Optimizing the Airspace Above Our Cities

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Announcements

8/11/21 - The FAA made minor adjustments to procedures that are part of the South-Central Florida Metroplex project. The agency made these changes after it issued the final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact/Record of Decision (FONSI/ROD) for the project. The FAA conducted a thorough review of the changes and confirmed they do not warrant a supplement to the final Environmental Assessment consistent with FAA environmental policy. Details of the FAA review are available here.

4/21/21 - The FAA made minor adjustments to procedures that are part of the South-Central Florida Metroplex project. The agency made these changes after it issued the final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact/Record of Decision (FONSI/ROD) for the project. The FAA conducted a thorough review of the changes and confirmed they do not warrant a supplement to the final Environmental Assessment consistent with FAA environmental policy. Details of the FAA review are available here.

1/14/21 - The FAA made minor adjustments to five procedures that are part of the Las Vegas Metroplex project. The agency made these changes after it issued the final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact/Record of Decision (FONSI/ROD) for the project. The FAA conducted a thorough review of the changes and confirmed they do not warrant a supplement to the final Environmental Assessment consistent with FAA environmental policy. Details of the FAA review are available here.

10/26/20 ? FAA update regarding the FL Metroplex Project.

09/25/20 ? FAA update regarding the FL Metroplex Information on North Miami.

7/24/20 - The FAA has closed the public comment period for the Draft EA that was issued on May 11, 2020. The comment period closed on July 24, 2020. No further extensions will be made. The agency will review and consider all comments it receives before issuing an environmental determination anticipated in September 2020.

7/8/20 - The FAA is extending the public comment period for the Draft EA that was issued on May 11, 2020. The comment period will end on July 24, 2020. No further extensions will be made. The agency will review and consider all comments it receives before issuing an environmental determination in September 2020.

05/10/20 ? A Draft Environmental Assessment document for the South-Central Florida Metroplex Project (FL Metroplex) is issued for public review and comment by the FAA and is available here for review. Public comments will be received until July 10, 2020.

1/24/20 - FAA Issues FONSI-ROD for the DEN Metroplex Project

12/20/19 - FAA update regarding the DEN Metroplex Project

11/18/19 - FAA update regarding the DEN Metroplex Project

11/08/19 - FAA update regarding the LAS Metroplex Project

04/21/19 - Denver Draft EA is now available and the comment period opens April 22, 2019 to June 6, 2019.

04/05/19 - FAA update regarding the DEN Metroplex Project

05/11/18 - FAA has released the Final EA and Finding of No Significant Impact and Record of Decision (FONSI-ROD) for the Cleveland-Detroit Metroplex (CLE-DTW Metroplex) project.

12/11/2017 - Public comments for the Cleveland-Detroit Metroplex (CLE-DTW Metroplex) project is now closed.

11/10/2017 - Draft Environmental Assessment document for the Cleveland-Detroit Metroplex (CLE-DTW Metroplex) project was issued by the FAA and is available here for review. Public comments will be received until December 11, 2017.

09/13/2017 - Public Information: Upcoming Metroplex Route Validation
People living and working around LAX might experience unexpected air traffic operations during 0530 thru 1030 on Tuesday September 19, 2017. This will occur as we validate some of the new air traffic routes that are part of our Southern California Metroplex project.

The validations will occur as follows:

On September 19, 2017, LAX will operate in the usual nighttime configuration from midnight to 0530 A.M.  Then it will switch to the east configuration from 0530 A.M. until approximately 1030 A.M.  In the east configuration, which is typically used during Santa Ana wind conditions; aircraft arrive from over the ocean and depart to the east.

04/20/2017 - People living and working around LAX might experience unexpected air traffic operations during certain times on Thursday, April 27, and Friday, April 28, 2017. This will occur as we validate some of the new air traffic routes that are part of our Southern California Metroplex project.

