FAA Seeks Comment on SoCal Airspace Assessment

The FAA is seeking comment on a draft environmental assessment for a comprehensive proposal to improve air traffic flow in Southern California. The Southern California Metroplex project proposes to replace conventional air traffic procedures with satellite procedures throughout the region. The project will involve 109 new satellite-based procedures: 50 departures, 37 arrivals and 22 approach procedures, the FAA said. The procedures will affect more than 20 airports, including all the major airports and busy general aviation facilities such as Van Nuys and Santa Monica. Southern California is one of 21 “metroplex” regions that the FAA has targeted to implement new procedures and improve air traffic flow as part of its NextGen program.

“Many of the current air traffic procedures in Southern California are decades old,” the agency said. “While they are all safe, some are inefficient because they rely on ground-based navigation aids, which limit available flight paths.” The satellite procedures will enable more direct routing with fixed routes, altitudes and speeds. They reduce the need for vectoring and controller-pilot communications, the FAA said. The project would also expand the number of entry and exit points into and out of the Southern California airspace.

The FAA has scheduled 11 public workshops throughout Southern California this month and next to discuss the changes. The agency, which released the draft environmental assessment on June 10, will accept comments through July 10.