ARC Packet 05-15-2024CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
AIRPORT RELATIONS COMMISSION
May 15, 2024 6:00 p.m.
City Hall 1101 Victoria Curve
1.CALL TO ORDER
2.CONSENT AGENDA
a.Approve Minutes from the March 20, 2024 Meetingb.Acknowledge Airport Operational Statistics Reports
1.Complaint Information
2.Runway Use Information
3.Noise Monitor Information
3.PUBLIC COMMENTS
4.BUSINESS
a.FAA RNAV Response Letter to the Noise Oversight Committee
5.INFORMATION AND CORRESPONDENCE
6.ANNOUNCEMENTS AND COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
7.ADJOURN
Alternate formats or auxiliary aids are available to individuals with disabilities upon request. Please contact city hall at 651-452-1850 or cityhall@mendotaheightsmn.gov
CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
AIRPORT RELATIONS COMMISSION
March 20, 2024 6:00 p.m.
City Hall 1101 Victoria Curve
A regular meeting of the Mendota Heights Airport Relations Commission was held on Wednesday, March 20,
2024 at Mendota Heights City Hall, 1101 Victoria Curve.
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Norling called the meeting to order at 6:00pm.
Commissioners present: Norling, Sharma, Sloan, Neuharth, Bobbitt. Commissioners absent: Dunn, Hamiel.
Staff present: City Administrator Jacobson and Administrative Coordinator Robertson.
2. ELECTION OF OFFICERS-CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR
Commissioner Bobbitt nominated Gina Norling and Arvind Sharma as Chair and Vice Chair respectively. No
other nominations were made.
Motion to approve by Bobbitt, Second by Sloan. Motion Carried 5-0.
3. CONSENT AGENDA
a. Approve Minutes from the January 24, 2024 Meeting
b. Acknowledge Airport Operational Statistics Reports
1. Complaint Information
2. Runway Use Information
3. Noise Monitor Information
Chair Norling approved the consent agenda.
4. PUBLIC COMMENTS
NA
5. BUSINESS
a. ARC 2024 Workplan
City Administrator Jacobson commented that the workplan is valid for two years.
Chair Norling suggested moving the third action item, “Mitigating City’s Air Noise Exposure” to the top of the
workplan list.
Commissioner Bobbitt also suggested making a high priority to inform residents.
Commissioner Sharma noted this workplan still feels relevant and not time-bound, with ongoing action plan
items that are still valid. He asked if there was a report needed for City Council.
City Administrator Jacobson stated the report to Council can wait until the end of the two years workplan
period, and by the end of 2024 there may also me more information to report regarding RNAV procedures.
Commissioner Sloan suggested the end of the year report has historically worked well.
Commissioner Neuharth agreed that having more RNAV information would be good to include in the end of
the year report to Council.
City Administrator Jacobson noted the Council has been kept informed of RNAV proceedings and would
have the opportunity for a report in November or December.
Commissioner Bobbitt recommended leaving the workplan as is and noted that eight action items is a lot.
City Administrator Jacobson noted there will be a joint meeting with Eagan’s ARC in November; host site to
be determined. She also suggested hosting a MAC/NOC listening session open to residents this fall or
winter.
Commissioner Sharma suggested adding an “accomplishments” section to the workplan.
6. INFORMATION AND CORRESPONDENCE
City Administrator Jacobson reported that 12L will be closed from June to September for construction. She
stated this construction news will be shared on the City’s website and Friday News avenues. City
Administrator Jacobson also noted that 12R plans to be closed in two phases over the summer of 2025.
There are no other RNAV updates and no response yet from the FAA regarding the commission’s requests.
7. ANNOUNCEMENTS AND COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
Chair Norling asked if commissioners had a chance to attend the open meeting law training.
Commissioner Bobbitt gave good feedback on the training and added he’d like to see something similar
done for budget work.
Commissioner Sharma asked if there was any news from the NOC meeting that was held today.
