Jan. 14, 2021 Update
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 the FAA review are available at http://www.metroplexenvironmental.com/las_metroplex/las_docs.html.
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.
July 17, 2020
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, the 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 the 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 the 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:
- Online: LAS Metroplex FONSI/ROD (PDF) and http://www.metroplexenvironmental.com/las_metroplex/las_docs.html
- Electronic version of the FONSI/ROD is available at 27 libraries in the Las Vegas Metroplex General Study Area. A complete list of libraries is available online at: http://www.metroplexenvironmental.com/las_metroplex/las_docs.html, and presented below:
County | Library Location |
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Clark County, NV | Blue Diamond Library 16A Cottonwood Dr. Blue Diamond NV 89004 702-875-4295 |
Boulder City Library 701 Adams Blvd. Boulder City NV 89005 702-293-1281 |
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Centennial Hills Library 6711 N. Buffalo Dr. Las Vegas NV 89131 702-507-6100 |
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Clark County Library 1401 E. Flamingo Rd. Las Vegas NV 89119 702-507-3400 |
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East Las Vegas Library 2851 E Bonanza Rd. Las Vegas NV 89101 702-507-3500 |
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Enterprise Library 25 E Shelbourne Ave. Las Vegas NV 89123 702-507-3760 |
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Heritage Pk. Sr. Ctr Library 300 S. Racetrack Rd. Henderson NV 89015 702-207-4258 |
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Indian Springs Library 715 Gretta Ln. Indian Springs NV 89018 702-879-3845 |
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Laughlin Library 2840 South Needles Hwy. Laughlin NV 89029 702-507-4060 |
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Meadows Library 251 W. Boston Ave. Las Vegas NV 89102 702-474-0023 |
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Moapa Town Library 1340 East Highway 168 Moapa NV 89025 702-864-2438 |
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Moapa Valley Library 350 N. Moapa Valley Blvd. Overton NV 89040 702-397-2690 |
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Mount Charleston Library 75 Ski Chalet Pl. Las Vegas NV 89124 702-872-5585 |
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Paseo Verde Library 280 S. Green Valley Pkwy. Henderson NV 89012 702-492-7252 |
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Sahara West Library 9600 W. Sahara Ave. Las Vegas NV 89117 702-507-3630 |
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Sandy Valley Library 650 W Quartz Ave. Sandy Valley NV 89019 702-723-5333 |
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Searchlight Library 200 Michael Wendell Way Searchlight NV 89046 702-297-1442 |
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Sunrise Library 5400 E. Harris Ave. Las Vegas NV 89110 702-507-3900 |
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Whitney Library 5175 E. Tropicana Ave. Las Vegas NV 89122 702-507-4010 |
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Windmill Library 7060 W. Windmill Ln. Las Vegas NV 89113 702-507-6030 |
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Nye County, NV | Pahrump Community Library 701 East St. Pahrump NV 89048 775-727-5930 |
Inyo County, CA | Tecopa Library 408 Tecopa Hot Springs Rd. Tecopa CA 92389 760-852-4171 |
San Bernardino County, CA | Needles Branch Library 1111 Bailey Ave. Needles CA 92363 760-326-9255 |
Barstow Branch Library 304 E. Buena Vista St. Barstow CA 92311-2806 760-256-4850 |
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Twentynine Palms Branch Library 6078 Adobe Rd. Twentynine Palms CA 92277 760-367-9519 |
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Mohave County, AZ | Golden Valley Community Library 3417 N. Verde Rd. Golden Valley AZ 86413-8115 928-565-2989 |
Lake Havasu City Branch Library 1770 N. McCulloch Blvd. Lake Havasu City AZ 86403 928-453-0718 |
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, the 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. The email and related documentation are available for public inspection at:
http://metroplexenvironmental.com/las_metroplex/las_docs.html
Past Public Workshops:
- Draft Environmental Assessment Public Workshops Locations 2019 (PDF)
- Public Workshop Display Board: Project Information and Environmental Process Dec-2019 (PDF)
- Public Workshop Display Board: Draft Environmental Assessment – Noise Effects Analysis Dec-2019 (PDF)
- Public Workshop Display Board: Draft Environmental Assessment Summary Dec-2019 (PDF)
- Las Vegas Metroplex Fact Sheet December 17, 2019 (PDF)
- Public Workshop Invitation April-2019 (PDF)
- Public Workshop Information Display Boards April-2019 (PDF)
- Preliminary Procedure Designs Public Workshops Locations 2017 (PDF)
- General Information April-2017 (PDF)
- Flight Paths April-2017 (PDF)
How Air Traffic Control Works in Las Vegas Metroplex
Projected Annual Benefits
Source: FAA – Las Vegas Metroplex Design Team
*The Design Team estimates use internal FAA metrics to quantify total pre- and post-implementation fuel use differences. The analysis is separate from and differs in metrics and methodology from the Environmental Assessment (EA) analysis of impact categories. The EA analysis is the FAA analysis in compliance with NEPA requirements.
- Value of Fuel Savings
- $4.7 Million
- Fuel Savings
- 1.6 Million Gallons
- Carbon Savings
- 13.6 Thousand Metric Tons
These preliminary annual benefits estimates are models based on the assumption that the Las Vegas Metroplex improvements will address the issues that the FAA identified in the Las Vegas airspace. Post-implementation estimates based on actual flight data will differ from the preliminary estimates. The value of the preliminary fuel savings estimates is based on a $2.85-per-gallon rate.
Additional Information
For additional information please visit http://www.metroplexenvironmental.com/las_metroplex/las_docs.html
or contact:
Las Vegas Metroplex EAEnvironmental Specialist
Operations Support Group
ATO Western Service Center
2200 S. 216th St.
Des Moines, WA 98198-6547