Aiports. O’Hare International Airport, Chicago. Law Research Paper

O’Hare International Airport
Name
Tutor’s Name
Institution
O’Hare International Airport, Chicago
Introduction
The Chicago O’Hare International airport is ranked among the top ten busiest airports in the world (Branigan, 2011). Located on the North Side of Chicago, Illinois, and operated by the Chicago Department of Aviation, the airport has about two hundred and seventeen local international flight. The airport ownership is by the city of Chicago. Among the major airlines operating in the airport include Air Canada, Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airlines, British Airways, Emirates, Lufthansa, American Airlines, only to mention but a few. These flights are destined in such places like North America, Africa, Asia, South America, Oceania, and Europe. There are so many things that attribute to the success of the airport, notwithstanding some major setbacks the airport has faced, like complaints about noise pollution and horrendous accident.
In studying the airport, it is important to know the agency in charge of security screening for passengers and goods in the airport. There are some legal actions taken to protect the surrounding airspace from obstruction by obstacles, compatibility of the surrounding land uses with aircraft noise and establish runway use preference to minimize noise. The mentioned legal actions should be taken into account, with authority in place that takes such actions. In the accomplishment of the named actions, there is source type of the legal powers that help. It is also of importance to account major setbacks like accidents that have occurred with the causes. It is also vital to focus on the noise and safety issues of concern and how they may be addressed.
Aerial Overview of O’Hare International Airport
Source: /ohare/
Security Agency for the Airport
The Transportation Security Agency, preceded by the Federal Aviation Administration is the government agency in matters security CITATION Don17 \l 1033 (Dong, 2017). Formed on November 19, 2001, and parented by the Department of Homeland Security, the agency has the responsibility of ensuring the airport is safe. This is enhanced by the acquisition of machines and even sniffer dogs that detect any threat. Of importance is the provision of x-ray machines that scan passengers and cargo to ensure nothing suspicious is airborne. One might wonder why all the extra precaution. This follows the September 11, 2001 attacks that left many dead, others injured and destruction of property worth billions of money. These extra precautions ensure the safety of the passengers and goods, and that neither illegal goods nor drugs are not smuggled in and out of the country.
One of the Terminals in the Airport
Source: /ohare/
Government Legal Actions
O’Hare International Airport has received lots of complaints from the local community have concerns, majorly with the noise. To address some of the issues, some government agencies are put in place to address the concerns to ensure the smooth running of the facility. The major issues being addressed are the protection of the surrounding airspace from obstacle obstruction, compatibility of the surrounding land uses with the airport noise and establishment of runway use preference to minimize noise impact on the surrounding community. Each concern has got an agency that oversees it as discussed in the proceeding paragraphs.
The government agency tasked to protect the airspace from obstruction is the Federal Aviation Administration, FAA. The FAA is an operating mode of the United States’ Transportation. One of the roles it is tasked with is the protection of the airspace from obstructions by obstacles. To ensure that the airspaces are protected, there are some codes the administration has laid down for smooth running. Most of the guidelines that are laid down are by the government’s constitution. Any individual or organization that goes against the set guiding principles is penalized.
The FAA checks on the height of buildings that are built within the airspace. There are steps a builder has to consider. The FAA has to determine if there is a hazard the proposed building might cause. If no hazard is at the face, the builder is given a Determination of No Hazard, DNH. If the structure may pose issues, a Notice of Presumed Hazard, NPH, is issued. If the constructor does not comply, further aeronautical studies are done to determine whether the structure will be an air hazard. Other airspace protections include the lighting of developing wind turbines. This helps a pilot when navigating a plane so as not to hit them.
The meteorological department is also of the target. There is what is referred to as the voluntary making of meteorological evaluation towers in the department lower than 200 meters. The buildings are then given extra protection for low flying crafts. This can be done through brightly shading them. To protect crafts against migrating birds, new lighting measures are implemented. The patterns of the birds are also studied to aid in curbing them hitting the plane. With changing times and people; the FAA still does major changes to protect the airspaces.
The O’Hare Noise Compatibility Commission is charged with the responsibility of managing the noise. One thing to note is that the airport is located in a residential area; hence the need to reduce the noise caused by the crafts. The commission started in 1996, works together with the Department of Aviation, the Air Traffic Controllers, the FAA, airline pilots, and the community leaders to ensure functional working. Some put in place are phasing out noisier aircraft, the Residential Sound Insulation Program, RSIP, and the School Sound Insulation Program, SSIP. These programs work to ensure that noise is reduced in learning institutions, medical centers, and residential areas.
The main activities done by RSIP and SSIP include the making of walls that are noise insulated. This is done through the creation of attic insulation, using acoustically rated exterior doors, and using storm doors and windows. This is done by working concurrently with house developers to accomplish the dream of noise reduction. One thing that is taken into account is ensuring that the measures put in place do not disrupt normal living like watching television and mobile communication. Approximately, $550 million has been spent on the programs, showing how dedicated the agency is in making sure the airport does not disrupt other activities.
The Federal Aviation Administration is the agency that is tasked to establish runway preferences and approach and departure paths to curb noise pollution. At one time, the Suburban O’Hare Commission was given the duty of finding out what could be done to reduce the noise. The major things that are done include locating airport land away from human inhabitation. In the case of making runways, it is advised to build them at the furthest part from the town or residential places. The above majorly tackles the airport layout. This is very critical since the airways are to be altered during both aviation and descending. One other measure taken is to replace old airports in new places. This mostly affects airports that are now surrounded by towns.
Agencies Tasked to Foresee the Legal Actions
The major agency dealing with the United State’s air travel is the Federal Aviation Administration, FAA. This authority is charged to ensure safety and sound running of any air facility within the United States of America. Under the FAA are many other agencies are in place to enable the running of the airport. These authorities are tasked to ensure security checks, curb noise as well as curb any obstruction by obstacles. These agencies are the Federal Aviation Administration and the O’Hare Noise Compatibility Commission. The one thing accounting for the success is the way the agencies work with the local community to ensure implementation of the set guidelines.
Accidents at or Near the Airport and the Causes
The 1979 American Airlines Flight 191 was one of the most catastrophic airline accidents ever recorded in aviation history (Newton, 2014). The planes just about to take off when the left wing disengage leading to crash which left both the crew and the 258 passengers lifeless. In as much as the airport’s authority has tried to curb airline accidents, there still have been some accidents, since the start of the 21st Century. The airport authority and responsible bodies document most of the accidents. The following paragraphs discuss some of the accident witnesses in the airport or the vicinity of the airport since January 1, 2000, to date. Some of the accidents have been very deadly that th...