Air traffic "czar" named for NY-NJ airports=0ATHE ASSOCIATED PRESS =95 Apri= l 8, 2008=0ARead Comments(4) =0ARecommend =0APrint this page =0AE-mail this= article =0AShare this article: =0ADel.icio.us =0AFacebook =0ADigg =0AReddi= t =0ANewsvine =0AWhat=92s this? =0A=0A =0ANEWARK =97 A former Sept. 11 rebu= ilding official was tapped today to be the new air traffic "czar" over the = overcrowded airspace around New York and New Jersey airports.=0AMarie Kenni= ngton-Gardiner was named director of the Federal Aviation Administration's = New York Integration Office, a new title designed to help solve the chronic= delays at the three major metro area airports: John F. Kennedy, LaGuardia,= and Newark-Liberty.=0A=0ADelays at the three airports often cause cascadin= g delays across the country, and last year the United States saw some of th= e worst overall backups on record.=0A=0AKennington-Gardiner, of Staten Isla= nd, had recently worked as director of the Lower Manhattan Recovery Office,= overseeing federal dollars for rebuilding transit systems in the wake of t= he 2001 terror attacks. She has also held management positions at FAA offic= es along the East Coast.=0A=0AThe position was created last year as part of= an aggressive new strategy by the FAA to reduce flight delays by limiting = takeoffs and landings at certain peak times in the day, and attempting to s= treamline the area's flight traffic.=0A=0AU.S. Department of Transportation= Secretary Mary Peters said the new post is further proof the the governmen= t is "tackling the aviation congestion and delays that grounded passengers = and economic opportunities alike in the New York region last year."=0A=0ASe= n. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., had called last year for the creation of a loca= l air traffic czar.=0A=0AHe said Kennington-Gardiner "appears to be a stron= g choice," but added: "Much more needs to be done before New Yorkers receiv= e adequate air service." <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> If you wish to unsubscribe from the AIRLINE List, please send an E-mail to: "listserv@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx". Within the body of the text, only write the following:"SIGNOFF AIRLINE".