By Bill Cahir
Newhouse News Service
WASHINGTON — Three House Republicans today plan to offer an amendment to a $104.4 billion spending bill for federal transportation and housing programs to block the Federal Aviation Administration from changing the flight patterns around New York City, New Jersey and Philadelphia.

The amendment to halt the FAA changes will be sponsored by U.S. Reps. Scott Garrett and Rodney Frelinghuysen, two Republicans from New Jersey, and by U.S. Rep. Christopher Shays, a Republican from Connecticut, according to staff e-mails circulating on Capitol Hill.

The FAA on March 23 proposed change the air traffic patterns in New York City, New Jersey and Philadelphia to reduce delays by an estimated 12 million minutes at four major airports: Kennedy, LaGuardia, Newark and Philadelphia.

The agency proposed to \”combine high-altitude and low-altitude airspace to create more efficient arrival and departure routes.\” But that plan has been hugely controversial in the Northeast among home-owners concerned about an increase in air traffic and flight noise.