Wed, Aug 15, 2007
AOPA Says Pilot Comments Went Unheeded
The FAA is modifying a huge swath of airspace in the Phoenix
area... without listening to local pilots.
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association reports that in the
FAA's recently-released final rule on the Phoenix Class B airspace
redesign, the FAA rejected most of the recommendations made by AOPA
and local pilots. The only positive change -- one supported by AOPA
-- is that the ceiling of the Class B airspace will be lowered from
10,000 to 9,000 feet MSL.
The changes -- first considered in February
2006 -- go into effect October 25.
"It is unfortunate that the FAA chose to ignore our plan, which
was much simpler and addressed concerns raised by local pilots,"
said Heidi Williams, AOPA director of air traffic services. "The GA
users' plan would have aligned many of the sectors with ground
features or navaids, making it much easier for pilots to locate
sector boundaries and remain in the appropriate airspace."
AOPA is also concerned about the FAA's plan to lower the
airspace floor east of Phoenix, a change that compresses traffic
over noise-sensitive areas or forces pilots to climb over higher
terrain.
Back in July, AOPA presented a simpler plan... one the pilot
advocacy group says was supported widely by the aviation community.
In its final rule, the FAA said it was concerned about possible
traffic conflicts between airliners descending for landing at Sky
Harbor Airport and GA traffic using an established VFR flyway east
of the airport.
"Ironically, the FAA is implementing a plan that creates more
complex airspace. This could lead to more inadvertent incursions
and jeopardize safety," Williams said.
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