The FAA is moving ahead with its Denver Metroplex plan that will use satellite navigation to move air traffic more safely and efficiently through the area. “Satellite-based routes will allow for more direct and efficient routing of aircraft into and out of Denver and surrounding airports, enhancing aviation safety and efficiency, and potentially reducing flight delays,” the FAA said.
Its announcement comes after a finding of no significant impact/record of decision for the project, the procedures of which will be implemented on March 26. The decision also follows environmental reviews that included 24 public workshops and about 78 stakeholder briefings in the Denver area. FAA also held two public comment periods totaling 75 days and evaluated and responded to more than 975 comments.
Some flight track dispersion will continue to occur after the new procedures are implemented because the Metroplex project includes a number of existing procedures, FAA noted. Additionally, controllers will need to occasionally vector aircraft for safety or efficiency reasons or to reroute them around weather systems, it added.