With the great Portuguese explorations which opened up new ocean routes, the spice trade no longer went through the Mediterranean sea.

Community organizers said they were outraged, and they accused the F.A.A. of never seriously considering the ocean routes.

Established ocean routes, for example, are generally seen as unavailable for private appropriation.

He will ply the South Atlantic on an ocean route that will take the shape of a giant sea turtle.

The concept of an ocean route to India appears to have originated after his death.

Some benefits, however, were noted, e.g., the opening of new ocean routes due to reduced sea ice.

"The first point is that we've shut off the ocean routes," said a Bush Administration official who is following the crisis.

The F.A.A. has given only limited approval for the system's use in airliners, mostly over ocean routes, where there is no ground-based beacon system.

First, the Port Authority should support ocean routes, which would reduce or eliminate aircraft noise for over one million citizens.

Mr. Zimmer is sponsoring legislation to force the Federal agency to use ocean routes where feasible within 18 months.