fmaceachern@wiltonvillager.com

WILTON — Wilton may see an extra 400 flights per day flying over the town if an airspace flight path redesign proceeds, warns a local official.

Judy Neville, chief operating officer with the 14-member Alliance for Sensible Airspace Planning (AFSAP), said the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) plans to reroute arrivals to LaGuardia Airport in New York City will see a dramatic increase in the number of flights over Wilton.

Neville is the former first selectmen of New Canaan.

The alliance is composed of local towns in Fairfield, including Wilton, and also the town of Pound Ridge NY. The alliance filed a lawsuit against the plan. The State of Connecticut, along with municipal governments in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvannia have also filed lawsuits.

Due to those lawsuits the FAA isn't going to respond to those numbers, said an FAA spokesman.

"We're not commenting at this time because it is in litigation," said FAA spokesman Jim Peters Thursday.

As part of the lawsuit AFSAP filed an affadavit Wednesday with the Washington DC Circuit Court of Appeals. It was signed by Wilton First Selectman Bill Brennan, Ridgfield First Selectman Rudy Marconi and Neville, of New Canaan. She said they signed because the three towns will be the hardest hit by the FAA's plans.

Currently an estimated 157 to 269 airplanes fly over the area, the majority bound for Westchester County Airport. Neville said about 75 percent of those flights are under 4,000 feet.

Neville, who has spearheaded the fight against the FAA's plans, said the agency keeps lowering the height of the flights over Fairfield County. Neville said FAA officials told her last year they wanted to keep the flights at no lower than 5,500 feet.

"Now they are telling us they are trying to stay above 3,000 feet," said a frustrated Neville.

The organization will host a town hall meeting in Greenwich on Monday, April 14. It will be held at Greenwich Town Hall beginning at 6:30 p.m. Among the invited guests are Gov. M. Jodi Rell and Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal.

Neville said they invited the FAA to also attend.

"People have a right to ask questions and get answers," said Neville.

U.S. Rep. Christopher Shays (R-4) is also expected to attend. At a public hearing on district concerns he held Saturday in Wilton Shays criticized the FAA.

"It's the most arrogant institution I've ever dealt with. The culture is such that they basically turn the other way (when confronted by questions)," said Shays.

He also accused the FAA of ignoring Fairfield County's concerns because it's a richer area.