The validations will occur as follows:

- On April 27, LAX will operate in its standard west configuration from midnight to 6:30 a.m. In the west configuration, which is our typical daytime operation, aircraft land to the west and depart to the west. This is different from the usual nighttime configuration, in which aircraft depart (west) over the ocean and arrive (to the east) from over the ocean to minimize noise in surrounding residential communities.

- On April 28, LAX will operate in the usual nighttime configuration from midnight to 2 a.m. Then it will switch to the east configuration from 2 a.m. to 4:00 a.m. In the east configuration, which is typically used during Santa Ana wind conditions; aircraft arrive from over the ocean and depart to the east.

02/24/2017 - On Thursday, March 2 and Friday, March 3, 2017 people living and working around Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) might experience unexpected air traffic operations during certain times as the new air traffic routes are validated as part of the Federal Aviation Administration?s Southern California Metroplex project. The validations will ensure that the routes function as intended. They will occur as follows:

- On March 2, LAX will operate in its standard west configuration from midnight to 6:30 a.m. In the west configuration, which is the typical daytime operation, aircraft land to the west and depart to the west. This is different from the usual nighttime configuration, in which aircraft depart (west) over the ocean and arrive (to the east) from over the ocean to minimize noise in surrounding residential communities.

- On March 3, LAX will operate in the usual nighttime configuration from midnight to 2 a.m. Then it will switch to the east configuration from 2 a.m. to 6:30 a.m. In the east configuration, which is typically used during Santa Ana wind conditions, aircraft arrive from over the ocean and depart to the east.

We recognize these validations may temporarily create some disturbances in communities around LAX. However, it is necessary to validate new routes during the slowest traffic timesin the early morning hours. These validations are one-time occurrences. Once they are complete, we will return to standard night and early-morning configurations.

12/29/2016 - The FAA is conducting public information briefings and internet based webinars focused on communities where the second and third phase of implementation changes for the SoCal Metroplex Project will occur in March and April 2017. The internet based webinars will take place January 18th and 19th. The public information briefings will be held January 23rd, 24th, 25th, 26th, 30th and 31st, and February 1st, 2nd, 7th and 8th. Details on these events can be found here.

10/24/2016 - The FAA has released the presentations and video recordings of internet-based webinars held on October 17, 18, and 20, 2016. These webinars focused on communities where the first phase of implementation changes for the SoCal Metroplex Project will occur in November 2016. These materials can be found in the SoCal Metroplex Post-NEPA Process Community Outreach Media Library. Public information briefings will be held October 25, 26, 27 and November 1 and 2, 2016. Details on these events can be found here. Maps depicting parking for these locations can be downloaded here.

10/14/2016 - The FAA will hold two additional public information briefings on November 1, 2016 in Spring Valley, CA and November 2, 2016 in Orange, CA. Details on these events can be found here. The upcoming briefings and webinars will only address changes FAA is planning to make in November 2016. FAA is still performing safety checks and controller training for the procedures FAA plans to implement in future phases, and are not prepared to conduct briefings on them at the November 2016 briefings. FAA will conduct further outreach before each additional implementation phase.

10/05/2016 - The FAA has made available an instructional video on the use of supplemental Google Earth files depicting the Proposed Action and No Action Alternative procedures as well as the results of the noise analysis conducted in support of the EA for the SoCal Metroplex Project.”

10/04/2016 - The FAA is conducting public information briefings and internet based webinars focused on communities where the first phase of implementation changes for the SoCal Metroplex Project will occur in November 2016. The internet based webinars will take place October 17, 18, and 20, and the public information briefings will be held October 25, 26, and 27. Details on these events can be found here.

09/09/2016 - FAA has made available a recording of the “Select Officials and Airports Information Briefing" conducted this week on September 6th and 7th.

