Eurofly flies between only NY and Italy and has a special all inclusive roundtrip deal to Italy for $399! Book by 9/12/08 and fly by October!
Thursday, September 11, 2008
My Position Paper on Increasing SFO's Capacity
Here's a short position paper I wrote for SFO on increasing SFO's load capacity and improving operational efficiency.
I. Introduction
The Airport Commission’s current approaches to maximize airport efficiency may not necessarily keep pace with meeting the airport’s long-term capacity needs. According to the FAA’s 2007 Capacity Needs report, SFO will fall short of needed capacity by 2025 even after planned improvements are implemented.[1] Several factors constraining airport capacity include the financial and environmental costs associated with increasing SFO’s physical size.[2] The issue, therefore, is how to significantly increase SFO’s capacity without physically increasing the airport size.
This paper explores several methods to increase SFO’s capacity based on technologically, financially, and logistically grounded solutions.
II. Technology Based Solutions
The implementation of new aviation technology to maximize both air and ground traffic efficiency will increase overall airport capacity. The on-going advances in aviation technology, such as FAA’s next-generation air transportation system (“NextGen”), has the potential of maximizing air-side capacity by “reduc[ing] the separation between aircraft and permit more efficient routing of planes.”[3] For example, a wake turbulence management system reduces the in-trail and vertical spacing between aircrafts to increase overall air-side capacity while ensuring safety from wake turbulence. Studies have shown that a one mile reduction of aircraft spacing can boost runway capacity by 20 percent.[4] Wake turbulence management will also allow SFO to more efficiently use its parallel runways.
Technology can also be harnessed to maximize ground traffic efficiency. The Surface Area Movement Management system (“SAMM”) increases land-side efficiency and air-side capacity by coordinating ground traffic “to minimize distances, hold times, and separation between aircraft.”[5] The Total Airport Management system (“TAMS”), which is currently used at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, increases operational efficiency by connecting ground support, aircraft suppliers, and air traffic control through an integrated computer system.[6] The free flow of electronic information and instant communication between various airport facilities increases overall capacity through operational efficiency.[7]
A combination of NextGen, a wake turbulence management system, SAMM and TAMS has the potential to optimally increase SFO’s overall air-side and land-side capacity.
III. Financially Based Solutions
To complement SFO’s current practice of congestion pricing, the Airport commission should also consider discounting landing and departure fees for off-peak hours. Offering discounted landing and departure fees during off-peak hours may further induce some aircraft operators, such as operators of cargo and private planes, to use SFO during off-peak hours. A combination of congestion and discount pricing, therefore, has the potential to increase SFO’s operational capacity in two ways.
First, such market-based landing and departure fees, as determined by demand and other market forces, are more effective than weight-based fees because it offers aircraft operators a financial incentive to increase load capacity to maximize per passenger revenue during peak hour usage.[8] Second, the financial incentive will also induce aircraft operators to favor airport use during off-peak hours. Thus, aircraft operators may want to shift some or all of their operations to off-peak hours. Perhaps the long-term goal is to make each hour at SFO a peak hour of operation in terms of optimal load capacity and maximized frequency of arrivals and landings. This goal will allow SFO to achieve optimal capacity.
IV. OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
The coordination of technologically and financially based solutions across Bay Area airports will ultimately increase SFO’s capacity through the following recommendations. First, integrating advanced aviation technology throughout Bay Area airports will optimize shared airspace and thereby increase air-side and land-side efficiency at each airport. Second, Bay Area airports should coordinate and standardize congestion and discount pricing in order to maximize pricing utility.[9] For example, if only SFO implemented congestion then aircraft operators would simply divert their operations to SJC and OAK. However, congestion in the shared airspace will remain. A unified pricing system throughout the Bay Area airports will maximize the current and proposed pricing options.
A final consideration is to link SFO and OAK with a non-stop express BART on the existing rail system. This proposal requires connecting OAK’s terminal to BART. The system trims regional and smaller aircraft service into SFO by redirecting those passengers into OAK. This allows SFO to focus on higher capacity aircraft which directly increases SFO’s capacity.