City Administrator Jacobson shared that the noise contour would be expanding a bit and there were
construction updates as discussed earlier.
8. ADJOURN
Motion by Neuharth and second by Sharma to adjourn the meeting.
Motion carried 5-0.
Chair Norling adjourned the meeting at 6:31pm.
Complaints by Location—By Month
(2022, 2023)
Location = Complainants
2023 Mpls Eagan Edina MH Blmgtn
January 31 26 3 2 3
February 39 25 8 4 10
March 51 26 9 4 4
April 74 31 12 4 10
May 85 51 5 14 9
June 105 80 11 16 7
July 154 67 16 8 14
August 142 71 20 13 12
September 125 64 15 11 10
October 100 43 14 6 7
November 47 29 11 6 8
December 63 39 8 5 6
2024 Mpls Eagan Edina MH Blmgtn
January 68 34 9 4 5
February 66 43 9 7 6
March 66 39 11 9 4
April 75 30 10 9 7
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Percent of All Departures by Location
(2022, 2023)
2023
Mpls 30R Eagan 12R Edina 30L MH 12L Blmgtn 17
January 22% 7% 31% 10% 29%
February 19% 6% 25% 12% 36%
March 19% 10% 25% 13% 32%
April 21% 10% 26% 12% 30%
May 10% 10% 11% 21% 48%
June 11% 14% 13% 23% 27%
July 27% 4% 28% 10% 31%
August 19% 9% 23% 15% 33%
September 12% 9% 12% 19% 47%
October 24% 9% 30% 12% 26%
November 24% 4% 24% 9% 38%
December 16% 7% 21% 15% 41%
2024
Mpls
30R
Eagan
12R
Edina
30L
MH
12L
Blmgtn
17
January 23% 4% 32% 9% 32%
February 20% 7% 26% 11% 36%
March 20% 8% 33% 11% 29%
April 21% 9% 29% 13% 28%
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
51
26
9 4 4
66
39
11 9 4
19%
10%
25%
13%
32%
20%
8%
33%
11%
29%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
50%
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
Mpls Eagan Edina MH Blmgtn
March Complaints by Location and Departures by Location
Complaints 2023 Complaints 2024 %Departures 2023 %Departures 2024
March Complaints March Night Departures
2022 2023 2024 2022 2023 2024
Minneapolis (30R) 2,992 1,072 2,111 177 81 60
Eagan (12R) 2,310 1,897 2,150 96 186 124
Edina (30L) 527 117 268 241 237 263
Mendota Heights (12L) 185 136 144 55 98 39
Bloomington (17) 123 52 19 3 24 35
Total 6,050 3,274 4,692 572 626 521
74
31
12
4 10
75
30
10 9 7
21%
10%
26%
12%
30%
9%
29%
13%
28%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
50%
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
Mpls Eagan Edina MH Blmgtn
April Complaints by Location and Departures by Location
Complaints 2023 Complaints 2024 %Departures 2023 %Departures 2024
April Complaints April Night Departures
2022 2023 2024 2022 2023 2024
Minneapolis (30R) 923 2,317 2,442 18 80 51
Eagan (12R) 1,412 1,557 1,956 84 129 129
Edina (30L) 90 320 175 70 175 135
Mendota Heights (12L) 77 97 168 68 41 34
Bloomington (17) 123 61 37 35 33 52
Total 2,625 4,352 4,778 275 458 401
Data used for UCL calculationJanuary 2009 through December 2013Mean: 12.4 2020 Covid Pandemic Flight Reductions‐Consolidation on 12L & 12R.St Dev: 3.06Chart Notes: Above normal incidences of downward southerly flow winds duringUCL: 18.4 the 2nd and 3rd quarters of 2023.13.0%18.40%0%5%10%15%20%25%Percent OperationsMonth12L Total OperationsOperationsMeanUCLMean: Rolling 24/mo
Data used for UCL calculationJanuary 2009 through December 2013Mean: 19.5St Dev: 7UCL: 33.516.1%13.7%Mean: Rolling 24/mo8.5%15.0%33.50%0%5%10%15%20%25%30%35%40%Percentage OperationsMonth12L Night OperationsOperationsMeanUCL
Data used for UCL calculationJanuary 2009 through December 2013Mean: 7.7 2020 Covid Pandemic Flight Reductions‐Consolidation on 12L & 12R.St Dev: 2.96UCL: 13.48.6%9.4%13.40%0%5%10%15%20%25%30%Percent OperationsMonth12R Total OperationsOperationsMeanUCLMean: Rolling 24/mo
