[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 14 (Tuesday, January 22, 2002)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 2828-2829]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-1508]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71


National Airspace Redesign--Potential Revisions of Air Traffic 
Control (ATC) Services, Procedures, and Airspace, Juneau Area, Juneau, 
AK; Public Meeting 02-AAL-1

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 2829]]

SUMMARY: The FAA will hold a public meeting in support of the National 
Airspace Redesign (NAR) on ATC airspace, service, and procedures 
affecting the Juneau area, Juneau, AK. The objective of this meeting is 
to provide interested persons an opportunity to review proposed ATC 
services and procedures that are under consideration in conjunction 
with the FAA Alaska Region Capstone Program. The overall Capstone goal 
is to maximize efficiency and improve safety for aircraft operating in 
the Juneau area. ATC is exploring ways to implement new technology as 
it becomes certified for use in the National Airspace System.

DATES: The meeting will be on Thursday, March 7, 2002, 5:30 pm to 9:00 
pm.

ADDRESSES:  Ray Renshaw Room, Guest House Inn and Suites, 1800 Shell 
Simmons Drive, Juneau, AK, 99801; phone (907) 790-6435.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ray Collins, Federal Aviation 
Administration, AAL-539, 222 W. 7th Ave., Box #14, Anchorage, AK 99513-
7587; telephone: (907) 271-1664; fax: (907) 271-2850; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

History and Background

    The Alaskan Region's Capstone program is an accelerated effort to 
improve aviation safety and efficiency through installation of 
government-furnished Global Positioning System (GPS)-based avionics and 
data link communications suites. The initial Capstone location was 
Bethel, Alaska and Capstone activities may be viewed at: http://www.alaska.faa.gov/capstone/. In addition to the avionics suites, 
Capstone will install a ground infrastructure for weather observation, 
data link communications, surveillance, and Flight Information Services 
(FIS) to improve safety. Under Capstone, it is anticipated that most of 
the commercial aircraft based in the Juneau area will be equipped, on a 
voluntary basis, with government-furnished avionics; certain other 
commercial and government aircraft regularly operating in the area will 
also be equipped. Services provided through the avionics suite will 
improve the pilot's flight capabilities and situational awareness.
    There have been several user meetings concerning expanding the 
Capstone program into the Juneau area; the most recent have had Air 
Traffic Division representation that briefed a range of potential ATC 
services that might be provided using Capstone technology. These range 
from Bright Radar Indicator Tower Equipment (BRITE) displays in the 
Juneau airport traffic control tower, surveillance services for IFR 
aircraft, ground aircraft/vehicle surveillance, enhanced traffic 
information in the airport traffic area, and search and rescue services 
from the AFSS in Southeast Alaska.
    Today, the National Airspace Redesign mandates a review of airspace 
and efficiency nationwide. It is the goal of the Alaskan Region's Air 
Traffic Division to address airspace, ATC Capstone enhancements, and 
services from an overall systems perspective in the Juneau area.

Meeting Procedures

    (a) The meeting will be informal in nature and will be conducted by 
representatives of the FAA Alaskan Region Air Traffic Division. The 
meeting will not be formally recorded.
    (b) The meeting will be open to all persons on a space-available 
basis. Every effort was made to provide a meeting site with sufficient 
capacity for expected participation. There will be neither admission 
fee nor other charge to attend and participate.
    (c) Any person who wishes to present a position paper to FAA 
representatives pertinent to the revision of ATC services, airspace or 
procedures may do so.
    (d) An official verbatim transcript or minutes of the informal 
airspace meeting will not be made. However, a list of the attendees, 
written statements received from attendees during and after the meeting 
and a digest of discussions during the meeting will be included in the 
administrative record for the project.
    (e) Every reasonable effort will be made to hear all concerns of 
interested persons consistent with a reasonable closing time for the 
meeting. Written materials may also be submitted to the team for up to 
two weeks (14 days) after the close of the meeting.

Agenda

    a. Opening remarks and discussion of meeting procedures
    b. Presentation of areas under consideration, user feedback, and 
aircraft airborne avionics equipment:
    (1) Tower BRITE-like Display: Tower surveillance display that 
depicts ADS-B and transponder Mode A/C and Mode S equipped aircraft. 
Provides situational awareness for tower controllers. DRAWBACK: Unable 
to see primary target (non-equipped) aircraft and new transponder 
display technology must be certified prior to use.
    (2) Terminal IFR surveillance service: Discussion has taken place 
within the Air Traffic Division concerning providing ``low level'' 
terminal approach control services in the Juneau area to support an IFR 
structure. As the concept developed, several constraints became 
obvious: vectors below 5,500 feet MSL are not possible; IFR traffic 
count does not support the establishment of an approach control 
facility, and ATC delays, while increasing, are not a significant issue 
at Juneau. Informal discussion with several operators in the Juneau 
area reveals these operators do not forsee changes in the way they 
conduct operations in the near or long term--they operate VFR and do 
not see this changing. Feedback: will operators equip and fly in an IFR 
structure.
    (3) ARTCC: The potential exists to provide continuous radar like 
coverage for IFR aircraft operating into and from Juneau. Procedures 
could possibly be developed to reduce delays using this seamless 
coverage, however, delays will continue to occur due to terrain 
limitations effecting aircraft and ATC procedures.
    (4) AFSS Display(s): Three areas are under consideration--an 
airport ground surveillance system where AFSS personnel will be able to 
``see'' equipped aircraft and vehicles operating on the ground when the 
tower is closed; a BRITE type display where specialist can ``see'' 
equipped aircraft operating in the pattern area when the tower is 
closed; a monitor system where ADS-B aircraft are displayed and are 
able to be located at the last known position in the event contact is 
lost. The AFSS display(s) are contingent on aircraft/vehicle equipage. 
Additionally, use of display equipment is a significant departure from 
established FSS functions and extensive coordination and approval with 
FAA Headquarters and the workforce would be required. Finally, there 
are technical challenges ahead for any automated flight following 
system.
    (5) Airspace: Currently, Juneau has Class D airspace. Expansion or 
change to this airspace is not anticipated, however, this meeting is 
part of the National Airspace Review process.
    (c) Question and answer period.
    (d) Closing comments.
* * * * *

    Issued in Anchorage, AK, on January 11, 2002.
Stephen P. Creamer,
Assistant Manager, Air Traffic Division, Alaskan Region.
[FR Doc. 02-1508 Filed 1-18-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P