V. CONCLUSION
A combination of technologically, financially, and logistically based solutions across the Bay Area airports will ultimately increase SFO’s air-side and land-side capacity.
References:
[1] The Mitre Corporation, Capacity Needs in the National Airspace System, 2007-2025 (Washington, D.C.: Federal Aviation Administration, May 2007).
[2] Marisa Lagos, A place to land: FAA study says Bay Area airports must expand to meet demand, S.F. Chron., May 16, 2007, available at http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/05/16/BUGVAPRFU31.DTL&%20hw=San+Francisco+International+Airport+expansion&sn=001&sc=1000.
[3] Viggo Butler, Increasing Airport Capacity without Increasing Airport Size, p. 2 (Reason Foundation, Policy Study 368, 2008), available at http://www.reason.org/ps368.pdf.
[4] Butler, p. 16-17.
[5] Id. at p. 14.
[6] Kuala Lumpur International Airport, http://www.klia.com.my/index.php?WebsiteId= 13&ch=1&pg=23&ac=9 (last visited April 20, 2008).
[7] Dr. Henning Harmann, Final Report of Preliminary Study Total Airport Management, p.21-22 (Institute of Flight Guidance, Nov. 2001) available at: http://www.eurocontrol.int/care-innov/public/standard_page/studies 2001_dlr.html.
[8] See Robert W. Poole, Jr. and Ben Dachis, New York Airport Pricing: Frequently Asked Questions, (Reason Foundation, Policy Study 266, 2008).
[9] Id. at p. 1.
I. Introduction
The Airport Commission’s current approaches to maximize airport efficiency may not necessarily keep pace with meeting the airport’s long-term capacity needs. According to the FAA’s 2007 Capacity Needs report, SFO will fall short of needed capacity by 2025 even after planned improvements are implemented.[1] Several factors constraining airport capacity include the financial and environmental costs associated with increasing SFO’s physical size.[2] The issue, therefore, is how to significantly increase SFO’s capacity without physically increasing the airport size.
This paper explores several methods to increase SFO’s capacity based on technologically, financially, and logistically grounded solutions.
II. Technology Based Solutions
The implementation of new aviation technology to maximize both air and ground traffic efficiency will increase overall airport capacity. The on-going advances in aviation technology, such as FAA’s next-generation air transportation system (“NextGen”), has the potential of maximizing air-side capacity by “reduc[ing] the separation between aircraft and permit more efficient routing of planes.”[3] For example, a wake turbulence management system reduces the in-trail and vertical spacing between aircrafts to increase overall air-side capacity while ensuring safety from wake turbulence. Studies have shown that a one mile reduction of aircraft spacing can boost runway capacity by 20 percent.[4] Wake turbulence management will also allow SFO to more efficiently use its parallel runways.
Technology can also be harnessed to maximize ground traffic efficiency. The Surface Area Movement Management system (“SAMM”) increases land-side efficiency and air-side capacity by coordinating ground traffic “to minimize distances, hold times, and separation between aircraft.”[5] The Total Airport Management system (“TAMS”), which is currently used at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, increases operational efficiency by connecting ground support, aircraft suppliers, and air traffic control through an integrated computer system.[6] The free flow of electronic information and instant communication between various airport facilities increases overall capacity through operational efficiency.[7]
A combination of NextGen, a wake turbulence management system, SAMM and TAMS has the potential to optimally increase SFO’s overall air-side and land-side capacity.
III. Financially Based Solutions
To complement SFO’s current practice of congestion pricing, the Airport commission should also consider discounting landing and departure fees for off-peak hours. Offering discounted landing and departure fees during off-peak hours may further induce some aircraft operators, such as operators of cargo and private planes, to use SFO during off-peak hours. A combination of congestion and discount pricing, therefore, has the potential to increase SFO’s operational capacity in two ways.
First, such market-based landing and departure fees, as determined by demand and other market forces, are more effective than weight-based fees because it offers aircraft operators a financial incentive to increase load capacity to maximize per passenger revenue during peak hour usage.[8] Second, the financial incentive will also induce aircraft operators to favor airport use during off-peak hours. Thus, aircraft operators may want to shift some or all of their operations to off-peak hours. Perhaps the long-term goal is to make each hour at SFO a peak hour of operation in terms of optimal load capacity and maximized frequency of arrivals and landings. This goal will allow SFO to achieve optimal capacity.