Data used for UCL calculationJanuary 2009 through December 2013Mean: 2.2St Dev: 0.98UCL: 4.21.5%1.1%4.20%0%1%1%2%2%3%3%4%4%5%Percent OperationsMonthDepartures North of CorridorOperationsMeanUCLMean: Rolling 24/mo
_____________________________________________ Airport Relations Commission
DATE: May 15, 2024
TO: Airport Relations Commission
FROM: Cheryl Jacobson, City Administrator
SUBJECT: FAA RNAV Response Letter
BACKGROUND
The FAA is in the process of retiring outdated navigational systems across the United
States and replacing it with satellite technology. MSP’s VOR-MON is scheduled for
decommissioning in mid-to-late 2025. Flight procedures currently using VORs will be
updated to use satellite-based technology which includes Area Navigation, or RNAV.
Updating this technology, combined with FAA safety standard changes, requires
modifying the flight procedures used by aircraft departing MSP.
The updated procedures, while enhancing safety and efficiency, may alter the way in which
communities around the airport experience noise. The FAA has scheduled the updated
procedures to go into effect in August, 2025 at MSP.
The FAA has sole authority over the development of the new departure procedures. The
MAC has provided input on the procedure design, including the potential for operational
or environmental impacts to surrounding communities. Additionally, the MAC Noise
Oversight Committee (NOC) established the RNAV Procedure Review Sub-Committee to
develop initial feedback to share local expectations related to aircraft overflights, noise
and meaningful public engagement with the FAA.
At this time, the preliminary procedure information is not sufficient enough to predict
exact flight paths or noise impacts as the FAA has not released detailed information for
the procedures. The FAA is planning to request public comment and host public
workshops on the proposed departure flight procedures. The public workshops have
been planned for August 14, 2024 from 1-3PM and August 15, 2024 from 6-8PM. At
this time these meetings are virtual meetings. Procedures will not be finalized until after
public engagement and an environmental review is complete.
The FAA has engaged with the MAC and NOC (through the subcommittee) to provide
feedback prior to the official comment period. The NOC approved initial
recommendations to the FAA at a special NOC meeting in November and additional
recommendations in January. The attached letter is the FAA’s response to the January
letter.
Great Lakes Regional Office
2300 East Devon Avenue
Des Plaines, IL 60018-4696
March 26, 2024
Cheryl Jacobson
MSP NOC Community Member
City of Mendota Heights
Paul Buckley
MSP NOC Airport User Member
Delta Air Lines
Dear Ms. Jacobson & Mr. Buckley,
Thank you for your January 31, 2024, letter sent on behalf of the Minneapolis – St. Paul Airport
(MSP) Noise Oversight Committee (NOC). The FAA appreciates the NOC’s recommendations
provided on community outreach and procedure development for the area navigation (RNAV)
departure procedures currently being developed at MSP. The FAA appreciates being able to have
this dialogue early. What follows is part of that conversation but, unless specifically noted, no
final decisions have been made that would be pre-decisional under the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) and other applicable laws and regulations.
