The FAA has published a notice of proposed rulemaking to establish Class D airspace as a means of managing missed approaches flown by aircraft at Los Angeles International Airport.
AOPA believes that the FAA proposal, to establish two wedges of Class D airspace north and south of the airport “for containment of potential missed approaches,” falls outside the FAA’s guidance in Order 7400.2H for the modification of airspace, and amounts to a quick-fix. The FAA has acknowledged the South Bay area of California is in need of a broad review of airspace boundaries and procedures.
The FAA has said that missed approaches take aircraft out of the Class B airspace--but none of the 30 published instrument approach procedure missed approach instructions routinely results in aircraft leaving Class B airspace.
AOPA has pointed out that in southern California’s congested and complex airspace, no individual airspace proposal should be enacted without regard for the chain reaction impact it could have on the entire region.
The association is reviewing the proposal to determine the full impact on general aviation and will submit formal comments to the FAA.
Members are encouraged to study the notice of proposed rulemaking and comment by Aug. 1. Submit comments online by searching for one of the docket numbers cited below, or by mail to U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M–30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590 and refer to both the FAA Docket No. FAA-2011-0496 and Airspace Docket No. 11-AWP-6.
Please share your comments with AOPA.
