a plan to redesign air spaces around the country to reduce congestion and improve service, I joined with other Congresspeople from New York to make sure that these new plans take into account our concerns.

In response to the FAA's plans, we came up with the Queens and Long Island Aircraft Noise Correction Act of 1998. This bill instructs the FAA to develop a comprehensive plan to reduce aircraft noise in our communities. In addition, I joined with my New York colleagues to warn the FAA that we will "aggressively oppose" any plan that redirects air traffic from New Jersey to New York.

The FAA promised us that they are "committed to treating all communities fairly and equitably." I will monitor the FAA's efforts to make sure they do just that.

At the same time, however, some of my colleagues are pushing a proposal that would actually increase the number of planes over Long Island. Before Congress adjourns in October, it may debate the so-called Airline Service Improvement Act. The goal of this bill¬to increase air service in rural areas¬is noble, but the solution is very troubling. It would allow the FAA to add up to 48 more takeoffs and landings (or slots) a day to both Kennedy and LaGuardia Airports. The last thing we need on Long Island is 96 more planes each day approaching and leaving at low altitude. I have spoken with many local mayors about this bill and I have pledged my continued opposition to any bill which increases slots in such a dramatic way.

Making the New York air space less complex also means not compromising safety. Like many of you, I was deeply concerned about a near collision between two commercial jetliners at LaGuardia Airport last January. Safety must be a number one priority for the sake of both passengers and people who live under flight paths. In recent years, however, air traffic controllers have faced severe staffing shortages and been stuck with faulty, outdated equipment. Last year I visited the Kennedy control tower and the Westbury air traffic control center. I was heartened by the dedication of the controllers, but troubled by their working conditions. Many radar scopes were barely working. Worse, some controllers monitoring those scopes had never received adequate training.

I am working with the National Air Traffic Controllers Association to raise the FAA's awareness of these problems and ensure that controllers have the proper training and equipment to do their job. I have constantly urged the FAA to make sure that critical navigational equipment that aids safety and reduces noise is installed and in working condition at our airports.

All Long Islanders rely upon our region's airports to take us on vacations and business trips and to bring loved ones to visit. We cannot lose sight of the fact that New York will always remain a busy, crowded air space, but I think we can have convenient air travel and also have safety and noise reduction. No matter what changes are made to the air traffic system, I will fight to make sure that the concerns of Long Islanders are at the front of the process.