The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued last week a final policy for the cancellation of numerous standard instrument approach procedures (IAPs) and updated its protocols.
These procedures, such as circling approaches, are changing as the National Airspace System turned more toward satellite-based procedures. Environmental impact assessments and other factors all need to be considered before making such changes. However, some groups warn that the repeal of legacy procedures are, at times, outpacing what satellite-based procedures are already in place.
“We understand the need for the FAA to ease the complexity and cost of maintaining those procedures, but there’s also growing concern IAPs are being cancelled before equivalent PBN [performance based navigation] replacement procedures are in place,” Heidi Williams, National Business Aviation Association director for air traffic services and infrastructure, said. “The timelines aren’t always meshing.”
The NBAA recommended the FAA pause such actions until they could guarantee IAP cancellations would not curtail access to airports and airspace used by business flights. While the FAA opted to move forward with its plans, it is still welcoming input from the business aviation community on their proposed actions, which will take effect soon.