The FAA is calling for four public meetings to hear from Southern California pilots on changes to the Los Angeles Class B airspace that could benefit both general aviation and the airlines.
While nothing definite yet, a proposal under consideration would extend Class B eastward to better protect approaches to Los Angeles International (LAX) but would decrease Class B airspace to the northwest, south, and southeast, resulting in a net reduction of Class B of approximately 100 square miles.
Proposals also include minor realignments to more closely match VOR radials, making the Class B easier to navigate around and other reconfigurations to better contain standard approach and departure routes.
"The Southern California Airspace Users Working Group, including AOPA representative Al German, is a very active group," said AOPA Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Melissa Bailey. "Their close work with the controllers at the Southern California Terminal Radar Control facility (Socal Tracon) could give general aviation better access to the busy airspace around Los Angeles while providing airline pilots the protection they've been seeking for years."
The public meetings to hear directly from pilots will be held Tuesday, January 20, 2004, at the Embassy Suites Los Angeles South in El Segundo, Calif.; Thursday, January 22, 2004, at James Monroe High School in North Hills, Calif.; Tuesday, January 27, 2004, at the Riverside Marriott Hotel in Riverside, Calif.; and Thursday, January 29, 2004, at the Costa Mesa Neighborhood Community Center in Costa Mesa, Calif. All meetings are at 7 p.m. local time.
In addition, the FAA is accepting written comments until February 29, 2004. Send comments in triplicate to Manager, Air Traffic Division AWP-500, Federal Aviation Administration, P.O. Box 92007, Los Angeles, CA 90009-2007.
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