Contributor - Accidents and Regulations

Gordon Gilbert

In support of the Florida Metroplex Project, the FAA has established <a href="https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2018-08-28/pdf/2018-18508.pdf">16 high-altitude area navigation routes</a> (Q-routes) and modified seven existing Q-routes. The agency said the routes were developed “to improve the efficiency of the national airspace system and reduce dependency on ground-based navigational systems that cause system inefficiencies due to their limitations.” This action also makes minor corrections to the waypoint names and geographic coordinates of certain Q-routes. The changes go into effect November 8.

 


According to the agency, implementation of these routes will decrease sector complexity and ATC workload by “reducing the need for offset radar vectors when climbing and descending air traffic.” Also, the routes will promote use of dedicated route options when transitioning departures and arrivals from the overhead streams. Additionally, parallel non-conflicting routes will be created “to achieve higher throughput, more optimal altitudes, and increased routing options, particularly in constricted airspace along the mid-Atlantic U.S. coast."

 


Implementation of the new routes will contribute to the integration of recent Metroplex work along the East Coast into the high-altitude en route structure. “Capacity will be enhanced through more efficient routings, reduced delays, and increased flexibility for users,” the FAA said. “Further, the routes will eliminate reliance on the ground-based navigation aid structure” and will enable the VOR reduction program to “achieve its cost reduction objectives associated with the decommissioning of designated navaids.”

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