IV. OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
The coordination of technologically and financially based solutions across Bay Area airports will ultimately increase SFO’s capacity through the following recommendations. First, integrating advanced aviation technology throughout Bay Area airports will optimize shared airspace and thereby increase air-side and land-side efficiency at each airport. Second, Bay Area airports should coordinate and standardize congestion and discount pricing in order to maximize pricing utility.[9] For example, if only SFO implemented congestion then aircraft operators would simply divert their operations to SJC and OAK. However, congestion in the shared airspace will remain. A unified pricing system throughout the Bay Area airports will maximize the current and proposed pricing options.
A final consideration is to link SFO and OAK with a non-stop express BART on the existing rail system. This proposal requires connecting OAK’s terminal to BART. The system trims regional and smaller aircraft service into SFO by redirecting those passengers into OAK. This allows SFO to focus on higher capacity aircraft which directly increases SFO’s capacity.
V. CONCLUSION
A combination of technologically, financially, and logistically based solutions across the Bay Area airports will ultimately increase SFO’s air-side and land-side capacity.
References:
[1] The Mitre Corporation, Capacity Needs in the National Airspace System, 2007-2025 (Washington, D.C.: Federal Aviation Administration, May 2007).
[2] Marisa Lagos, A place to land: FAA study says Bay Area airports must expand to meet demand, S.F. Chron., May 16, 2007, available at http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/05/16/BUGVAPRFU31.DTL&%20hw=San+Francisco+International+Airport+expansion&sn=001&sc=1000.
[3] Viggo Butler, Increasing Airport Capacity without Increasing Airport Size, p. 2 (Reason Foundation, Policy Study 368, 2008), available at http://www.reason.org/ps368.pdf.
[4] Butler, p. 16-17.
[5] Id. at p. 14.
[6] Kuala Lumpur International Airport, http://www.klia.com.my/index.php?WebsiteId= 13&ch=1&pg=23&ac=9 (last visited April 20, 2008).
[7] Dr. Henning Harmann, Final Report of Preliminary Study Total Airport Management, p.21-22 (Institute of Flight Guidance, Nov. 2001) available at: http://www.eurocontrol.int/care-innov/public/standard_page/studies 2001_dlr.html.
[8] See Robert W. Poole, Jr. and Ben Dachis, New York Airport Pricing: Frequently Asked Questions, (Reason Foundation, Policy Study 266, 2008).
[9] Id. at p. 1.
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Bid for JetBlue flights on eBay!
JetBlue is on eBay! JetBlue has put up last minute deals with no reserve auction on their eBay store.
Friday, September 05, 2008
Santiago, Chile
Overall Impression: Super Catholic and conservative (divorce law only passed in 2004) produces a city of awkwardly shy people who enjoy strange public displays of affection everywhere to an uncomfortable degree. Apparently the kids don’t live on their own until they get married, so the only alternative for them to explore is out on city streets and behind bushes in the parks. I called out a few with some “woohoos” and “oh yea!”
I think Chileans are confident people especially with their strong economy backed by China, their largest trading partner. Thus, the customs officials were not too polite with us Americans and we even had to pay a ridiculous US $131 reciprocity fee upon arrival. It’s not a visa, but a penalty tax because the US charges a visa fee for visiting Chileans. The city itself is beautifully nestled within the Andes.I think all the sights worth visiting in this topographically diverse country is outside the city and in the rural and natural areas (Patagonia, Easter Island, and the deserts up North). The subway system is clean, cheap and fast! People not so friendly.
Cheap v.s. Crack Cheap:Again, it’s not crack cheap and slightly more expensive than Buenos Aires.
Hotels were expensive. We stayed at the Sheraton Santiago Hotel and Convention Center which was right on the freeway and near everything, but it was too loud! Avoid at all cost. Our initial hotel room (US $173/night) was cramped and overheated and the staff unresponsive. Alas, I pushed our way to a free upgrade to their suite and a refund of one night so the stay redeemed itself. Apparently the Santiago Ritz Carlton is the cheapest Ritz Carlton in the world at US $345/night. Stay there instead!!
