What's New - Air Traffic Services and Technology

Our Mission: As an integral part of AOPA's Government and Technical Affairs Division, the Air Traffic Services staff is tasked with providing advocacy for those policies and procedures that will offer the greatest access, operational flexibility, and safety to the general aviation community. In an effort to better acquaint you with just some of the activities of our department, the following educational and issue briefs have been developed.

Information regarding scheduling of special-use airspace is now provided to pilots via the FAA's Special-Use Airspace Management System (SAMS) and is updated every six minutes. This information is intended to be used as a flight-planning supplement and should not replace your local FSS or appropriate control facilities as the primary points of contact.

Airspace

• Eurocontrol Airspace Strategy: 2000-2015
• National Park Overflights
• Unmanned Aircraft Systems
• User Group Process for the Design of Class B and C Airspace

Aeronautical Charting

• Inexpensive GPS Databases
• RNAV Routes Through Terminal Airspace

Air Traffic Control and Procedures

• Consolidated Terminal Radar Approach Control Facilities
• FAA Special Awareness Training for the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Area
• Firefighting Temporary Flight Restrictions
• GA Access/Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
• Military "Lights-Out" Training in MOAs
• Use of GPS in Lieu of DME/ADF
• Washington, D.C., Flight Restricted Zone/"DC-3" Airports

Educational Process Briefs

• Criteria For Establishing Air Traffic Control Towers and the Contract Tower Program
• Establishing an Instrument Approach
• Tall Towers: The FAA's Obstruction Evaluation Process

Datalink and Spectrum Issues

• Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B)
• Help save our GPS
• Traffic Information Services

Navigation

• WAAS-Capable Approach Procedures

  Updated 2/22/2012