The FAA has reviewed your January 31, 2024, letter and we appreciate the NOC’s willingness to
represent their member communities and the Twin Cities area in general, and to provide
feedback on our initial draft procedures. The FAA is committed to community engagement, and
based on this initial feedback, the FAA has incorporated changes to the initial project design in
response to NOC’s comments, which are noted below. These changes will be assessed for
consideration for the final procedures under all applicable laws. The other non-procedural
recommendations from the NOC and other stakeholders are very much appreciated by the FAA
and are still being considered as part of this project.
The FAA developed the initial draft procedures for MSP based on three official design meetings
and multiple discussions with aviation stakeholders including the MAC, airlines, local and
regional air traffic control. These draft procedures were previously shared with the Metropolitan
Airports Commission (MAC) officials on October 12 and 26, 2023 and members of the NOC
Subcommittee on October 30, 2023. The FAA appreciates the initial feedback provided by the
NOC in their November 29, 2023, and January 31, 2024, letters to the FAA.
In addition to the three official design meetings, the FAA’s Air Traffic team recently reviewed
the procedural recommendations submitted by the NOC in a workgroup meeting with aviation
stakeholders on February 6, 2024. Any procedural suggestions that were feasible and did not
negatively impact safety or efficiency, were assessed for consideration in the final procedures.
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Recommendations received from the NOC, whether they were feasible or not, will be
summarized and posted after the NEPA process is complete on the MSP community involvement
website which will also feature updates, resources and other related documents throughout the
full life cycle of the project. We will also post project updates on this website and the final
outcome of the environmental process as required by NEPA.
Moving forward, the FAA remains committed to multi-faceted engagement for community
engagement purposes. The FAA will work with the MAC and NOC to conduct public outreach
sessions in 2024. The FAA appreciates the NOC’s provided suggestions to the FAA on when to
hold these sessions in their January 31, 2024, letter to the FAA.
The FAA is committed to making complete, open, and effective public participation an essential
part of this process. These sessions will include materials showing the proposed new procedures,
feature a question-and-answer session with air traffic controllers, and provide explanations of the
changes being proposed. The FAA will ensure the dialogue with the general public is two-way
and that suggestions received during these sessions are considered for final procedure designs.
We look forward to continuing to partner with MAC, NOC, and other stakeholders to ensure that
participation is successful.
Specific to the initial feedback contained in your January 31, 2024, letter, the FAA has provided
the below responses:
Provide opportunities for meaningful public engagement
1. Provide a public comment period of up to 90 days related to FAA’s
proposed procedures and resultant environmental review to allow
members of the public sufficient time to be informed and equipped to
participate in the FAA’s comment process.
FAA Response:
We will ensure our public engagement approach is in accordance with all applicable laws.
2. In order to have broad and effective outreach, the NOC would like the FAA to avoid
scheduling its public workshops during major holidays.
FAA Response:
The FAA has committed to scheduling public engagement sessions on days other
than major holidays.
3. As noted in the FAA’s January 5, 2024, response to the NOC’s
recommendations submitted on November 29, 2023, the FAA plans to hold
virtual open houses due to the FAA’s perspective that they are convenient,
provide greater reach and flexibility and are more cost effective. The NOC
recommends the FAA provide in- person FAA personnel for at least one hybrid
public workshop, as this would honor the points raised by the FAA and offers
the most inclusivity by being accessible.
3
FAA Response:
Thank you for your input on this important matter. The FAA will consider this recommendation
as the level of environmental approach under NEPA has been determined.
Increase transparency and communicate effectively
4. As the governmental agency responsible for this project, FAA is the
appropriate lead to actively communicate and engage with the public
regarding FAA’s proposed procedure updates. Community leaders should
not be put in the position of representing the FAA’s project.
FAA Response:
The FAA looks forward to serving as the lead for community engagement with the
assistance of both public and private entities that assisted with the project design.
While the replacement of outdated technology by the FAA is the primary driver for
the updates to MSP procedures, and as such will be the lead for community
engagement, the working group comprised of both public and private entities has
developed many of the specific details to support implementation. In addition, the
safety and efficiency benefits of the project impact multiple stakeholders including the
FAA, industry, and the airport. As such, we would encourage all entities represented
by the working group membership to actively support communication planning as
well as community outreach and engagement activities.
