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December 4, 2009

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Fliers sue to block new routes

Monday, April 2, 2001 | 11:23 a.m.

Grand Canyon air tour operators say new flight routes aimed at preserving the environment are dangerous and are seeking an emergency court order to block their scheduled implementation April 19.

The Federal Aviation Administration, which ordered the new routes a week ago, has 10 days to respond to the motion filed Friday in the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington D.C. by the Mountain States Legal Foundation on behalf of the U.S. Air Tour Association.

In the filing, the USATA says the FAA rule "creates the risk of death or serious bodily harm."

In court affidavits, Southern Nevada's two largest tour operators also complained that they would suffer economic losses as a result of the new routes. Scenic Airlines, which flies from the North Las Vegas Airport, projects losses of $700,000 a year, while Air Vegas Airlines, which flies from Henderson Executive Airport, expects losses of $800,000 in 2001 if the routes are changed.

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