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 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 followed a phased implementation by publishing new procedures on one chart date, then implementing the changes on the next chart date. This allowed operators to update their navigation databases ahead of each cycle period.
The last major update took 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 to replace older routes. Operators will be expected to file these routes from that point forward.
In June 2023, there may be a few minor procedural changes, which will bring the NEC ACR project to completion.
Resources
April 20, 2023
FAA NEC ACR Domestic Notice
April 20, 2023
NEC ACR Project Status Update (PPTX)
Oct. 10, 2022
NEC ACR Preferred IFR Route Amendments for Nov. 3, 2022
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
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.