Exchange Rate: Divide by 500 (or remove both the single and double digits and divide by 5 = US $1).
Gastronomy: I read a great article about how Chilean food is subtle because Chile never had slaves like Peru or Mexico—where the food is more expressive with dashes of chili and the Afro-cultures. That seems like a plausible hypothesis. In translation, this means that the food is less salty and plainer than what you’d expect from an exciting Peruvian chicken stew dish!Interestingly, there are different layers of what can be considered Chilean food. There’s the street food in which hot dogs are slathered in guacamole, the international hybrid food developed in hotel restaurants, the everyday home cooked meals, and the indigenous foods away from the city. These are at once all Chilean. In short, if you’re looking for a distinct Chilean dish, you’ll have to look beyond set courses and indulge yourself in the non-identity of a Chilean dish.
Check out the café with legs! A Hooter's and Starbucks crossover!
Neighborhoods & Culture Spots:We hit up most of the museums and parks including the neoclassical Palacio de Bellas Artes, Museum of Precolombian Civilization and the National History Museum (next to the beautiful post office in Plaza De Armas.
The Presidential Palace (Palacio De La Moneda) is pretty and was once a mint and you can walk through the courtyard. It’s opened from 10-6 p.m. on the weekends so bring your passport.
We also walked through the Barrio Brasil filled with younger people, but avoid Barrio Bellavista a major and expensive tourist trap.
Take a ride up the Funicular and the Cable Cars to catch stunning views of the Virgin Mary looking down on the city of Santiago and the Andes. You can actually hear the roar of the city of a couple million! Another fun sight is a hill with beautiful views somewhere in the city (can’t remember the name). Skip the fish market Mercado Central, but check out the National Library (no books to be found)!
Uruguay
Cities Visited: Montevideo, Carmelo, and Colonial Del Sacramento
Overall Impression: Uruguay’s capital, Montevideo, is rated as the best city to live in South America by some poll. I wonder, however, who was interviewed and how much they got paid. A 3 hour boat ride away, Montevideo is a smaller and quieter version of Buenos Aires. Many beautiful buildings are dilapidated and it seems as if the city just survived WWII. I still prefer Phnom Penh, Cambodia over Montevideo.
We took a mate lesson (the national drink of Uruguay) before learning about the various birds and veggies that grow on the ranch. Later on that night, I ate Uruguay’s national bird, the nandu. It was spicy and delicious! Look for the rack rate on their website valid for stays between Sunday-Thursday. Carmelo is a town about 4 hours north from Montevideo by bus. Since the resort is rurally located, the hotel makes its money by gauging you at their restaurants. We also took in some spa services and rode horses through eucalyptus forests and along the Rio Del La Plata.
Exchange Rate: Take away the single digit numerator and divide the remainder by 2.
Gastronomy:
A total miss. The national dish of Uruguay is called the Chivitas which is steak and eggs on a bed of salad and fries.
Neighborhoods, Towns & Culture Spots:
The highlight here was biking along the riverfront and hitting up all the beaches. We rented bikes from Bicileteria Sur located at Aquiles Lanza 1100 (tel: 901-07-92) for about US $1-2 an hour. Visit the Old town, adjacent to a bad part of town, for some cobblestone roads and boutique gift stores.
You can also visit the underground tomb of some war hero in the Independence Plaza. Located nearby is a building which was once the tallest in all of South America! On the day we decided to hit up some museums, there was a national strike. We ended up visiting the Gurvich Museum showcasing the work of famed Lithuanian-Uruguayan artist Jose Gurvich. http://www.museogurvich.org/.
A quick ride away from Buenos Aires on the Buquebus is the small town of Colonial Del Sacramento. I visited this place twice, once with Nick when it was rainy and once with Jamie when it was sunny. The weather makes all the difference, so make sure you go when it’s sunny. Although touristy, this small historic town was once built by the Portuguese and then taken over by the Spaniards so a lot of history remains.
