Pilot meetings set on Philadelphia Class B airspace changes

Pilots will have an opportunity to comment on the proposed modification of some of the nation’s most congested airspace when the FAA holds six informal meetings during February 2011 on the redesign of the Philadelphia Class B airspace.

AOPA plans to participate in the informal airspace meetings, scheduled for Feb. 15 through 24, and will submit formal comments to the FAA after assessing the impact of the proposed modifications on general aviation.

The FAA's initial design would expand the outermost ring around Philadelphia International Airport, from the current 20-nautical-mile radius to 24 nautical miles, create additional Class B areas to the southeast, and lower floors in several areas to contain arriving aircraft within Class B airspace. The proposed redesign keeps the existing 7,000 foot Class B airspace ceiling. 

The design includes a cutout for Cross Keys airport southeast of Philadelphia International.

AOPA encourages members affected by this redesign to attend the meetings and make their voices heard. The FAA also encourages pilot participation. It considers the informal meetings that precede the formal rulemaking process an invaluable source of information on the pros and cons of proposed airspace modifications, as AOPA reported in this June 10 article.

Pilots also may submit written comments until March 26, 2011, to Mark D. Ward, Manager, Operations Support Group, Eastern Service Area, Air Traffic Organization, Federal Aviation Administration, P.O. Box 20636, Atlanta, Ga. 30320.

Please forward a copy of your comments to AOPA.

At each of the six meetings, FAA presentations will begin at 4 p.m. and again at 7 p.m.