The Federal Aviation Administration plans to implement more changes to flight paths across the Valley as part of Next Gen, its new satellite-based navigation system. The Phoenix Metroplex Project is supposed to optimize and improve the efficiency of the region’s airspace. Now, the FAA is preparing a draft Environmental Assessment to evaluate the possible impacts to cities.
Airports including Deer Valley, Mesa Gateway and Scottsdale could see changes to their arrival and departure procedures if the FAA determines such a move would improve the efficiency of the region’s airspace. Sky Harbor could also see more changes; but after what happened last September, when flight paths were changed, suddenly and with little notice, the City of Phoenix wants to make sure the public is aware of what’s about to happen.
"The FAA is proposing to the design routes, and once they’ve designed them to present that to the public for comment. We think FAA should do a scoping session before they design route so the public can share their concerns," said Chad Makovsky, the city's Assistant Aviation Director.
Makovsky said a scoping session is where the FAA presents the goals of a project and requests feedback from the public. The city is now encouraging the public to send comments to the FAA no later than Monday.
