Member Alert: The FAA has issued notams restricting large areas of airspace near Washington, D.C., and Chicago from May 18 through 21. Pilots should carefully review the notams before flying in the vicinity of the TFRs.

Airports and State Advocacy

T-routes to add efficiency to Alaskan airspace


By AOPA ePublishing staff

The FAA is proposing to add and modify T-routes in Alaska to provide more efficient routing and lower en route minima for aircraft on instrument flight plans with WAAS approved IFR-certified GPS equipment.

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Two area navigation (RNAV) T-routes would be added: T-267 would allow pilots to fly closer to the shoreline near Kotzebue, and T-271 would extend 495 miles between Anchorage and Cold Bay. It would run from the Cold Bay VORTAC to the AMOTT fix.

In a move that would benefit general aviation pilots, the FAA has proposed to lower the en route minimum altitudes of T-273 and T-227. Having a lower en route minimum altitude will help pilots avoid the icing conditions at higher altitudes.

Another proposed modification would extend T-266 to connect Juneau and Ketchikan by using the Frederick’s Point NDB and Annette Island VOR.

AOPA supports the use of T-routes to increase airspace efficiency and encourages pilots to comment on the proposed additions and modifications. Comments can be submitted online by July 22. Identify Docket No. FAA-2010-0397 in the comments.


June 10, 2010