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FAAs ATL Class B AirspaceFAAs ATL Class B Airspace
ProposalProposal
Prepared by Mike Van WiePrepared by Mike Van Wie
For the Airport Advisory BoardFor the Airport Advisory BoardJanuary 11, 2010January 11, 2010
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What is Class B Airspace?What is Class B Airspace?
Surrounds the nation's busiest airportsSurface to 10,000 feet MSL; circular
diameter of 40 nautical milesPilots must obtain a clearance from ATC
before entering Class B airspace;maintain radio contact with ATC
Aircraft must be equipped with analtitude-encoding transponder
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What is Class B Airspace?What is Class B Airspace?
Upside downUpside downWedding Cake?Wedding Cake?
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What is Class B Airspace?What is Class B Airspace?
Pretty SimplePretty SimpleConceptConcept
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ALTs Class B AirspaceALTs Class B AirspaceWhere did the simplicity go?Where did the simplicity go?
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Airspace Change ProceduresAirspace Change ProceduresRequired by various Federal RegulationsRequired by various Federal Regulations
ProcessProcess FAA asks local aviation officials (GDOT) to form an Ad HocFAA asks local aviation officials (GDOT) to form an Ad Hoc
Committee of local users to discussCommittee of local users to discuss
Ad Hoc Committee meets and provides commentsAd Hoc Committee meets and provides comments
FAA reviews commentsFAA reviews comments
FAA holds public meetings (why we are here) to solicit publicFAA holds public meetings (why we are here) to solicit publiccommentscomments
FAA reviews public commentsFAA reviews public comments
FAA publishes proposed rule making action in Federal Register FAA publishes proposed rule making action in Federal Register Again solicits commentsAgain solicits comments
FAA publishes final rule and adopts changeFAA publishes final rule and adopts change
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ATL Airspace ProposalATL Airspace Proposal
HistoryHistory At the FAAs request GDOT created AdAt the FAAs request GDOT created Ad
Hoc Committee Jan. 09Hoc Committee Jan. 09 Ad Hoc Committee met 3 timesAd Hoc Committee met 3 times Jan 09 Mar 09Jan 09 Mar 09
Ad Hoc Committee provided commentsAd Hoc Committee provided comments
PDK comments attachedPDK comments attached FAA announced Public MeetingsFAA announced Public Meetings
Federal Register announcement attachedFederal Register announcement attached
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WestOperation
Arrival Routes
Jets at 12,000
Jets at 13,000Props at9,000
Jets at12,000 Props
at 8,000
Jets at14,000
Jets at 12,000Props at11,000
Jets at 14,000Props at11,000
AtlantaArrivalRoutes
RNAV Routes
RNAV /
Non RNAVRoutes
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ComparisonComparisonChange This To This
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Important DifferencesImportant Differences
Admin note:Admin note: Take out last page ofTake out last page of
handout.handout.
ExistingExisting Outer ring 35 milesOuter ring 35 miles
12 Mile line12 Mile line
Altitude directly aboveAltitude directly abovePDK 8,000 ftPDK 8,000 ft
Altitude immediatelyAltitude immediatelysouth of PDK 6,000 ftsouth of PDK 6,000 ft
Altitude immediatelyAltitude immediatelynorth of PDK 8,000 ft.north of PDK 8,000 ft.
ProposedProposed Outer ring 30 milesOuter ring 30 miles 15 mile line15 mile line
Altitude directly aboveAltitude directly abovePDK 5,000 ftPDK 5,000 ft
Altitude immediatelyAltitude immediately
south of PDK 5,000 ftsouth of PDK 5,000 ft Altitude immediatelyAltitude immediately
north of PDK 7,000 ft.north of PDK 7,000 ft.
Bottom Line Reduces the airspace
available to all aircraft in and out of
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What does this mean?What does this mean?
Previously unpopulated airspace above PDK nowPreviously unpopulated airspace above PDK nowpopulatedpopulated
Visual Flight Rules aircraftVisual Flight Rules aircraft Aircraft compressed into less airspaceAircraft compressed into less airspace
Same number of aircraft operating in less airspace equates to aSame number of aircraft operating in less airspace equates to areduced level of safetyreduced level of safety
Instrument Flight Rules aircraftInstrument Flight Rules aircraft On the ground delays for departing Instrument Flight rules aircraftOn the ground delays for departing Instrument Flight rules aircraft
Lower initial altitude for departing flights equals more noiseLower initial altitude for departing flights equals more noise
Earlier descent of inbound aircraft equals more noiseEarlier descent of inbound aircraft equals more noise All factors mean more fuel consumption more emissionsAll factors mean more fuel consumption more emissions
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Environmental ProcessEnvironmental Process
The FAA intends to categorically exclude (CATEX)The FAA intends to categorically exclude (CATEX)the proposal from a thorough environmental reviewthe proposal from a thorough environmental review
FAA reasoningFAA reasoning
FAA is only changing the airspace to capture aircraft that areFAA is only changing the airspace to capture aircraft that arealready there airspace doesnt make noise, only airplanes doalready there airspace doesnt make noise, only airplanes do
Airspace changes at 3,000 ft and above are typically CATEXAirspace changes at 3,000 ft and above are typically CATEX
This reasoning ignores the environmentalThis reasoning ignores the environmentalconsequences, both noise and increased emissions,consequences, both noise and increased emissions,at satellite airports like PDK.at satellite airports like PDK.
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Confused?Confused?
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??? Questions?????? Questions???
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Talking PointsTalking Points
Previously unpopulated airspace above PDK now populatedPreviously unpopulated airspace above PDK now populated Visual Flight Rules aircraftVisual Flight Rules aircraft
Aircraft compressed into less airspaceAircraft compressed into less airspace
Same number of aircraft operating in less airspace equates to aSame number of aircraft operating in less airspace equates to areduced level of safetyreduced level of safety
Instrument Flight Rules aircraftInstrument Flight Rules aircraft On the ground delays for departing Instrument Flight rules aircraftOn the ground delays for departing Instrument Flight rules aircraft
Lower initial altitude for departing flights equals more noiseLower initial altitude for departing flights equals more noise
Earlier descent of inbound aircraft equals more noiseEarlier descent of inbound aircraft equals more noise
All factors mean more fuel consumption more pollutionAll factors mean more fuel consumption more pollution
EnvironmentalEnvironmental