And They're Not On Your Chart

If you fly around Atlanta, there are some new restrictions to watch for... ones that aren't on your latest chart.

The FAA has issued an emergency air traffic rule, making minor changes to the Class B airspace over Atlanta. Pilots need to be especially alert to the changes, which go into effect October 26... as they won't show on standard charts until the next cycle to be issued in March of next year. The changes add two small sectors northwest and northeast of the airport between the 20 and 25 nm rings. The floor of these sectors has been lowered from 6,000 to 5,000 feet.

While admitting the changes have minimal impact on VFR flights in the area, Heidi Williams -- director of air traffic services for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association -- took the FAA to task on how it made the change.

"The FAA failed to follow the standard process of consulting with airspace users before making a change," said Williams. "We've been assured that future changes will go through the ad hoc process so that users have a chance to participate."

• Read NOTAM 64120 On Changes To ATL Class Bravo Airspace

The FAA says it is changing the airspace in order to keep IFR operations within Class B airspace when conducting simultaneous triple ILS approaches to ATL.

While the changes won't hit standard charts until next year, the FAA will issue interim "blue dot" sectional and terminal area charts soon.

FMI: www.faa.gov, www.aopa.org