5. Prior to public workshops, the NOC recommends the FAA develop a short
video presentation to share simple and concise information about what RNAV
is and what process the FAA will follow to develop, study, and implement the
new procedures.
6. The NOC recommends the FAA communicate the benefits that the FAA
identifies associated with implementation of its proposed procedures,
including unrestricted climbs that may help offset some of the noise impacts
on the new flight paths.
FAA Response to the two above items:
The FAA is committed to ensuring that the public is able to obtain information about
this project at this early stage and looks for ways for the public to do so from their
personal computer, smartphone, library computer and other web-enabled device
anywhere in the world. The FAA has recently updated our Community Engagement –
Minneapolis-St. Paul webpage. In line with NOC’s recommendation, the FAA
added a video to that webpage that provides a comprehensive overview of the
project. The FAA will update this webpage as details of the project are developed,
including opportunities for community input.
7. The NOC recommends the FAA include all common airport configurations in its
analysis and public presentation materials to ensure the public has a full
picture of how the new procedures may be used. Specifically, the NOC would
like to see the following configurations be included: North Flow (arrivals and
4
departures on Runways 30L and 30R and arrivals on Runway 35); South Flow
(arrivals and departures on Runways 12L and 12R and departures on Runway
17); and Mixed A (arrivals and departures on Runways 30L and 30R and
departures on Runway 17).
FAA Response:
The FAA appreciates this feedback and will consider this for its public outreach sessions.
Effectively communicate environmental impacts
8. The NOC requests the FAA explain the process used to determine the appropriate level
of environmental review for the project and carefully consider Environmental Justice,
Socioeconomic, and Extraordinary Circumstance factors when making this
determination. There are census tracts in the region which are recognized as
overburdened, underserved, and disadvantaged by the Climate and Economic Justice
Screening Tool. Additionally, due to the history of RNAV in this community, there may
be potential for “substantial dispute involving reasonable disagreement over the
degree, extent, or nature of a proposed action’s environmental impacts or over the
action’s risks of causing environmental harm.”
9. Publish a robust environmental review document for public access and transparency,
including an executive summary, and present these findings to the public, regardless of
the level of review that FAA deems appropriate for the project.
10. Given the community’s long-standing history of active involvement regarding noise
issues at MSP, the NOC recommends the FAA model and present the changes in the
noise environment that residents can expect to observe from the FAA’s implementation
of its proposed procedures, regardless of whether the impacts meet FAA’s level of
significant noise impact threshold.
FAA Response to the above three items:
When complying with NEPA obligations, FAA follows the regulations issued by the Council of
Environmental Quality (CEQ), which apply to all federal agencies, as well as the agency-specific
instructions regarding NEPA implementation contained in FAA’s Order 1050.1F: Environmental
Impacts: Policies and Procedures. That Order identifies the potential environmental impacts that
must be analyzed during the environmental review including noise, socioeconomics, and
environmental justice that the NOC has highlighted for consideration. The FAA follows the
process for determining the appropriate level of environmental review, based on the potential
environmental impacts, identified in the Order. Regardless of the level of environmental review,
FAA has committed to engaging the public during the environmental review process and public
comment period. The FAA will provide information on noise impacts.
5
Identify additional opportunities for proposed procedures to reduce overflight concentration
over Neighborhoods (The FAA's below responses are part of an early dialogue with the NOC
and community. Final decisions cannot be reached until the conclusion of the NEPA process.)
11. The NOC recommends the FAA not create a concentrated RNAV departure path for
straight-out departures from Runway 17, in consideration of the areas currently
impacted by arriving aircraft to Runway 35.
