FAA to implement South-Central Florida Metroplex on April 22
Metroplex procedures enable more direct flights with more efficient climb and descent profiles
- South-central Florida is one of 11 Metroplex initiatives across the country
- The procedures require additional training for air traffic controllers and automation upgrades in air traffic control systems
- A major project will improve the efficiency of the airspace in the South-Central Florida metroplex region
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will implement phase one of the South-Central Florida Metroplex on April 22nd, the agency’s plan to move flights safer and more efficiently through the southern half of the state. Metroplex procedures enable more direct flights with more efficient climb and descent profiles.
The agency will publish 54 new procedures on April 22nd. 17 of the procedures require additional training of air traffic controllers and upgrades of automation in air traffic control systems before they can be implemented. We expect this by mid-August. While these procedures are released as a package, they are not intended to be used at the same time. They are available to pilots and air traffic controllers depending on weather conditions and operational requirements. Air traffic controllers may occasionally distract aircraft from published routes for safety, efficiency, or diversion around weather systems.
The comprehensive project will improve the efficiency of the airspace in the South-Central Florida metroplex region by optimizing the arrival and departure procedures of aircraft to and from airports. New routes involve some changes in the flight paths and altitudes of aircraft in certain areas, but they do not cause ground disruption or increase the number of operations at any of the airports. The agency designed the new procedures to follow existing trajectories whenever possible.
Community engagement was a critical part of the Metroplex environmental process. The FAA conducted extensive public relations work before making its final decision on the project. In 2019 and 2020, the agency held 29 public workshops and two public comment periods with a total duration of 120 days. The agency also assessed and responded to 3,239 comments in the final EA.
In October 2020, the FAA determined for the Metroplex project in south-central Florida that there was no material impact on the decision (FONSI-ROD).
South-central Florida is one of 11 Metroplex initiatives across the country and is the final project to be implemented. The FAA will conduct the second and final phase of the project in August 2021.
