July 15, 2022
The FAA is postponing implementation of certain changes to the Northeast Corridor Atlantic Coast Routes (NEC ACR) until spring 2023, when a multi-year initiative to reduce delays and improve efficiencies for traffic to and from the Florida Metroplex, including more than 150 new or modified routes, will culminate.
These changes will eventually help reduce ATC sector workload and complexity.
The project began in 2019, but encountered many delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now the FAA is choosing to postpone the implementation of the new Q routes to occur between the busy winter flying season and the beginning of the Severe Weather Avoidance Plan.
“NBAA appreciates the FAA’s ongoing commitment to this modernization effort,” said Ernie Stellings, NBAA Air Traffic Services senior manager. “NBAA continues to communicate with the FAA to ensure the most up-to-date information is available to our members.”
The FAA will publish the procedures in September and November, but will – via NOTAM – indicate these procedures are “NA – not authorized” until April 20, 2023. At that time, the new procedures will be active.
It’s important pilots file for the current routes and not file the NOTAMs Q routes until next year, when the corresponding jet routes will be removed. This means operators and pilots will have an opportunity to review the new procedures and plan ahead to update navigation databases well before the procedures are implemented.
Download the FAA Eastern Service Area Performance Based Navigation Publication Plan (Excel)
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