Seattle TRACON (S46) – Special Activities / Event Airspace Coordination

This page serves as a starting point for coordinating Special Activities and Photogrammetric Flights within Seattle TRACON (S46) airspace. These S46 special activities include aerial surveys, air shows, fireworks, and military exercises which will occur in the airspace controlled by Seattle TRACON. Please note that some types of special activities require coordination/approval from other FAA and non-FAA entities, for example, Parachute Jumps sometimes require Certificates of Authorization from the local Flight Standards District Office (FSDO).

At S46, we handle a large amount Special Activities and photogrammetric mission requests each year while simultaneously providing Air Traffic Control (ATC) services on a 24/7 basis. Some activities are fairly simple, while others are very involved and require complex coordination. Our goal is to complete as much coordination as possible in advance, rather than discussing fine details on a live ATC frequency.

Due to the complex nature of Seattle TRACON airspace, pilots are expected to be at VFR altitudes while operating in the Class Bravo airspace. Additionally, it is expected that the pilot's equipment be calibrated to ensure a single altitude and not a block altitude. This is more imperative the closer the aircraft is to the arrival and departure corridors and the duration of work.

We will make every reasonable effort to accommodate requests, depending upon the impact to the safe and expeditious movement of aircraft within our airspace.

• How to Submit Your Request
• How Much Time to Plan Ahead
• What Happens Next?

How to Submit Your Request

• Download S46 Special Activity/information request Form(PDF).
• Save Special Activity/information request form to your computer.
• Fill in the necessary fields on the form.
• Email completed form to e-mail in the form.
• General Inquiries can be sent here: AJT-S46-SA@faa.gov
• S46 Specialist Team will contact the requester

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How Much Time to Plan Ahead

Special Activity and photogrammetric requests must be submitted with enough lead time to allow us to prepare a comprehensive briefing package for the air traffic controllers. In order to provide the safest and most efficient ATC services possible, we have categorized each type of Special Activity into four Groups: A, B, C, and D. Please refer to the list below to determine which group your activity falls in and the amount of advance notification required:

GROUP A: Reserved for emergency handling or unpredicted situations

GROUP B: 5 business days advance coordination required

1. Aerial Survey, Minor (a minor project is less than 5-hours total survey)
2. Photogrammetric flight request, Minor
3. Aerial Training Area (activity in or activation of)
4. Balloons/Lanterns (tethered, hot air, helium)
5. GPS testing
6. Parachute Jumping/Sky diving
7. Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)

GROUP C: 10 business days advance coordination required

1. Firework shows
2. Fly-bys/fly overs
3. Lasers
4. Military Exercises

GROUP D: 15 business days advance coordination required

1. Airshow
2. FLIGHT CHECK AIRCRAFT (FLC)
3. Fly-in
4. Aerial Survey, Major (a major project is 5 hours or more or can last multiple days)
5. Photogrammetric flight request, Major
6. Sporting event TFR
7. VIP Operation

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What Happens Next?

Once the Specialist Team receives your request (within the specified time), you will be contacted regarding your activity. It's important to remember that submitting a request DOES NOT automatically constitute an approval. Many complex activities (aerial surveys, parachute jumping, etc.) will be approved by the air traffic controller on a real-time basis and will be dependent upon a number of factors including traffic volume, weather and equipment status. If you have any questions about the status of your request, contact AJT-S46-SA@faa.gov.

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VGLS - Semi Flush Steady Burner (SFSB) Initiative

At runways where displaced thresholds are required and/or intersections with another runway require such an application, lights may have to be placed in pavement to permit aircraft and vehicular traffic on the pavement. Semi flush lights primarily assist by providing visual guidance in precision approaches.Semi flush lights must not only withstand the stresses and strains of aircraft, but also endure snowplows and heavy equipment transversing them. 

Mission Support

Established in 2010, Mission Support Services fulfills the FAA mission by providing innovative and strategic direction for infrastructure and airspace design, developing policy, promoting international and domestic airspace safety, and ensuring superior execution of policies and procedures.

What We Do

Mission Support Services activities include designing airspace procedures and mapping to facilitate Air Traffic Organization (ATO) projects across the country; processing staffing and budgets; and collecting and evaluating safety data. Additionally, Mission Support Services ensures airspace policies, strategies, procedures, and mapping fit current airspace needs, while leading international airspace coordination.

Mission Support also oversees the operations of the Western, Central, and Eastern Service Centers in the Seattle, Dallas, and Atlanta areas. The service centers provide the link between headquarters technical programs and their integration in the operations environment.

