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Presented to: Aeronautical Charting Forum

By: Airspace Policy Group (AJV-11)

Date: October 27, 2016

Federal Aviation Administration Aeronautical

Charting Forum

Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) Chart Altitudes

Federal Aviation Administration

Agenda

• ACF Recommendation • U.S. Airspace Classification • Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR)

Part 71 – Regulatory Basis • FAA Order 7400.2 • Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) • Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) • Military Operations Areas (MOA) • Sample IFR Chart Special Use Airspace Tabulation • Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) Sectors • Issues

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ACF Recommendation: FAA Control # ACF-CG RD 16-02-308

Recommendation: 1.Low Altitude Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) enroute charts depict up

to Flight Level (FL) 230 and high altitude charts depict above FL 230.

2.Raise Victor Airways operating altitude up to FL 230 & Jet Airways to FL 240 and above.

3.Depict the maximum operating altitude of military operations areas (MOAs) as appropriate on low altitude IFR enroute charts.

No change to airspace designations. Class A still begins at FL 180.

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U.S. Airspace Classification

• Airspace Reclassification Rule o Effective September 16, 1993. o Adopted ICAO airspace classifications (Class A, B, C, etc.). o Implemented by rule under 14 CFR part 71.

Note: The 18,000-foot mean sea level (MSL) “high/low” dividing line for airways dates back to the 1960s.

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14 CFR Part 71 – Regulatory Basis

• Designates U.S. airspace classes. oSection 71.33: Class A airspace from 18,000 feet MSL

to and including FL 600. oSection 71.71: Class E airspace up to, but not

including 18,000 feet MSL and the airspace above FL 600.

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14 CFR Part 71 – Regulatory Basis (Cont’d)

• Section 71.13 Classification of Air Traffic Service (ATS) Routes

• In Subpart A (Class A airspace): o Jet routes o Area navigation route (Q-routes)

• In Subpart E (Class E airspace): o Very high frequency omni-directional range (VOR) federal airways o Colored federal airways o Area navigation routes (T-routes)

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FAA Order 7400.2: Procedures for Handling Airspace Matters As noted in the order:

20−1−5. ROUTE IDENTIFICATION b.Identify ATS routes based on VOR NAVAIDs as follows:

1. Route lettering must be as follows: a) The letter “V” will prefix low altitude ATS routes below FL 180. b) The letter “J” will prefix high altitude ATS routes at FL 180 through FL 450.

c. Identify advanced area navigation (RNAV) ATS routes as follows: 1. The letter “T” will prefix low altitude RNAV ATS routes below FL 180, and the

letter “Q” for RNAV routes FL 180 and above.

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Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) • Paragraph 5-3-4.a.1 describes victor airways as: o “The VOR and L/MF (nondirectional radio beacons) Airway

System consists of airways designated from 1,200 feet above the surface (or in some instances higher) up to but not including 18,000 feet MSL. These airways are depicted on IFR Enroute Low Altitude Charts.”

• AIM Paragraph 5-3-4.a.2(a) describes Jet Routes as: o “The jet route system consists of jet routes established from

18,000 feet MSL to FL 450 inclusive. These routes are depicted on Enroute High Altitude Charts.”

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Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP)

• 2.6.5.5 Federal Airways and Low−altitude RNAV Routes. o Federal airways and low−altitude RNAV routes are Class E

airspace areas and, unless otherwise specified, they extend upward from 1,200 feet AGL to, but not including,18,000 feet MSL.

• ENR 3.2 Upper ATS Routes o High Altitude ATS Route Structure

– The U.S. does not use the term “Upper ATS Routes.” The published high altitude route structure in the U.S. consists of jet routes and high altitude RNAV routes (Q−routes). The high altitude route structure is for use at and above 18,000 feet MSL.

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Military Operations Areas (MOA) • “This change will also provide a way for pilots

operating up to FL 230 a depiction of Military Operating Areas and other Special Use Airspace (SUA) that exceed FL 180 and are not depicted on High Altitude Charts.”

• MOA Definition (Order 7400.2) o A military operations area (MOA) is airspace designated outside of Class

A airspace, to separate or segregate certain nonhazardous military activities from IFR traffic and to identify for visual flight rule (VFR) traffic where these activities are conducted.

• MOAs do not extend above 17,999 feet MSL. o Air Traffic Control Assigned Airspace (ATCAA) – Not a type of SUA.

• MOA altitudes are listed in the Special Use Airspace Tabulation on High and Low IFR Enroute charts.

• Restricted Areas - SUA that may exceed FL 180.

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Sample IFR Chart Special Use Airspace Tabulation

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Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) Sectors • Although Center low sector ceilings are “typically”

FL 230, airspace is dynamic. Both floors and ceilings can change based on the needs of that particular facility, the configuration of surrounding airports, new procedures and efficiency.

• There is no correlation between victor airways being restricted to 17,999 feet MSL, and that of a “typical” floor or ceiling of a sector.

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Issues • Conflict with regulatory structure (Class A & E

airspace – split at 18,000 feet MSL). • Potential confusion over airspace/airway structure

and operating rules that apply. • IFR Low charts would encompass Class A & E

airspace - Charting V, T and J and Q routes? • V and T routes would exist in both Class E and

Class A airspace contrary to 14 CFR part 71. • IFR High charts above FL 230: would remove at least

5 altitudes (FL 190 – FL 230) from J & Q route availability.

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Issues (Cont’d)

• Major rulemaking effort to support implementation. • Costs o Training o Publications update o Chart restructuring

• International impact? International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)?

• Possible NAVAID coverage issues expanding victor routes up to FL 230?

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Other Considerations

• National Airspace System (NAS) is Transitioning • NextGen: Modernize the NAS - Increase capacity & efficiency - Improve safety; reduce environmental impacts - Increase user access to the NAS • Performance Based Navigation (PBN)

• New PBN routes & procedures leveraging emerging technologies and aircraft navigation capabilities

• VOR Minimum Operational Network (VOR MON)

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