FAA Finds No Significant Environmental Impact for BOS Runway 4-Left GPS-Approaches

The need for additional approach access to the ever-busy and often contentious Boston area has been eased somewhat... for now.

This was an important step, as noted in the massive doc... "The Proposed Action is needed because currently there is no IAP of any kind available for approaches to Runway 4L. As such, aircraft arriving to Runway 4L lack vertical and lateral guidance during the approach phase of flight."

The FAA has released the Final Environmental Assessment (EA) for a new satellite-based approach procedure to Runway 4-Left at Boston Logan International Airport. The EA found that the procedure would have no significant impact in any environmental category, including aviation noise.

The new procedure closely follows the path of the existing visual approach for Runway 4-Left. By providing vertical and lateral guidance to pilots and by enabling air traffic controllers to more precisely monitor arriving aircraft, planes stay in a more narrow approach path. It will also enhance safety and flight efficiency, especially in bad weather. When visibility is low, flights will be able to land on Runway 4-Left, helping to reduce delays that result in late-night arrivals at the airport. Currently, aircraft can land on the runway in only good weather. 

The agency conducted the EA in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, which requires the FAA to identify and publicly disclose the potential environmental impacts of the proposed procedure.

FMI: www.faa.gov, www.faa.gov/air_traffic/community_engagement/bos/media/Final-EA-with-Appendices.pdf