09/02/2016 - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a Finding of No Significant Impact and Record of Decision (FONSI-ROD) for the Southern California Metroplex (SoCal Metroplex) Project. This is the FAA’s final decision, and it enables the agency to move forward with implementing the project, which will replace dozens of existing conventional air traffic control procedures with new satellite-based procedures. The FONSI-ROD and Final Environmental Assessment documents are available here.

06/08/2016 - The Comment period on the Notice of Intent to prepare a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Denver Metroplex Project has closed.

05/08/2016 - A Notice of Intent to prepare a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Denver Metroplex Project was mailed to federal, state, regional, and local officials and tribes and published in the Denver Post.

10/09/2015 - The public comment period for the SoCal Metroplex project Draft EA is now closed.

09/08/2015 - The FAA has extended the public comment period for the SoCal Metroplex Project Draft EA by an additional 30 days. The comment period will now close on Thursday, October 8, 2015. The SoCal Metroplex Project Draft EA can be downloaded here for review.

08/31/2015 -The FAA has released information on the SoCal Metroplex project in Google Earth format. This information can be accessed here.

08/17/2015 -The FAA has released information on the SoCal Metroplex project for John Wayne-Orange County Airport (SNA) and San Diego International Airport (SAN) in Google Earth format. This information can be accessed here.

07/09/2015 - The FAA has extended the public comment period on the SoCal Metroplex Project Draft EA by 60 calendar days. The public comment period will now close on September 8, 2015. The SoCal Metroplex Project Draft EA can be downloaded here for review.

06/27/2015 - The FAA has released presentation boards displayed at the SoCal Metroplex Public Workshops for the Draft EA held in Palm Springs, California on June 23, 2015, Long Beach, California on June 25, 2015, and Ontario, California on June 26, 2015. The presentation boards can be downloaded here for review.

06/26/2015 - The FAA has released presentation boards displayed at the SoCal Metroplex Public Workshops for the Draft EA held in Los Angeles, California on June 18, 2015. The presentation boards can be downloaded here for review.

06/25/2015 - The FAA has released presentation boards displayed at the SoCal Metroplex Public Workshops for the Draft EA held in San Diego, California on June 22, 2015. The presentation boards can be downloaded here for review.

06/23/2015 - The FAA has released presentation boards displayed at the SoCal Metroplex Public Workshops for the Draft EA held in Santa Ana, California on June 16 and Santa Monica, California on June 17, 2015. The presentation boards can be downloaded here for review.

06/19/2015 - The FAA has released presentations given at the SoCal Metroplex, Elected Official, Tribal Representative, and Airport Management Informational Briefing on the Draft EA held on June 10, 2015. The meeting agenda and presentations can be downloaded here for review.

06/10/2015 - A Draft Environmental Assessment document for the Southern California Metroplex (SoCal Metroplex) project was issued by the FAA and is available here for review. Public comments will be received until July 10, 2015.

05/27/2015 - The FAA intends to publish a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Southern California Metroplex Project on June 10, 2015. Further details on the publication of the Draft EA and the public participation process can be found here.

05/01/2015 - The Notice of Intent to prepare a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Phoenix (PHX) Metroplex Project has been published. Since publication of the Notice, additional Study Airports have been added to the scope of the Project. The original and revised Notice of Intent are available here. If you desire to provide comments and/or have any questions about the information provided, please provide them by letter or email, before Wednesday, May 15, 2015.

02/02/2015 - The public comment period for the Environmental Assessment for the Charlotte Optimization of Airspace and Procedures in the Metroplex (OAPM) Project closed.

01/02/2015 - The comment period on the Draft Environmental Assessment document for the Charlotte Optimization of Airspace and Procedures in the Metroplex (CLT OAPM) project has been extended. Public comments will be received up to February 2, 2015. The Draft Environmental Assessment is available here for review.

12/05/2014 - A Draft Environmental Assessment document for the Charlotte Optimization of Airspace and Procedures in the Metroplex (CLT OAPM) project was issued by the FAA and is available here for review.  Public comments will be received up to January 5, 2015.

