Update: August 18, 2021
RECAP OF VNY PROPOSED REDESIGNED DEPARTURE PROCEDURES
On August 9, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) hosted a virtual briefing with the FAA on the proposed redesign of the VNY departure procedures (PPRRY waypoint). SOEQS supports this proposal. Below is a recap of the meeting. Click here to see the entire presentation. Click here for the 3-hour video.
Check back here for additional updates. The FAA will not move forward with this proposal unless there is a final approval from the Council Districts with community support. To support this proposal, contact local L.A. Council districts 2, 4 and 5.
WILL MY "NEW COMMUNITY" BE HELPED BY THE PROPOSAL?
A "new community" had no, few, or some VNY aircraft flying over its homes, schools, 4(f) protected park lands, open spaces, canyons, high elevations with high fire danger, Ventura Blvd. corridor, and other flat lands, for 40+ years before the FAA shifted flight paths over it without notice in 2018.
During the 3-hour FAA presentation, additional information was provided that supports why this will help the "new communities."
IS THIS WHAT THE TASK FORCE RECOMMENDED?
City leaders convened a Task Force for 9 months, listened to community input, and studied proposals and options. In May 2020, they voted for VNY aircraft to return to historic paths, with turns over the Sepulveda Basin. A return to historic for VNY and BUR has also been supported by federal leaders and more than 15 community organizations.
HOW IS THIS PROPOSAL A RETURN TO HISTORIC?
In 2015 the FAA started making changes to L.A. area airspace as part of its NextGen advanced technology program. Today, older ground based technology (e.g. 2.2 DME over the Sepulveda Basin) can only be used by small planes (flying conventional), while corporate jets are mandated to use new satellite technology. These mandates are tied to Congress.
Thus, the FAA is unable to return corporate jets to "historic" in the traditional, conventional sense of the word.
After the FAA rejected the Task Force recommendation as not technically feasible, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) worked with the FAA on the "intent" of the recommendations. For example, not returning exactly to 2.2 DME but in the "vicinity" of it over the Basin, using new technology.
They were successful..the FAA is able to mimic historical paths by placing HARYS/ROSCOE and WLKKR points over the unpopulated Sepulveda Basin north of the PPPRY waypoint. (See photo below where waypoints are located over the Basin)
The FAA stated that these points will be treated as flybys with aircraft turning near 2.2. DME as much as possible. They will continue on paths similar to historic, peeling off before they get to the next waypoints (currently named WP1 and WP3), right on them, and sometimes after. All of this dispersal of turns is dependent on BUR air traffic as it always has been.
WHAT IS THE TIME FRAME?
The FAA indicated that they will apply time spent already on this proposal to 18-24 months it will take to conduct and EA and implement. They originally spent about 4 months working on the proposal in 2019, and 3 months working on revisions this year, so it may be possible 7 months or more is shaved off. The clock is currently stopped until LAWA and local leaders give the final approval to move forward.
This slide shows where HARYS/ROSCOE and WLKKR points will be located over the unpopulated Sepulveda Basin, south of 2.2 DME, and north of PPRRY.
This slide shows where current tracks in turquoise are over “new communities” and where the proposed tracks will return to the pink “historical” area.