Address

FAA National Headquarters
1028 - 10A
800 Independence Ave., SW
Washington, DC 20591
Phone: (202) 267-8261

Lighting Systems - Visual Guidance Lighting Equipment Approval Program (VGLEAP)

• Equipment Specifications

Flight Program Operations

Flight Program Operations (AJF) manages the FAA Flight Program. AJF holds a part 135 air operator certificate and a part 145 repair station certificate, and a part 5 Safety Management System, which incorporates both certificates. AJF is responsible for all agency flight operations, manned and unmanned, and all aspects of FAA Flight Program safety, administration, operations, training, and maintenance. The service unit operates a fleet of FAA-owned aircraft at eight facilities across the country. AJF establishes standards for the operation of all agency owned aircraft, as well as aircraft/aircraft services acquired commercially. 

What We Do

The service unit’s core business is safe flight operations and the efficient execution of its mission set:

• Aviation Safety Training Services: Provides training and currency/proficiency services to Aviation Safety (AVS) aviation safety inspectors and flight test personnel. These AVS participants require AJF services to become or remain qualified and/or current to perform their primary job duties in a proponent/applicant aircraft.
• Flight Inspection: Ensures the integrity of instrument approaches and airway procedures of the National Airspace System (NAS) infrastructure and meets the agency's international commitments. AJF accomplishes this mission through the airborne inspection of all space and ground-based instrument flight procedures and the validation of electronic signals in space transmitted from ground navigation systems. AJF also performs inspections of Department of Defense navigational facilities designated as essential to the defense of the United States, both foreign and domestic.
• Research, Development, Test & Evaluation Support: Conducts flights supporting research, development, test and evaluation of new electronic aids, air traffic procedures, aircraft improvement, and aviation medical research. AJF executes testing and evaluation of the air traffic control system, NAS systems (e.g., investigation of radio frequency interference problems), personnel, aircraft, equipment, and procedures. This work also includes 5G deployment modeling, identification, and mitigation.
• Critical Event Response/Transportation: Provides transportation required to accomplish official FAA responsibilities in times of emergency or disaster (hurricane response), as well as support the National Transportation Safety Board in carrying out its duties. AJF also serves the transportation needs of the Department of Transportation, including FAA senior executives, and other federal agencies under reimbursable agreements.    

Flight Inspection Reimbursable Agreement Requests

If you have an existing FAA reimbursable agreement, include your flight inspection requirements within that agreement. Use this process to initiate a new reimbursable agreement for flight inspection support. 

The information required for submitting a request for a flight inspection reimbursable agreement can be found in the Flight Inspection Reimbursable Agreement Checklist. Provide the information in the checklist via email to: 9-AJO-AJF-4100ReimAgrRequest@faa.gov

Address
FAA National Headquarters
800 Independence Ave., SW
Orville Wright Bldg. (FOB10A)
Suite 1028
Washington, DC 20591
Phone: (202) 267-0523
 

Lighting Systems - Congressional Approach Lighting System Improvement Program (ALSIP)

The Congressional Approach Lighting System Improvement Program (C-ALSIP) implements a variety of different visual guidance lighting systems: High Intensity Approach Lighting System with Sequenced Flashing Lights (ALSF-2) (CAT II/III); Medium Intensity Approach Lighting System with Runway Alignment Indicator Lights (MALSR) (CAT I); Precision Approach Path Indicator Lights (PAPI); Runway End Identifier Lights (REIL); Runway Edge Lights (REL); and Portable Lights for Remote Alaska Airfields. Service provided includes both non-precision approaches as well as Category (CAT) I, II, and III service to congressionally mandated sites. Since 1999, there have been a number of mandated projects inclusive of a Rural Alaska Lighting Program (RALP) which is designed to make improvements in areas where access to medical facilities is limited.

Portable Lighting Technology Landing Setup

Typically Challenging Alaskan Airfields

FAA Service Area Leads

• Eastern Service Area (ESA):
  Alan Dang - Alan.dang@faa.gov
• Central Service Area (CSA):
  Rahat Ali - Rahat.Ali@faa.gov
• Western Service Area (WSA):
  Nate Sengsamouth - nate.sengsamouth@faa.gov

Current Status: The FAA continues to work these projects and resolve some of the unique environmental concerns that impact them. Remote locations, spectacular terrain, weather extremes, and extensive land areas add to the challenges faced. Construction opportunities in Alaska are limited to a few months due to weather conditions.

KZAK Oceanic ATC Operations

• Oakland Oceanic AFTN address: KZAKZQZX
• Pacific Chart Supplement
  • Oakland Oceanic OCA/FIR
  • CPDLC
  • PACOT Guidelines
  • Guam Preferential Routing
  • User Preferred Route (UPR) Flight Planning Guidelines
• Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) - Oceanic Operations

Pacific Meetings

• Informal Pacific Coordinating Group (IPACG)
• Oceanic Workgroup Meeting (OWG)

Contacts

KZOA/KZAK Operations Manager Watch Desk
Operations Manager

• 510-745-3331
• Hours: 24 hours/day, 7 days/week

KZAK International Airspace & Procedures Manager
Greg Kalla 

• 510-745-3320
• Gregory.L.Kalla@faa.gov

KZAK International Airspace & Procedures Support
Laura Hsieh

• 510-745-3464
• Laura.J.Hsieh@faa.gov

Brandon Taylor

• 510-745-3326
• Brandon.L.Taylor@faa.gov

Oceanic Work Group (OWG)

The OWG has been in place since the early 1990s as a Pacific user/provider working group, and is chaired by Oakland ARTCC. This working group originally included a small cadre of domestic and international carriers and FAA personnel from Oakland ARTCC.

