The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will implement the Las Vegas Metroplex project on Feb. 25, 2021.

The project will use satellite navigation to move air traffic more safely and efficiently through the area. New routes for McCarran International Airport, Henderson Executive Airport, and North Las Vegas Airport will be more direct, automatically separated from each other and have efficient climb and descent profiles. It is one of 11 Metroplex projects nationwide.

Community involvement was an important part of the project's environmental process. The FAA conducted a thorough environmental review and extensive public engagement for the project, including 11 public workshops in 2017 and 2019. The agency also held four public comment periods totaling more than 120 days, and evaluated and responded to more than 140 comments.

The FAA issued the Finding of No Significant Impact-Record of Decision (PDF) (FONSI/ROD) for the Las Vegas Metroplex project in July 2020. The agency's initial plan to implement the new routes in November 2020 was delayed by the COVID-19 public health emergency.

After issuing the FONSI/ROD, FAA made minor adjustments to five procedures that are part of the project. The agency conducted a thorough review of the changes (PDF) and confirmed they did not warrant a supplement to the final Environmental Assessment, consistent with FAA environmental policy. The FAA also may make minor adjustments to some procedures after they take effect, which occurs during the "post-implementation" phase of virtually all large airspace projects. Before making any such changes, FAA would conduct any required environmental reviews.

The Las Vegas Metroplex environmental website includes Google Earth features that enable the public to view historic and projected flight paths associated with the project, as well as the noise analysis FAA conducted at more than 172,000 grid points throughout the project General Study Area.

The FAA made minor adjustments to five procedures that are part of the Las Vegas Metroplex project. The agency made these changes after it issued the final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact/Record of Decision (FONSI/ROD) for the project. The FAA conducted a thorough review of the changes and confirmed they do not warrant a supplement to the final Environmental Assessment consistent with FAA environmental policy. Details of FAA review.

The FAA made these changes for several reasons, including to comply with amendments to our criteria that occurred after we issued the FONSI/ROD. While the procedures approved in the FONSI/ROD would have been safe, the FAA is constantly evaluating how to make our safe system even safer. Adjustments similar to these occur with virtually all large airspace projects, and the FAA normally makes them after the procedures are implemented, during what is called the post-implementation phase of the project. However, the COVID-19 public health emergency delayed implementation of the Las Vegas Metroplex project. As a result, we were able to make these changes before we implement the new routes on Feb. 25, 2021.

The changes are as follows:

HOOVER SEVEN departure route for McCarran International Airport (LAS)

Two segments of the proposed HOOVER SEVEN departure route failed FAA flight checks due to a lack of radio reception at two points along those segments. The segments, or transitions, lead from LAS to the higher-altitude portion of the HOOVER departure. Accordingly, the FAA revised one of the segments to closely resemble the segment of the HOOVER route that is flown today. The FAA revised the other segment to move it further south of the originally proposed segment. The originally proposed segment would have overflown Grand Canyon National Park, while the revised segment will not. The changes to both segments will take place between 14,000 and 28,000 feet Above Ground Level (AGL).

Precision approach to LAS Runway 19R from the east

The FAA changed the descent angle from 3.5 degrees to 3.24 degrees in response to safety and efficiency concerns that airlines expressed. During hot weather, altimeters can show aircraft are flying the intended descent angle, but they actually are at higher-than-indicated altitudes, which create steeper-than-intended descent angles. Steeper descent angles can make it difficult for aircraft to slow to a safe landing speed and require crews to abort their landing attempts and fly around for another attempt. The change will route aircraft at most approximately 550 feet north of the originally designed approach.

Precision approach to LAS Runway 19R from the north

The FAA changed the glide angle for this approach to match the glide angle for the approach from the east so both can use the Precision Approach Path Indicator lights for Runway 19R. The change will route aircraft at most approximately 500 feet northwest of the originally designed approach. The FAA expects aircraft will use this approach only for contingency purposes because it conflicts with Nellis Air Force Base airspace.

Precision approach to LAS Runway 19L

The FAA redesigned the procedure to create a slightly longer final approach. The longer, straight segment increases safety by giving pilots more distance before they reach the altitude at which they must determine whether they're safely lined up and configured to land. The change will shift the procedure at most approximately 212 feet northwest of the originally designed route.

GAMES Arrival Route for Henderson Executive Airport

The FAA raised the altitude of the route from 8,100 to 8,300 feet Mean Sea Level (MSL) at a specific waypoint. The FAA made this change because the agency raised the minimum vectoring altitude (MVA) along the GAMES arrival route after issuing the final Environmental Assessment and FONSI/ROD for the project. The MVA is the minimum altitude at which controllers can turn aircraft safely for terrain and obstacle clearance. The FAA continuously assesses its safety criteria and periodically adjusts it.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is issuing this notice to advise the public that it has published a Finding of No Significant/Record of Decision for the Las Vegas Metroplex Project. The FAA prepared a Final Environmental Assessment (EA), dated June 8, 2020, to assess the potential environmental impacts of the Las Vegas Metroplex Project in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. The FAA accepted public comment on the Final EA from June 8 to June 22, 2020. This notice announces that based on the information and analysis contained in the Final EA, and after reviewing comments received on the Final EA, FAA is issuing a Finding of No Significant Impact and Record of Decision (FONSI/ROD) for the Las Vegas Metroplex Project. The FONSI/ROD documents FAA's determination that the Las Vegas Metroplex Project would not significantly affect the quality of the human environment and that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is therefore not necessary. The FONSI/ROD also documents FAA's decision to proceed with the preferred alternative detailed in the Final EA. The Las Vegas Metroplex Project will improve the efficiency of the national airspace system in the Las Vegas area by optimizing aircraft arrival and departure procedures at McCarran International Airport, Henderson Executive Airport, and North Las Vegas Airport.

The FONSI/ROD is available at:

1. Online: LAS Metroplex FONSI/ROD (PDF) and LAS Metroplex documents
2. Electronic version of the FONSI/ROD is available at 27 libraries in the Las Vegas Metroplex General Study Area. Complete list of libraries is available, and presented below:

Supplemental Materials

FAA Finding under the National Historic Preservation Act

In accordance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. § 470 et seq.) and its implementing regulations at 36 C.F.R. Part 800, FAA has engaged in consultation with the Nevada State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and other consulting parties regarding the potential for the project to affect historic properties. The FAA has made a finding of "no adverse effect on historic properties," which is documented in a March 3, 2020 email to the SHPO.