Chapter 4. NAVAIDs

Section 2. FAA NAVAIDs

4-2-1. POLICY

  1. Site locations for the establishment or relocation of NAVAIDs require approval by the appropriate ­Technical Operations service area offices, FPT, service area offices, Airports, and Flight Standards Divisions.
  2. The Technical Operations service area offices' airspace focal point must request the appropriate service ­area office to initiate a nonrulemaking study of the selected site.
  3. The Technical Operations service area office must concur with the site location before the request for study ­is made.

4-2-2. COORDINATION

The service area office must coordinate the proposed site with AIS, FPT, Flight Standards and Airports ­Divisions, as well as affected air traffic control facilities. The NAVAIDs purpose must be considered and, as ­appropriate, a preliminary decision made regarding:

  1. The establishment of instrument procedures;
  2. Airways/routes;
  3. Designation of controlled airspace;
  4. The ability to provide essential air traffic services;
  5. The effect of the site on facility performance; and
  6. The effect on the location or configuration of an airport. If all offices agree with the selected site, then the ­service area office should circularize the proposal, as determined necessary, for comment from the aviation ­community.

4-2-3. INFORMAL AIRSPACE MEETINGS

Convene an informal airspace meeting in accordance with the procedures detailed in chapter 2, section 6, of this ­Order. Informal airspace meetings may not be practical for time critical changes or in those cases where delay ­will adversely affect aviation safety. At such meetings, agency representatives should explain the planned use ­of the NAVAIDs, including instrument approaches or other terminal procedures or airspace planning, and any ­action will be subsequently handled by airspace rulemaking procedures. However, care should be taken that the ­agency's ex parte policy is not violated during these informal proceedings.

4-2-4. APPROVAL AUTHORITY

The service area office is responsible for coordination and final approval or disapproval of sites selected for ­installation of en route NAVAIDs. The regional FPT is responsible for coordination and final approval or ­disapproval of sites selected for installation of terminal NAVAIDs. The approval or disapproval determination ­must be issued by memorandum to the appropriate Technical Operations service area office. Any disapproval ­issued must include the reasons why a site is not acceptable. Agency personnel are reminded that en route site ­approval does not constitute approval of instrument approach procedures or controlled airspace planning to be ­processed under rulemaking action.

4-2-5. DISTRIBUTION

The service area office must distribute a copy of the approval or disapproval determination to all FAA offices ­that participated in the site study and to ARN-1.

4-2-6. COMMISSIONING DATE

The responsible Technical Operations service area office is authorized to proceed with installation of the ­NAVAID upon receipt of the site approval. As soon as possible thereafter, an estimated date of commissioning ­must be agreed upon by the service area office, FPT, Technical Operations service area office, and any other ­concerned FAA offices. To the extent possible, the date of commissioning must coincide with the associated ­aeronautical charting dates.

4-2-7. PROCESSING REGULATORY ACTIONS

The FPT must process the necessary instrument procedures and the service area office must process airspace ­rulemaking actions to be effective with the associated aeronautical charting date.