FAA FLIGHT PATH CHANGES Phoenix City Council Policy Session December 16, 2014 Industry Roles and Authority FAA • Sole authority to control air traffic • Manage air traffic for safety and efficiency City of Phoenix • Owns, operates, and maintains the Airport • Noise monitoring and information Airlines • Operate flights to and from the Airport 2 NextGen Initiative • FAA is currently evaluating and implementing new air traffic technology in major metropolitan areas • New precision flight paths (RNAV) • Arrival flight paths activated in 2006 • Departure flight paths activated at Sky Harbor (PHX) in September 2014 3 New Flight Changes at PHX September 2013 – FAA completed Initial Environmental Review – No adverse impact determined – Consultation with State Historic Preservation Office – Categorical Exclusion (CATEX) March 2014 – FAA reevaluated and upheld CATEX September 2014 – FAA activated new flight paths at PHX 4 FAA Departure Plate 5 Aviation Department Conversion of Proposed RNAV Departure to Local Maps 6 Conversion of Proposed RNAV Departure to Local Maps with FAA Radar Feed 7 PHX Noise Information Office Three months as of 12/10/2014 – 1,732 Complaints – 558 Households – All logged and sent to FAA Information provided – skyharbor.com – Return call to each household – Monthly noise report 8 FAA Regional Administrator Input Still Being Received A. Listening Session B. Letters from elected officials C. Letters and emails from citizens Minor Changes A. Courses corrections Analysis Being Done A. Baseline new procedures B. Possible Route, Waypoint, or Altitude Changes C. Requests from PHX Department of Aviation D. Whether potential adjustments result in improvement E. Safety, Environmental, Legal Reviews Planned Activities A. Outreach beginning in January B. Analysis completed in the Spring 9 PHX Pre-RNAV Departures Based on FAA Radar Data 10 PHX Post-RNAV Departures Based on FAA Radar Data 11 Comparison of Pre/Post RNAV Departures-Based on FAA Radar Data 12 Land Use Map with Historic Overlay 13 Departures before FAA’s October 20, 2014 “Early Turn Directive” McDowell Rd 19th Ave 7th Ave Thomas Rd 14 Departures after FAA’s October 20, 2014 “Early Turn Directive” McDowell Rd 19th Ave 7th Ave Thomas Rd 15 Federal Government Activity • Phoenix Mayor and City Council sent letters and made calls to congressional delegation and FAA Administrator • Joint letter to FAA Administrator Michael Huerta from Congressman Ed Pastor (D-AZ) and Congressman Tom Latham (R-IA) • PHX airport DC representatives met with senior congressional staff • Asst. Aviation Director met with FAA at headquarters • 2015 Federal Appropriations Bill 16 2015 Federal Appropriations Bill • Identify appropriate mitigation measures • Enforce adherence to flight procedures • Report progress to Appropriations Committee within 90 days of enactment of this Act 17 Next Steps • Monthly update to DAR Subcommittee & City Council • Community meetings in January 2015 • Conduct focused noise monitoring • Second series of community meetings to share the noise monitoring data • Staff will continue to remain vigilant to ensure the FAA continues to review this issue as a high priority 18 Recommendations Outreach: Contract with Landrum & Brown to assist the Aviation Department in conducting a public outreach process. Noise Monitoring: Place temporary noise monitors in the community based on public feedback. Legislative Strategy: Request the FAA identify mitigation measures to reduce the noise impact of the new Phoenix procedures. Further request that FAA share the progress through community outreach meetings over the next 90 days. Utilize DC representation for additional congressional outreach. 19 Presentation available at skyharbor.com