We have sent you previous information about the new Airport RNAV navigation procedures and its importance to Sunfish Lake for aircraft noise. We have now confirmed the FAA virtual RNAV meetings. It is important for as many residents to attend these ZOOM meetings as possible so Sunfish is not lost in the shuffle.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that they will be hosting two virtual public workshops to gather community feedback on their project to update MSP departure procedures using Area Navigation (RNAV) technology. The workshops are scheduled for:

• August 14, 2024, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
• August 15, 2024, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

For more information about the FAA’s proposed departure procedures or to register for the workshops, please visit the FAA website here: Community Engagement — Minneapolis-St. Paul | Federal Aviation Administration (faa.gov). 

Registration for these events is listed below:

Wednesday, August 14 Workshop Registration

https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_689CLU3IR2S4RI6q-hAjEQ

Thursday, August 15 Workshop Registration

https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ThRyteK-R_-7vkA0ZscGtQ

It is easy to register. Just your name, email and check boxes listing your areas of concern. (I checked all four boxes.) You may participate from your computer, or you may view the recordings online, at your convenience.

These events will feature presentations from the FAA, including regional leadership and air traffic control as well as representatives from airlines serving the airport.

Topics will include:

• Current management of the Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) airspace;
• Future implementation of Area Navigation (RNAV) departure procedures at MSP;
• Input from the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) and the Noise Oversight Committee (NOC) on the design of new RNAV procedures;
• The environmental study process;
• Future opportunity to provide public comment on the planned departure procedures at MSP.
• Webinar attendees may submit questions via the chat feature. Final details and instructions for joining the webinar will be provided in advance of the events. Each webinar will be available for later viewing on this page, or the FAA YouTube channel.
• No pre-registration is required to view the event at a later time.

************************************************************************

Background Information from FAA:

The FAA is modernizing the national airspace system nationwide by discontinuing outdated ground-based navigational equipment and by implementing GPS-Based procedures to enhance safety and efficiency of airport operations. At Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport (MSP), these actions will help reduce delays while increasing safety due to more efficient communications between pilots and air traffic control.

The MSP Very High-Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR) is one of approximately 300 ground-based navigational aids that will no longer be necessary due to the development and implementation of GPS navigation. It is scheduled for decommissioning in mid-to-late 2025.

The decommissioning of the MSP VOR, coupled with updated FAA safety regulations will require the amendment or cancellation of current departure procedures (implemented in 2015) and the development of new Area Navigation (RNAV) departure procedures. 

• What is RNAV?
• The current procedures need to be modified to be compliant with current criteria and maintain safety and efficiency at the airport.  These current procedures would need to be updated, regardless of the VOR decommissioning.

The FAA is working with aviation stakeholders to safely and efficiently replace the VOR’s function for MSP, enabling departing aircraft to fly routes that enhance safety and efficiency and with a focus on reducing aviation noise impacts. 

• The upgraded RNAV departure flight procedures must be in place by summer 2025 when the MSP VOR is decommissioned.
• These upgraded RNAV departure are designed to initially use multiple headings on departure, as is done today, to disperse traffic above the airport’s surrounding communities. [My emphasis added. What will cause them to deviate from the initial design which could adversely affect Sunfish Lake!]

The FAA is discussing these changes with members of the Metropolitan Airports Commission and the Noise Oversight Committee. Community input will be considered throughout the project. 

The FAA will update this web page as details of the project are developed, including opportunities for community input.

Additional Background 

The FAA is decommissioning approximately one-third of the nation’s VOR network. The remaining 600 VORs will remain in place in strategic locations throughout the nation to serve in the event of a satellite outage. You can learn more about the VOR Minimal Operational Network (MON) watching this video or reading this webpage. (You can access this video and webpage at the community engagement link shown above.)