The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced it is providing “interim noise relief” by reverting two flight paths out of Sky Harbor Airport to their approximate 2014 positions.
The following is a brief statement posted on Facebook by the FAA on March 29, 2018:
“Beginning today, the FAA will use two new routes for aircraft that turn north or continue westward after departing from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. The routes approximate the flight paths that were in place before September 2014. Implementation of the proposed southwest departure corridor is pending further environmental review, and the FAA intends to make a decision on this corridor before May 24, 2018. Until then, aircraft that turn south after departing to the west will follow the route that is currently in place.”
Image courtesy of Phoenix Sky Harbor.
A look back:
- Changes were made to flight paths out of Sky Harbor Airport in September 2014, as part of the FAA’s NextGen program.
- Instead of flying over industrial areas, some flights flew over Phoenix’s historic residential neighborhoods.
- A community noise meeting was held in October 2014.
- The City of Phoenix and a coalition of historic neighborhoods sued the FAA in 2015.
- A ruling was made in favor of the City and neighborhoods in August 2017.
- The FAA held a public comment period between February 1 and February 16, 2018, and worked in partnership with the City of Phoenix to hold three public workshops. The FAA reports receiving approximately 1,100 comments from private citizens and groups, elected officials, municipalities, and local, state and federal agencies during this public comment period.
Links to stay up-to-date:
- Phoenix’s Community Involvement page on the FAA Website
- The flight path timeline on the Sky Harbor Website
- The Phoenix community’s “Let’s Make Some Noise” Facebook Page
- The FAA Facebook Page
- The Final Environmental Review provided by the FAA
Image courtesy of Phoenix Sky Harbor.
