Part 1. General Procedures for Airspace Management

Chapter 1. General

Section 1. Introduction

1-1-1. PURPOSE OF THIS ORDER

a. This order prescribes policy, criteria, guidelines, and procedures applicable to the System Operations Services, System Operations Airspace and AIM; Technical Operations ATC Spectrum Engineering Services; the Office of Airport Planning and Programming, APP; the Office of Airport Safety and Standards, AAS; Technical Operations Aviation System Standards; and the Flight Standards Service, AFS.

b. While this order provides procedures for handling airspace matters, additional procedures and criteria to supplement those contained herein may be set forth in other directives and should be consulted.

1-1-2. AUDIENCE

a. This order applies to to all ATO personnel and anyone using ATO directives.

b. This order also applies to all regional, service area, and field organizational elements involved in rulemaking and nonrulemaking actions associated with airspace allocation and utilization, obstruction evaluation, obstruction marking and lighting, airport airspace analysis, and the management of air navigation aids.

1-1-3. WHERE TO FIND THIS ORDER

This order is available on the FAA Web site at http://faa.gov/air_traffic/publications and http://employees.faa.gov/tools_resources/orders_notices/.

1-1-4. WHAT THIS ORDER CANCELS

FAA Order 7400.2J, Procedures for Handling Airspace Matters, dated February 9, 2012, and all changes to it are canceled.

1-1-5. CHANGE AUTHORITY

The Vice President, Mission Support Services, will issue changes to this directive after obtaining concurrence from the affected Headquarters offices/services/service units on the cover of this order.

1-1-6. EXPLANATION OF CHANGES

a. The significant changes to this order are identified in the Explanation of Changes page(s). It is advisable to retain the page(s) throughout the duration of the basic order.

b. If further information is desired, please direct questions through the appropriate facility/service area/regional office to the headquarters office of primary responsibility.

1-1-7. SUBMISSION CUTOFF AND EFFECTIVE DATES

This order and its changes are scheduled to be published to coincide with AIRAC dates.

1-1-8. DELIVERY DATES

If an FAA facility has not received the order/changes at least 30 days before the above effective dates, the facility must notify its service area office distribution officer.

1-1-9. ORDER CHANGES

a. The responsibility associated with processing and coordinating revisions to this order is delegated to the Manager, Airspace Regulations and ATC Procedures Group.

b. Proposed changes or recommended revisions must be submitted, in writing, to Airspace Regulations and ATC Procedures Group. The proposal should include a description of the proposal, and the language to be inserted in the order.

c. When appropriate, Airspace Regulations and ATC Procedures Group may convene a workgroup for the purpose of reviewing, clarifying, editing, or revising recommendations received to revise this order. Composition of the workgroup will be determined by the subject matter, and the expertise required. Airspace Regulations and ATC Procedures Group is responsible for the selection of the members of the workgroup, and for appointing the chairperson of the group.

d. When revised, reprinted, or additional pages are issued, they will be marked as follows:

1. Each revised or added page will show the change number and effective date of the change.

2. Bold vertical lines in the margin of the text will mark the location of substantive procedural, operational, or policy changes (e.g., when material that affects the performance of duty is added, revised, or deleted).

1-1-10. DISTRIBUTION

This order is distributed to select offices in Washington headquarters; the Office of Commercial Space Transportation; regional Flight Standards; Airports Divisions; service area offices; the William J. Hughes Technical Center; the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center; Technical Operations Aviation System Standards; all field facilities; international aviation field offices; and interested aviation public.