One day museums pass costs US $2 and can get you in to whatever museums they decide to open. The museums are lacking, but can give you a brief introduction to the history. Climb up to the lighthouse tower and eat at all the cute, but expensive cafes and restaurants!
Overall Impression: Uruguay’s capital, Montevideo, is rated as the best city to live in South America by some poll. I wonder, however, who was interviewed and how much they got paid. A 3 hour boat ride away, Montevideo is a smaller and quieter version of Buenos Aires. Many beautiful buildings are dilapidated and it seems as if the city just survived WWII. I still prefer Phnom Penh, Cambodia over Montevideo. Look for school children dressed in little lab coats--school uniforms that symbolize intelligence and education. Old folks here are also really well dressed. Bravo!
Cheap v.s. Crack Cheap:
Again, not crack cheap; only slightly cheaper for hotels and snacks than in the U.S. I’ve experienced better meal deals in SF, NYC and Chicago! I think eating out is still a luxury so they charge more. There’s also the irritating meal linen fee (usually US $2-3 to pay for the linens and dish use).
A crack cheap deal is staying at the Four Seasons Resort in Carmelo, Uruguay. Think of it as a destination in itself since when can you stay at a Four Seasons for only US $190 (that’s about $100 per person per night)! Within one night we made friends with half the staff including Claudia, her husband, Norm, Mike, Sally, Bob, Pedro, and Steve. The bungalows are huge with an outdoor shower! Yes, I took an outdoor shower! You can also tour their Estancion for free.
Cheap v.s. Crack Cheap:
Again, not crack cheap; only slightly cheaper for hotels and snacks than in the U.S. I’ve experienced better meal deals in SF, NYC and Chicago! I think eating out is still a luxury so they charge more. There’s also the irritating meal linen fee (usually US $2-3 to pay for the linens and dish use).
A crack cheap deal is staying at the Four Seasons Resort in Carmelo, Uruguay. Think of it as a destination in itself since when can you stay at a Four Seasons for only US $190 (that’s about $100 per person per night)! Within one night we made friends with half the staff including Claudia, her husband, Norm, Mike, Sally, Bob, Pedro, and Steve. The bungalows are huge with an outdoor shower! Yes, I took an outdoor shower! You can also tour their Estancion for free. 
We took a mate lesson (the national drink of Uruguay) before learning about the various birds and veggies that grow on the ranch. Later on that night, I ate Uruguay’s national bird, the nandu. It was spicy and delicious! Look for the rack rate on their website valid for stays between Sunday-Thursday. Carmelo is a town about 4 hours north from Montevideo by bus. Since the resort is rurally located, the hotel makes its money by gauging you at their restaurants. We also took in some spa services and rode horses through eucalyptus forests and along the Rio Del La Plata.
Exchange Rate: Take away the single digit numerator and divide the remainder by 2.Gastronomy:
A total miss. The national dish of Uruguay is called the Chivitas which is steak and eggs on a bed of salad and fries.
Neighborhoods, Towns & Culture Spots:The highlight here was biking along the riverfront and hitting up all the beaches. We rented bikes from Bicileteria Sur located at Aquiles Lanza 1100 (tel: 901-07-92) for about US $1-2 an hour. Visit the Old town, adjacent to a bad part of town, for some cobblestone roads and boutique gift stores.
You can also visit the underground tomb of some war hero in the Independence Plaza. Located nearby is a building which was once the tallest in all of South America! On the day we decided to hit up some museums, there was a national strike. We ended up visiting the Gurvich Museum showcasing the work of famed Lithuanian-Uruguayan artist Jose Gurvich. http://www.museogurvich.org/.
A quick ride away from Buenos Aires on the Buquebus is the small town of Colonial Del Sacramento. I visited this place twice, once with Nick when it was rainy and once with Jamie when it was sunny. The weather makes all the difference, so make sure you go when it’s sunny. Although touristy, this small historic town was once built by the Portuguese and then taken over by the Spaniards so a lot of history remains. 
One day museums pass costs US $2 and can get you in to whatever museums they decide to open. The museums are lacking, but can give you a brief introduction to the history. Climb up to the lighthouse tower and eat at all the cute, but expensive cafes and restaurants!
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