February 6, 2024, Workgroup Response:
The current proposed procedures from runway 17 either turn to a 120, 135, 150, or a 220
heading. There are no proposed departures that continue straight out on a 170 heading. If
changes to this design occur during development, due to safety criteria and other procedure
development factors, we will advise the NOC.
12. The NOC appreciates the efforts by the FAA to use VI-CF legs to concentrate aircraft
activity within the established boundary of the Eagan-Mendota Heights Corridor. The
same departing aircraft overfly residential land uses within the corridor and as they exit
the end of the corridor, where aircraft concentration would not be beneficial. Therefore,
the NOC recommends the FAA evaluate VA-DF leg types for greater dispersion as an
alternative to the proposed VI-CF for Runways 12L and 12R departures.
February 6, 2024, Workgroup Response:
The workgroup agreed that the use of a VI-CF vs a VA-DF leg did not impact safety or efficiency
for Air Traffic. The workgroup agreed to change the initial legs to VA-DF. We are striving to
incorporate this change into the design.
Identify additional opportunities to enhance use of existing noise abatement practices
13. During South Flow operations, aircraft departing with a 120-degree heading from
Runway 12L utilize the established noise abatement procedure, Crossing-in-the-
Corridor. This benefits surrounding communities by directing aircraft over more
compatible land in the center of the Eagan-Mendota Heights Corridor. Since RNAV
provides more precise and predictable routes and the FAA has stated that during South
Flow operations Runway 12R is only used for departures when operationally necessary,
the NOC recommends the FAA assign a 120-degree heading to additional Runway 12L
RNAV departures to route aircraft over the center of the corridor without increasing
overflights over residential areas of Sunfish Lake.
February 6, 2024, Workgroup Response:
Moving additional departure procedures to an initial 120-degree heading will result in reduced
efficiency at MSP. Using divergence, an aircraft can depart following another aircraft if their
courses diverge and the preceding aircraft is 6000ft down the runway and airborne. If aircraft are
flying the same path, the second aircraft cannot depart until the first aircraft is 3 NM away. The
120 initial heading is used for the busiest departure plus several others. Moving the second busiest
departure, the COULT, to that heading would reduce overall airport efficiency.
6
14. Aircraft departing over the Minnesota River reduces the instances of aircraft overflying
residential areas. The NOC recognizes the FAA's high use of the existing Runway 17 turn
point noise abatement procedure to keep westbound turns over the Minnesota River
today. The NOC recommends the FAA take this opportunity to keep Runway 17
departures that are designed to fly over the Minnesota River, over the river for as long as
possible before flying over homes and other noise sensitive areas.
February 6th, 2024, Workgroup Response:
The workgroup evaluated the currently designed procedure that is down the river and further
adjustments would either not meet design criteria or create an issue with arrival aircraft on the
downwind for runway 12R. Further changes would not allow departures to continue climbing due
to the need to descend arrivals to get into the proper position to be established on a stabilized
approach.
15. The NOC recommends the FAA’s procedures minimize shifts in flight patterns that may
be due, in part, to planes staying on runway heading longer than they do today. Staying
on runway heading may lead to shifts in areas of overflights and conflicts with a noise
abatement principal of the MAC and NOC, which is to reduce straight out departures
over communities already impacted by arrival noise. Using a 500-foot per nautical mile
(NM) climb gradient may allow an aircraft to initiate a turn on course closer to the
departure end of the runway. The NOC recommends the FAA evaluate a 500-foot per
NM climb gradient.
February 6, 2024, Workgroup Response:
All the departures that have a turn of more than 15 degrees from the end of the runway are
designed with a 500 ft/NM climb gradient until Lateral Navigation Engagement (LNAV) by the
Flight Management System (FMS) to initiate the turn within 1 NM of the runway end.
