It's Official: No Big Jets At Teterboro
Rothman's Legislation to Uphold Aircraft
Weight Limit at Teterboro Airport Becomes Law
Approved With Key Support From Senators Lautenberg & Corzine

Teterboro, NJ - In a major victory for improving the quality of life for the people of Northern New Jersey, Congressman Steve Rothman (D-NJ9) today announced that his provision to stop the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) from overturning the 100,000 pound aircraft weight limit at Teterboro Airport, thus preventing the 737 Boeing Business Jet from operating there, has become law. In July 2003, when the FAA announced its rule change proposal to lift the weight limit, Rothman immediately crafted legislation in the House to stop it. The House passed Rothman's provision, which was included in the final spending bill for Fiscal Year 2004, on December 8. U.S. Senators Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Jon Corzine (D-NJ) got the Rothman-authored provision passed in the Senate on January 22, 2004 as part of the same bill already approved in the House and President Bush signed it into law the next day. Rothman's measure is the first piece of legislation on any level - federal, state, or local - that protects the 37 year-old weight limit at Teterboro.

     "With the enactment of my legislation, we have banned the 737 Boeing Business Jet from Teterboro Airport and sent a strong message to those who seek to destroy our quality of life: 'We don't want your jumbo jets in our backyards and we never will,'" Rothman said. "The threat of Teterboro becoming the area's fourth major airport that would attract huge jets and would destroy the quality of life of area residents is now gone. The FAA and the Boeing Company thought they could bully the people of Northern New Jersey and force us to accept 737's flying in and out of our neighborhoods. The United States Congress and the President are now on record agreeing that the weight limit at Teterboro Airport must be upheld to ensure that these jets will not be skimming the rooftops of our homes and businesses."

     At the beginning of July 2003, the FAA announced its intention to overturn the weight limit at Teterboro Airport to allow larger jets to operate at the Northern New Jersey facility. The move came following requests to the FAA from the Boeing Company, which wants its 737 Boeing Business Jet to be able to use Teterboro Airport. As a lifelong resident of Bergen County who is committed to fighting aircraft noise and stopping the expansion of Teterboro Airport, Rothman vehemently opposed the proposal and wrote this legislation to stop the FAA from going forward with its plan.

     "Big jets that weigh over 100,000 pounds do not belong at Teterboro Airport, a general aviation reliever airport," said Senator Lautenberg. "This legislation will preserve the facilities of Teterboro, and more importantly protect surrounding communities and their quality of life."

     Senator Corzine said, "Keeping the 100,000 - pound weight limitation in place at Teterboro is the right thing to do for our region. The big jets don't belong there. Newark Liberty International Airport handles those jets, and it's only 12 miles away."

     "I am very grateful that New Jersey has two great U.S. Senators in Frank Lautenberg and Jon Corzine who were able to use their positions to get the Senate to bar the 737 Boeing Business Jet from Teterboro," Rothman added. "They have been outstanding partners in our fight to enhance the quality of life for area residents."

     Since Rothman's provision is part of an annual appropriations bill, the measure will have to be renewed each year, a process made much easier now that there is a precedent in place. While he expressed strong confidence that he would have his measure renewed each year, Rothman also vowed to explore other legislative means that would keep his provision in place without having to go through an annual process.

     This is the second major victory regarding Teterboro Airport that Rothman has secured in the last two months. Last month, Rothman announced that his measure to permanently ban scheduled charter service at Teterboro Airport had been signed into law by President Bush. Rothman credited U.S. Senators Lautenberg and Corzine (D-NJ) with helping to ensure Senate approval of that provision as well.

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