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GBAA NEWS
Proposed Changes to Atlanta Class B Airspace
On February 3, 2009 the Georgia Business Aviation Association provided representation during the first Ad Hoc Committee meeting regarding the proposed modifications to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Class B Airspace. We joined forces with public and private airports which are under the airspace in question as well as other industry representatives, AOPA, NBAA, ballooning and flight school organizations. At this meeting the FAA presented their proposed changes to the ATL Class B Airspace and answered questions. The Ad Hoc group was then asked to take this information back with them to discuss and provide comment to the FAA at a later date.
The Ad Hoc Committee, which the GBAA was part of, held two further meetings to discuss in depth the impact to users and airports as well as neighbors. After our third meeting on April 14th, the Committee – headed by Mike Van Wie (Assistant Airport Manager at PDK) drafted a position paper to provide industry feedback and solutions to the FAA’s proposal.
Click here to view the GBAA’s feedback letter.
Click here to view the PowerPoint presentations on airspace design/impact as well as the Ad Hoc Committees comments.
Click here for the link to the Federal Register in which the FAA’s proposal is published http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-28900.pdf
Please take some time to read through these papers to better acquaint yourself with the FAA’s proposal and its impact to users.
The GBAA would like to point out a couple of very important talking points:
- The GBAA feels that the reduction in the airspace floor over Atlanta satellite airports will create an environment where commercial traffic will be flying lower and slower over busy satellite airports. Especially the airspace over Covington, DeKalb-Peachtree and Fulton County Airport.
- This reduction will create a situation of increased potential for frequent and longer IFR delays for departing and arriving traffic at satellite airports.
- The GBAA urges the creation of T-routes (Transitional Routers) through the existing and future airspace to assist the VFR traffic between satellite airports.
- Lowering the airspace floor will ultimately increase noise complaints at all satellite airports. Especially at PDK which normally receives 120 complaints a month.
- The GBAA stresses the importance of having well defined or easily understood airspace boundaries because many aircraft in the Atlanta airspace lack the expensive and sophisticated navigation equipment to accurately define where floor limits begin and end. There are over 70 private airports within the Atlanta Class B airspace and numerous aircraft at each airport.
During the re-evaluation period, the FAA had a chance to review all comments and position papers to incorporate all users into the solution. The FAA has now moved to the next phase - the public informal airspace meetings. Those locations and dates are listed below.
The GBAA would like to urge all of its members to become active in this issue. We recommend to all our members to show up at one or all of the meetings listed below. We also suggest that you sign up to speak at each meeting you attend. Just like the public meetings the FAA held for the proposed LASP Program, we hope to send an overwhelming message to the FAA to work with us and consider proposals and solutions from airspace users and not just cater to the Commercial traffic of Atlanta-Hartsfield International Airport.
Public meeting information is listed below. Please feel free to pass this email to all of your fellow pilots and users of Atlanta’s airspace. We need a voice in this redesign!
Informal Airspace Meeting - ATL
Notice Number: NOTC2034
INFORMAL AIRSPACE MEETING
SUBJECT: Planned Modifications to the Class B Airspace at Atlanta (A80), GA
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will hold informal airspace meetings regarding a plan to modify the Atlanta Class B Airspace area.
The purpose of the meeting is to solicit aeronautical comments on the proposal’s effect on the planned action. (FAA Order 7400.2)
The changes are expected to make the Class B airspace area fully support the procedures for the current operations. The chart depicting the planned Atlanta Class B Airspace area design is included to assist in the preparation of comments prior to the meeting.
DATES: February 22, 2010 February 25, 2010
TIMES: 3:00 PM – 8:30 PM 3:00 PM – 8:30 PM
PLACES: Cobb Co. PD Precinct 1 City of Covington City Hall
2380 North Cobb Parkway 2194 Emory Street NW
Kennesaw, GA 30152 Covington , GA 30014
770-499-4181 for directions 770-385-2022 for directions
DATES: March 1, 2010 March 4, 2010
TIMES: 3:00 PM-8:30 PM 3:00 PM-8:30 PM
PLACES: Chamblee Civic Center Peachtree City Falcon Field
3540 Broad Street 7 Falcon Drive
Chamblee, GA 30341 Peachtree City, GA 30269
770-986-5016 for directions 770-487-2225 for directions
AGENDA
· Sign In
· Presentation of Meeting Procedures
· Informal Presentation of the planned Class B Airspace area Modification
· Public Presentations and Discussions
· Closing Comments
The informal presentation will be conducted at 3:00, 5:00 and again at 7:00. Each presentation will be the same, so attendees may arrive at any time of their convenience, and will not need to remain until the end.