Identify additional opportunities for proposed procedures to replicate existing flight paths
16. Currently, only departure procedures with 230-to-285-degree headings for Runway 17
are designed with altitude restrictions at seven nautical miles DME (distance measure
equipment). Commonly used Runway 17 departure headings of 120-to-170-degrees are
not currently designed with a crossing restriction. The NOC requests that Runway 17
departure procedures that do not require altitude restrictions be designed without
waypoints at seven miles, to replicate existing procedures and continue to disperse
aircraft departures to the extent feasible.
February 6th, 2024, Workgroup Response:
The current procedures do not meet the full needs of air traffic and the crossing restrictions are
currently needed. Air traffic needs to continually monitor these aircraft to make sure that they are
clear of adjacent airspace. The restrictions will also require the aircraft to climb at a higher climb
gradient and gain altitude faster. An aircraft without the restriction could climb at the minimum
required climb gradient of 200 ft/NM. Also, having a few procedures that are different from the
majority introduces risk into the National Airspace System.
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17. The westbound (260-degree) heading off Runways 30L and 30R overflies residential
areas to the north and west of the airport. The NOC understands from the FAA that the
new RNAV procedures may concentrate flight paths as aircraft approach the proposed
first waypoints if aircraft are not vectored off the initial 260-degree heading. To prevent
concentration near the first waypoint, the NOC recommends that the FAA evaluate
opportunities for designing the procedures with the goal of spreading out tracks,
replicating existing aircraft dispersion, and preventing concentration. Opportunities may
include air traffic controllers turning aircraft off the 260-degree prior to reaching the
first waypoint for departures ultimately going south- and southeast-bound, shifting the
location of the first waypoint, or identifying additional headings.
18. Similar to the point above, the NOC recommends the FAA evaluate opportunities to
spread out tracks and prevent concentration in residential areas off the end of the
Eagan-Mendota Heights Corridor. Opportunities may include air traffic controllers
turning aircraft off the 105-degree heading for aircraft departing Runway 12L after
exiting the Eagan-Mendota Heights Corridor and prior to reaching the proposed first
waypoint, similar to how most departures operate today.
19. In keeping with the points above, the northeast bound (340- and 360-degree) headings
off Runways 30L and 30R overfly residential areas to the north and east of the airport. The NOC
recommends that the FAA evaluate opportunities to spread out tracks, prevent
concentration, and replicate aircraft dispersion experienced today in these residential
areas. Opportunities may include air traffic controllers directing aircraft on these
headings similar to how most departures operate today, shifting the location of the first
waypoints, or identifying additional headings.
February 6, 2024, Workgroup Response to the three above items:
According to FAA Job Order, 7110.65AA, the primary purposes of the ATC system is to prevent
a collision involving aircraft operating in the system. In addition to its primary purpose, the ATC
system also provides a safe, orderly, and expeditious flow of air traffic in and out of MSP. Air
Traffic Control will continue to control aircraft, as close as possible as is done today, and as
requested in procedure design workgroup meetings initially by the MAC. Air traffic wants to get
aircraft on course and heading towards their destination as soon as safely possible. In addition,
procedure design only allows for one runway transition per runway per departure procedure.
To meet the necessary air traffic charting deadlines, the FAA is working towards a goal of
publishing the new procedures by August 2025. However, as part of our ongoing dialogue and
workgroup meetings which included the MAC who has continuously expressed the goals of the
NOC, we have discussed a common goal of ensuring existing dispersed pathways above MSP’s
surrounding communities remain consistent with what they are today - provided they meet FAA
safety criteria and operational requirements.
Future Steps
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We look forward to continuing our dialogue with the MAC, NOC, and other stakeholders. The
MAC and the NOC will play a vital role with the FAA to develop and discuss timing of next
steps as well as planning for public engagement sessions.
Sincerely,
Erik Amend, PMP
Regional Administrator
Great Lakes Region
Cc: Bryan Ryks, MAC
Roy Fuhrmann, MAC
Naomi Pesky, MAC
Evan Wilson, MAC
Dana Nelson, MAC
Mitch Kilian, MAC
Kyle Fisher, MAC
Michele Ross, MAC