Section 3. Airspace Planning and Analysis

  1. BACKGROUND
  1. Airspace management functions historically have been widely dispersed. Responsibility for airspace management has resided with the regional/service area offices, while airspace changes for operational considerations have been handled by field facilities. The focus on airspace change and redesign has been local in scope and centered, for the most part, on single areas. It is apparent that changes in airspace configuration, architecture, and/or structure have national implications for air traffic control, traffic flow management, and the user community. Therefore, changes in the use or allocation of the airspace need to be coordinated at the national level.
  2. The details involved in airspace design must be centrally located. It is essential that efforts expended on airspace studies and proposed airspace changes be coordinated at the national level. This coordination will ensure that resources are effectively prioritized and optimized for the efficient use of the nation's airspace.
  1. POLICY

The air traffic planning and analysis policy uses an interdisciplinary approach to ensure the effective management of national airspace changes. This policy requires national implementation strategies; especially for changes designed to enhance user operations, maintain the highest standards of safety, generate new efficiencies, and effectively use our resources. Mission Support Services, Strategy Directorate, Airspace Modernization Group (AJV-S3) is designated as the air traffic office that will provide national oversight.

  1. RESPONSIBILITIES
  1. The Mission Support Services Executive Director of Service Centers (AJV-01) and Headquarters, Air Traffic Services (AJT) must develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)s that must be followed to ensure compliance with Instrument Flight Procedure (IFP) policy and criteria contained in regulations, advisory circulars, and orders (e.g., the FAA Order 8260 series, JO 7110.65, and this order).
  1. Review the SOPs at least annually, assessing for practices and/or procedures no longer required or relevant content to ensure operational efficiency and flexibility to support customers.
  2. Update SOPs as needed when new or revised IFP criteria and/or policy is published to ensure changes are implemented as required.
  1. Mission Support Services, Strategy Directorate, Airspace Modernization Group (AJV-S3) must:
  1. Formulate airspace efficiency policy in collaboration with Mission Support Services, Policy Directorate, Rules and Regulations Group (AJV-P2) that overseas 14 CFR part 71 and part 73, and non-rulemaking Special Use Airspaces (SUA) rules and regulations policy.
  2. Establish guidelines for airspace architecture and structural changes.
  3. Provide a high-level analysis of current and proposed operations for efficiency from a NAS-wide perspective.
  1. Mission Support Services Service Center Operations Support Groups must:
  1. Follow the rulemaking and non-rulemaking processes in this order for processing 14 CFR part 71 and part 73, and non-rulemaking SUA actions.
  2. Develop and coordinate the IFP SOPs for developing and processing IFP actions in accordance with FAA Order 8260 series.
  1. Headquarters, Air Traffic Services must develop SOPs specifying air traffic facility responsibilities, timelines, and processes for post-implementation monitoring of IFP actions.