In 2019, the FAA began working on major updates to the Northeast Corridor Atlantic Coast Routes (NEC ACR) to reduce delays and improve throughput for high altitude traffic to and from the Florida Metroplex. The changes also will reduce airspace complexity, reduce radar vectors/reroutes and accommodate more operators at their requested altitudes.

The project was originally targeted for completion in November 2020, but COVID-19 impacts on FAA training pushed the completion timeline to fall of 2022, and then later to spring 2023.

The project is following a phased implementation by publishing new procedures on one chart date, then implementing the changes on the next chart date. This allows operators to update their navigation databases ahead of each cycle period.

The next major update will take place on Nov. 3, 2022, with numerous changes released, but identified as “N/A” in NOTAMs.

On April 20, 2023, these routes will be enabled and active replacing older routes. Operators will be expected to file these routes from that point forward.

After this, there may be a few minor procedural changes in June 2023 bringing the NEC ACR project to completion.

Resources

Nov. 2, 2022
NEC ACR Project Status Update (PPTX)

Oct. 10, 2022
NEC ACR Preferred IFR Route Amendments for Nov. 3, 2022

Aug. 3, 2022
NEC ACR Project Status Update (PPTX)

July 5, 2022
FAA Eastern Service Area Performance Based Navigation Publication Plan (Excel)

June 22, 2022
South-Central Florida Metroplex Closeout Briefing

June 10, 2022
Florida Metroplex Results Analysis by Mitre

May 19, 2022
SID/STAR/SIAP Changes for May 19, 2022

Nov. 15, 2021
PFR Amendments for NEC ACR on Dec. 2, 2021 Machine Readable Routes (Excel)