FAA, McCarran Airport Operations to Test Departure Flow Planner Sept. 10 to 13

Sept. 3, 2015

Beginning Sept.10, McCarran International Airport (LAS) Department of Aviation (DOA), in conjunction with the FAA Las Vegas Traffic Management Unit and NBAA, will test a new procedure aimed at mitigating excessive departure delays that may occur during major events in Las Vegas due to compacted departure demand.

This specific test is being run for planned departures from LAS on Sunday, Sept. 13 due to the expected increased air traffic associated with the Mayweather-Berto fight, as well as additional events in the Las Vegas area.

This procedure will provide transparency between FBOs, general aviation flight crews, LAS air traffic control tower, airlines, and LAS DOA.

Review planning information.

Procedure Process

• Each general aviation flight crew will operate normally into the airport.
• Upon check-in with their FBO, the crew will be asked to provide an anticipated departure time if departing on Sept.13. Flight crews can also provide this information by calling the FBO directly.
• For flight operators flying into LAS on Sept. 13 to pick up customers/passengers on a quick turn, please contact your LAS FBO in advance (prior to operation) to provide your expected departure time.
• The FBO will provide an information card with an I.D. number and instructions on how to check departure status online.
• To coordinate real-time changes and receive traffic updates, crews will be provided a phone number to communicate directly with the FAA traffic management unit the day of departure.
• Representatives from the McCarran Department of Aviation and the FAA Traffic Management Unit will be on hand at the FBOs to provide assistance if needed.

This procedure, in the form of an airport flow planner, is based on sharing three fundamental pieces of information:

• Expected air carrier departure volume per hour.
• Expected general aviation departure volume per hour.
• Under normal weather and operational conditions, the average maximum departure rate per hour of 48.

The key to the success for this procedure is flight crew participation; please help us with this Beta test.

Both FBO’s at McCarran have agreed to participate in this test of the departure flow planner. Each FBO will assist the flight crews/operators as needed throughout the weekend.

If successful, this plan can be used to assist in departure management out of LAS for future high volume events.