The OWG dealt with issues in the Pacific related to improving oceanic operations, capacity, and the overall efficiency of service within the Oakland Oceanic Flight Information Region (FIR). The OWG was a driving force behind the evolution of the Pacific Organized Track System (PACOTS), the Track Advisory Program, improvements in the evolution of the Dynamic Oceanic Track System (DOTS), and overall improvements in the efficiency of the oceanic ATC system in the Pacific. The OWG also supports the activities of various groups, including the Informal South Pacific Air Traffic Services Coordinating Group (ISPACG) and the Informal Pacific Air Traffic Services Coordinating Group (IPACG).

Vision

The OWG serves as a user/provider forum working to improve the safety and efficiency of oceanic air traffic services in the Pacific.

Charter

This charter(PDF) was reviewed and adopted at the regular meeting of the OWG held on June 18, 2014 and supersedes the OWG charter dated May 13, 1997.

Membership & meetings

Oakland ARTCC and ATA chair the OWG meetings. OWG membership is open to all users in the Pacific as well as FAA and international ATS providers. The meetings are held quarterly, and the agenda is developed through input from all members. The chair distributes a call for agenda items followed by the distribution of the proposed agenda prior to the meetings.

Procedures - handling of issues

Issues/recommendations are provided to the OWG through any member. Members may bring subject matter experts as required by the issues. The OWG will prioritize issues, and develop recommendations, as necessary. Upon consensus of the group, recommendations for action or review will be forwarded to either the ATS provider or IPACG/ISPACG.

Meeting topics

The following list includes topics discussed during our meetings:

• Oakland Center Update
• ADS-B In-Trail Procedure (ITP)
• ADS-C Climb/Descent Procedure (CDP)
• Aircraft Equipage Update
• Flight Planned Mach Speeds
• Large Scale Military Exercises/Missions Notifications
• Pacific Island Traffic and Airport Status
• Anchorage ARTCC Operations Update
• NavCanada Operations Update
• NextGen Oceanic Operational Concept Development (NOOCD)
• Pacific Project
• ATFM Global Update

Contact Us

For agenda items or to request membership please see  KZAK Oceanic ATC Operations.

Chicago ARTCC - Directions to the Center

From the North:

Proceed south on I-355 North-South Tollway. Exit west onto I-88 Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway toward Aurora. Travel approximately 15.2 miles to the Route 31 exit. Exit south at Route 31. Turn right on to Route 31 and proceed approximately 1 mile to Indian Trail Road. Turn right onto Indian Trail Road. Travel approximately .8 miles to the center located on the right.

From the East:

Proceed west on I-88 Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway. Exit south at Route 31. Turn right onto Route 31 and proceed approximately 1 mile to Indian Trail Road. Turn right onto Indian Trail Road. Travel approximately .8 miles to the center located on the right.

From the South:

Proceed north on I-355 North-South Tollway. Exit west onto I-88 Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway toward Aurora. Travel approximately 15.2 miles to the Route 31 exit. Exit south at Route 31. Turn right on to Route 31 and proceed approximately 1 mile to Indian Trail Road. Turn right onto Indian Trail Road. Travel approximately .8 miles to the center located on the right.

From the West:

Proceed east on I-88 Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway. Exit at Orchard Road. Turn left onto Orchard Road. Travel approximately 1 mile to Indian Trail Road. Turn left onto Indian Trail Road. Travel approximately 2.6 miles to the center located on the left.

From O'Hare:

Exit the airport on I-190 E to Chicago. Take exit 1D to I-294 South to Indiana. Proceed south approximately 9 miles on I-294 and exit west on the I-88 East/West Tollway to Aurora. Follow the From the East directions above.

From Midway:

Exit the airport north on Cicero Avenue or Central Avenue. Proceed approximately 1.8 miles to I-55 South. Turn left and merge onto I-55 South. Proceed southwest on I-55 for approximately 16 miles to I-355 North. Proceed north on I-355 for approximately 7 miles and exit west on the I-88 East/West Tollway to Aurora. Follow the From the East directions above.

Chicago ARTCC - Contact the Center

Chicago ARTCC

619 West Indian Trail Road
Aurora, Illinois 60506

630-906-8200