8/7/2014 - A Finding of No Significant Impact and Record of Decision (FONSI-ROD) for the Northern California Optimization of Airspace and Procedures in the Metroplex (NorCal OAPM) Project was issued by the FAA and is available here.

8/7/2014 - A Finding of No Significant Impact and Record of Decision (FONSI-ROD) for the Atlanta Optimization of Airspace and Procedures in the Metroplex (ATL OAPM) Project was issued by the FAA and is available here.

7/5/2014 - A Finding of No Significant Impact and Record of Decision (FONSI-ROD) for the North Texas Optimization of Airspace and Procedures in the Metroplex (North Texas OAPM) Project was issued by the FAA and is available here. 

05/04/2014 - The public comment period for the Draft Environmental Assessment for the Northern California Optimization of Airspace and Procedures in the Metroplex (NorCal OAPM) Project closed.

04/24/2014 The FAA has extended the comment period for the Draft Environmental Assessment for the Northern California Optimization of Airspace and Procedures in the Metroplex (NorCal OAPM) Project by ten calendar days. The comment period will close on Sunday, May 4, 2014.

04/23/2013 - The public comment period for the Environmental Assessment for the Atlanta Optimization of Airspace and Procedures in the Metroplex (OAPM) Project closed.

03/25/2014 - A Draft Environmental Assessment document for the Northern California Optimization of Airspace and Procedures in the Metroplex (NorCal OAPM) project was issued by the FAA and is available here for review. Public comments will be received up to April 24, 2014.

03/23/2014  – An Environmental Assessment document for the Atlanta Optimization of Airspace and Procedures in the Metroplex (ATL OAPM) project was issued by the FAA and is available here for review. Public comments will be received up to April 23, 2014.

01/21/2014  – A Notice of Intent to prepare a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the SoCal Metroplex Project was published in five newspapers throughout Southern California.

01/16/2014  – A Notice of Intent to prepare a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the SoCal Metroplex Project was mailed to federal, state, regional, and local officials and tribes.

01/02/2014  – The first DC OAPM procedures will be published in February 2014, ahead of the scheduled implementation that was announced for March 2014.  The procedures to be published in February 2014 are the LINCN SID serving Andrews Air Force Base and the KALLI/LUCYL RNAV STARs serving Richmond International Airport. 

12/30/2013 - A Finding of No Significant Impact and Record of Decision (FONSI-ROD) for the Washington, D.C. Optimization of Airspace and Procedures in the Metroplex (DC OAPM) Project was issued by the FAA and is available here.

10/31/2013 – The public comment period for the Draft Environmental Assessment document for the North Texas Optimization of Airspace and Procedures in the Metroplex (OAPM) has been extended. Public comments will be received up to November 18, 2013.

09/30/2013 - A Draft Environmental Assessment document for the North Texas Optimization of Airspace and Procedures in the Metroplex (OAPM) has been issued by the FAA and available here for review. Public comments will be received up to October 30, 2013.

07/20/2013 - The public comment period for the Environmental Assessment for the Washington D.C. Optimization of Airspace and Procedures in the Metroplex (OAPM) Project closed. 

06/20/2013 - A Draft Environmental Assessment document for the Washington D.C. Optimization of Airspace and Procedures in the Metroplex (OAPM) has been issued by the FAA and available here for review. Public comments will be received up to July 20, 2013.

06/13/2013 - A Finding of No Significant Impact and Record of Decision (FONSI-ROD) for the Houston Optimization of Airspace and Procedures in the Metroplex (OAPM) Project was issued by the FAA and is available here.

01/20/2013 - The Environmental Assessment for the Houston Optimization of Airspace and Procedures in the Metroplex (OAPM) Project was released and made available for public review.

02/19/2013 - The public comment period for the Environmental Assessment for the Houston Optimization of Airspace and Procedures in the Metroplex (OAPM) Project closed.