Following each presentation will be time for questions and presentations by attendees.
Written comments may be submitted at any time during the meeting.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
MEETING PROCEDURES:
a. This meeting will be open to all persons on a space-available basis. There will be no admission fee or other charge to attend and participate.
b. This meeting will be informal in nature and will be conducted by one or more designated representatives of the FAA Eastern Service Area. Each participant will be given an opportunity to make a presentation, although a time limit may be imposed. Each person wishing to make a presentation will be asked to sign in so those time frames can be established. This meeting will not be adjourned until everyone on the list has had an opportunity to address the panel. This meeting may be adjourned at any time if all persons present have had an opportunity to speak.
c. Position papers or other handout materials relating to the substance of the meeting may be accepted. Participants submitting handout materials should present an original and two copies to the presiding officer. There should be an adequate number of copies for distribution to all participants.
d. This meeting will not be formally recorded. However, a summary of the comments made at the meeting will be filed in the docket.
COMMENT PERIOD:
Comments must be received on or before April 3, 2010. Comments on the plan, in triplicate, should be sent to:
Mark Ward, Manager, Operations Support Group,
Eastern Service Area, Air Traffic Organization,
Federal Aviation Administration
P.O. Box 20636
Atlanta, Georgia 30320
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mike Richardson, Support Manager
Atlanta TRACON
784 South Highway 74
Peachtree City, GA 30269
Telephone: (678) 364–6306
Information gathered through this meeting will assist the FAA in the drafting of a Notice of Proposed Rule-Making (NPRM). The public will be afforded the opportunity to comment on any NPRM published on this matter.
Please consult: https://www.faasafety.gov/files/notices/2009/Nov/INFORMAL_AIRSPACE_MEETING.pdf
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Redesign of the Atlanta Class B Airspace
January, 2009
The Atlanta TRACON is suggesting a redesign of the Atlanta Class B airspace. The last major change in the Atlanta airspace was back in 1975. With the addition of the fifth runway at Atlanta Hartsfield and increased traffic/operations a change is needed. In 2008, ATL experienced 980,000 operations and saw 90,000,000 people. They routinely handle 126 arrivals an hour. That is definitely pushing a lot of tin.
They need space to handle the increased traffic so a redesign is thought to be the solution. This proposal has impact on the other surrounding Atlanta Airports. Take a look at the documents below and keep in mind that this is not a final design. Feedback is crucial. This redesign will be a process that will hopefully evolve over time. The process to modify Class B airspace is a series of steps that build upon each other. Below is a brief listing:
1. Facility identifies a problem and verifies it has exhausted all possible alternatives
2.
Formation of Ad-Hoc Committee, to provide feedback to FAA
3. Informal Airspace Meetings – allows all affected to voice their opinions
4. Staff Study and Final design
We are currently at Step #2 in the above process. As a member of the Ad-Hoc Committee I am asking you to review the documents below and provide suggestions and feedback on the proposed design. You, as an end user have intimate knowledge and experience with the airspace and its flow, characteristics and problems. My intent is to obtain suggestions and ideas from affected users before our next meeting with the FAA on March 2nd.
From a cursory glance at the proposed changes, I can see an opportunity for frequent and longer IFR holds outbound and lower departing/arriving altitudes. This in turn will result in more noise complaints at various airports such as PDK and FTY. The discussion of T routes have come up but the FAA currently does not have any designed.
Please take a look over the documents and provide your thoughts, ideas and feedback to dave.small@coxinc.com so that I may bring this back to the FAA in March. Thanks for your time in this matter.
David Small
GBAA Chairman
**The GBAA commented on the proposal and the redesign will now move into the next phase, public informal meeting. Stay tuned for date, location and time.
Atlanta Class B Airspace - Proposed Redesign
Existing and Proposed Airspace Slides
View the GBAA's TSA Fox 5 Atlanta TV Coverage on 2/10/09
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