The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proposing to implement a new satellite-based departure route at Jack Northrop Field/Hawthorne Municipal Airport (HHR) and to amend the airport's existing satellite-based approach.

SPACX ONE Departure

HHR is located immediately southeast of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Aircraft from each airport depart on parallel routes that are about 1.5 nautical miles apart. The proposed SPACX ONE departure for HHR would use satellite technology to provide an automatic left turn away from aircraft that are departing from LAX. By creating a more precise and repeatable departure path, it would provide a predictable increase in the lateral separation between HHR and LAX departures.

The SPACX ONE flight tracks would closely mimic existing flight tracks. Currently, air traffic controllers instruct aircraft that depart to the west to make a climbing left turn to 3,000 feet altitude and then follow a 205-degree heading. The SPACX ONE would be programmed into aircraft flight computers and would automatically turn them to a 200-degree heading.

The SPACX ONE would only be used by aircraft that are operating under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR), in which pilots navigate using on-board instruments and not just their eyesight. HHR had an average of about 18 daily IFR departures during the past two years. Pilots who are flying visually without the use of on-board instruments would continue to depart as they do today, navigating by using their eyesight and not on a specific, prescribed path.

Satellite-Based Approach Amendment

The FAA is proposing to amend the existing satellite-based HHR approach by adding a formal route segment for aircraft that are inbound to the airport from the east and the southeast. This route segment would overlay where aircraft are currently being vectored by air traffic controllers.

Representatives from FAA will be attending the Hawthorne Communities Network Committee meeting on July 18, 2019 to discuss these changes. The location of this meeting is:

Polaris room at Hawthorne Memorial Center
3901 W El Segundo Blvd,
Hawthorne, California 90250

Supporting Documents

Hawthorne Communities Network Committee Presentation (PDF)

Informational Handout (PDF)