On any given day, there are about 44,000 commercial and general aviation aircraft sharing Florida airspace, according to the FAA, not to mention the occasional spacecraft launch. It’s a dynamic aviation environment that makes maintaining efficient, effective and safe operations all the more complex.
Two years ago, as part of its Collaborative Decision-Making initiative, the FAA formed the Florida Task Force to explore ways to mitigate ongoing issues. Members of the NBAA Air Traffic Services (ATS) – who have been working at the FAA Air Traffic Control System Command Center (ATCSCC) since 2001 – participated in the task force along with representatives from major airlines and regional carriers.
“Florida airspace is like a funnel. We have a lot of traffic coming from the north and west, and at the same time, numerous departures from South Florida and the Caribbean – all that converges in the middle of the state.”
Janice Planten NBAA Air Traffic Services Director
“Florida airspace is like a funnel. We have a lot of traffic coming from the north and west, and at the same time, numerous departures from South Florida and the Caribbean – all that converges in the middle of the state,” explained NBAA’s ATS Director Janice Planten. “Based on recommendations from the task force, the FAA started the capping-and-tunneling initiative that keeps aircraft on shorter flights below 23,000 feet, leaving the higher sectors for aircraft on longer flights.”
“Capping and tunneling is one way to provide additional capacity,” said NBAA ATS Senior Manager Dean Snell, “but you still have the complexity of ATC needing to blend traffic that is climbing and descending in and out of Central and South Florida.”
While the capping and tunneling may work for some operations, it’s not the solution for every situation. Planten and Snell shared tips for how business aircraft operators can more easily navigate the challenges of Florida’s dynamic, teeming airspace.
1. Use the FAA’s National Airspace System (NAS) Status Page
Located at nasstatus.faa.gov, this site offers insights and data. “Operators who aren’t using this resource during preflight planning are really missing out on a great deal of information,” Planten said. “It’s a one-stop shop to see exactly what’s going on in the NAS, including what airports are expecting delays and when.
“It also has a link to the FAA’s Operations Plan for that day. You can click on that and read summaries of the most recent FAA telecons that happen every two hours,” she added. “The information is a complement to NOTAMs. It doesn’t just tell you about an issue, it describes what the FAA is planning to do about it to help operators plan around the constraint.”
2. Know When to Fly Low
If capping and tunneling procedures are in use, there will be an advisory on the NAS Status site stating that the FAA Jacksonville Air Route Traffic Control Center (JAX Center) is doing it. If you’re planning a shorter trip, go ahead and file for a lower altitude.
“It’s just good situational awareness for the operator,” Snell said. “While they are likely to use more fuel staying low, the good news is that it will likely reduce the departure delays we saw before the program was implemented.”
3. File Early
A top tip from NBAA ATS experts is to file as early as possible to help ensure that your aircraft is “known demand” in the ATC system.
4. Never Double File
“Do not refile with ATC within an hour of your scheduled departure time. That’s when the flight strips are printed in the FAA’s system,” Snell warned. “If you file another flight plan, it will go in as a ‘pop-up’ and will likely result in additional delays. It’s much better to tell ATC and let them create a re-route for you.”
5. Tell ATC What They Need to Know
The more information you can provide about your aircraft and its capabilities, the better. For example, if your aircraft is equipped to fly FAA deep water routes, include that in the remarks section of your flight plan. Also, if, for whatever reason, you can accept “non-standard routing,” it’s recommended that you list that as well.
6. Include Flexibility in Your Planning
If you see your intended destination airport is already in a delay program due to volume, consider changing the flight plan to use another airport nearby.
Also consider collaborating with principal passengers to determine if they can reschedule travel plans which would enable use of a preferred airport during lower-traffic days and times.
7. Perform Due Diligence, Preflight
The biggest mistake operators routinely make when navigating Florida’s complex airspace is failure to perform due diligence and not taking advantage of all available preflight planning tools. Spending a little more time on pre-departure tasks can save you a lot of hassles and delays en route.
To learn more about how NBAA ATS can help your business aircraft operations, visit nbaa.org/ats. Also, NBAA ATS will hold a briefing on the latest airspace updates for the Northeast at the NBAA White Plains Regional Forum, May 20 at New York’s Westchester County Airport (HPN).
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.