Navy Proposal For California Airspace Raises GA Concern

The FAA has published a “Notice to All Concerned” about the U.S. Navy’s proposal to expand Military Operations Area and Air Traffic Control Assigned Airspace in central California. The FAA notice aims to determine the effects the proposed changes would have upon the safe and efficient use of the airspace by all users. The proposal has been carefully monitored by GA advocacy groups for over a year, and it has raised serious concerns. The Navy’s proposed design includes a GA transition corridor, but in spite of that, AOPA spokesman Chris Dancy told AVwebyesterday, most IFR traffic in the area would have to be rerouted around the lower portions of the MOA. “IFR aircraft navigating by way of RNAV will be impacted the most, since the MOAs will prohibit those aircraft from flying ‘IFR Direct’ in much of the area between Fresno and points west along the coast,” Dancy said. “AOPA will be analyzing the proposal thoroughly as presented and will be submitting formal comments on the proposal,” Dancy added. NBAA also expressed concerns about the plan. “While NBAA is sympathetic to the training needs of the U.S. Navy, we remain concerned that the proposed airspace plan will have significant negative effects on the flow of civil air traffic in the central California area,” Bob Lamond Jr., NBAA’s director of air traffic services, told AVwebyesterday. Both groups said they will be studying the plan and will submit comments and objections to the FAA. NBAA is also soliciting all of its members who transit central California airspace to carefully examine the proposal and submit comments.