FAA To Minimize Circling Approaches

The FAA plans to shut down circling approaches wherever feasible, and last week the agency published its selection criteria for deciding which approaches will be cancelled. The changes are part of an effort to "right-size" the National Airspace System, and eliminate redundant and unnecessary procedures, the FAA said. Input from AOPA was taken into consideration. AOPA said they urged the FAA to take into account that some approaches are needed for training purposes, and recommended that the FAA should also have a policy in place to be sure pilots are notified of the changes. The FAA agreed with both suggestions.

"This final policy is a good example of how a close collaboration between industry and the FAA can have a positive effect on progress toward our shared goal of a NextGen National Airspace System," said Rune Duke, AOPA's director of airspace. "The FAA's criteria identify redundant procedures for cancellation while still ensuring local pilots have an opportunity to comment before a final decision is made." Duke encouraged pilots to use the FAA's Instrument Flight Procedures Information Gateway, a centralized data portal, where they can provide feedback to the FAA as the agency continues to transition to a predominantly satellite-based navigation system.

NBAA also commented on the proposed policy, asking that changes to the approaches should be put on hold until issues with updating the databases of Flight Management Systems could be resolved. The FAA said the delay would not be "practical."