Teterboro RNAV (GPS) X in Use by NY TRACON

April 17, 2014

The Teterboro Airport (TEB) GPS-X RWY 6 approach was recently published and is now is use by NY TRACON (N90). This instrument approach procedure (IAP) is advantageous for NY TRACON as a means to deconflict TEB traffic from certain Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) operations.

The primary conflict arises when EWR is arriving on RWY 29 and TEB is arriving on the ILS RWY 6 and landing either RWY 6 or RWY 1. This conflict will occur more often from now through June 1 when runway construction for EWR RWY 4L/22R will be complete. However, this runway configuration occurs outside of the runway construction period when winds dictate use of EWR RWY 29 for arrivals.

The TEB RNAV (GPS) X RWY 6 procedure mitigates these conflicts. However, many flight management systems are subject to a design limitation that prevents database coding of multiple approaches of the same type (e.g. ILS, RNAV, NDB, etc.) to the same runway end. These systems can contain only one approach type for each runway end. For these affected systems, current FAA/industry policy calls for coding the approach with the lowest minima, so the TEB RNAV (GPS) Y is the default RNAV IAP to RWY 6.

Because the RNAV (GPS) X RWY 6 helps to deconflict the EWR and TEB traffic flows, and is therefore more advantageous in minimizing delays for EWR and TEB users, the FAA has requested that Jeppesen swap this approach for the TEB RNAV (GPS) Y RWY 6 in the next database cycle, effective May 1.

The loss of the TEB RNAV (GPS) Y RWY 6 is not expected to impact TEB operations. In the event the TEB RWY6 ILS is out of service, N90 can use the TEB RNAV (GPS) X RWY 6 to continue to move approaches to TEB.

Until the May 1 database cycle is available, and after for aircraft not capable of flying the TEB RNAV (GPS) X RWY 6 procedure and EWR is landing RWY 29, N90 will either hold aircraft or provide delaying vectors and speed control until they can group together a string of TEB arrivals. At that point, an arrival stop to RWY 29 at EWR will be worked into the flow to run the TEB arrival string in. Operators should keep in mind that this is a disruptive process and should be avoided if at all possible.

NBAA and FAA continue to work closely on issues related to TEB and other New York area metro satellite airports. Please direct any questions to NBAA’s Bob Lamond at rlamond@nbaa.org.