FAA Flight Path Changes and Timeline

In September 2014, the FAA implemented new routes at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport as part of its Next Gen, performance-based navigation initiative. The City of Phoenix and the historic neighborhoods filed a lawsuit. The FAA and the City of Phoenix entered into a settlement on the litigation about the flight path changes at Phoenix Sky Harbor. 

The FAA hosted three workshops in early February. Representatives from the FAA and the City of Phoenix were present and available to answer questions. The workshops included various materials explaining the proposed changes.  City of Scottsdale staff as well as council members were present at the workshop held at Horizon High School.

Residents with concerns about overflights and noise related to the FAA Flight Path changes can learn more on the FAA Community Involvement webpage   

The city helped to promote these workshops via the airport's Twitter, City of Scottsdale Facebook, city's media tip sheet, website and airport news item. The information was also directly sent to a list of residents who had previously contacted the city regarding this issue. The Scottsdale Independent also ran a story.

Background

Scottsdale Airport began receiving increased complaints from residents about increased overflights and noise related to these changes. Aviation staff responded by evaluating data and meeting with FAA representatives several times over the past few months to determine impacts.

Causes

These changes appear to have impacted Scottsdale by:

• creating tighter flight path corridors for Phoenix Sky Harbor commercial air traffic resulting in increased overflights in some areas and reducing them in other areas, and
• shifting Scottsdale Airport air traffic to the outer cusps of our existing flights paths in northern Scottsdale to de-conflict with other air traffic.

City Response

Scottsdale Mayor and City Council members as well as aviation staff are fully engaged: sharing residents’ concerns with FAA, keeping the best interests of our community at hand and working with the FAA. The Mayor and Council Office is actively working with Congressional constituents. Aviation staff has worked hard responding to noise complainants, participating in meetings, evaluating data, collaborating with the FAA and evaluating complaint trends. For more specifics, review the timeline below.

In the meantime, residents can report noise complaints via the Noise Complaint Hotline at 480-312-3597 or online. Aviation staff promptly responds to these complaints when a callback is requested.

Timeline

Date	Action
Sept. 18, 2014	FAA RNAV Flight Changes implemented at Phoenix Sky Harbor
Late Sept 2014	Aviation staff begins research into factors behind complaints, works with Phoenix Sky Harbor Aviation Department staff and FAA
Oct. 8, 2014	Aviation staff met with FAA officials to discuss complaints being received in some Scottsdale areas.
Dec. 9, 2014	Mayor Lane sent this letter (PDF) to FAA Regional Administrator voicing concerns about NextGen and request noise mitigation; copied Congressman Schweikert.
Dec. 8 and 19, 2014	Aviation staff met with FAA officials discussing Sky Harbor Flight Paths, reviewing data and citing impacts to SDL flight paths.
Dec. 23, 2014	Response letter (PDF) from FAA Regional Administrator to Mayor
Jan. 21, 2015	Mayor writes follow-up letter (PDF) to Mr. Glen Martin asking FAA to review procedures and flight patterns over McDowell Mountains, included Congressman Schweikert on correspondence.
Feb. 20, 2015	Mayor’s Office receives letter (PDF) from FAA Regional Administrator regarding the departure procedures from Phoenix Sky Harbor which overfly northern section of Scottsdale.
Feb. 2015	Aviation Staff met with FAA representatives to share concerns from residents about noise impacts
March 23, 2015	City staff met with FAA officials to share concerns and provide information from affected areas. FAA agreed to review this information and flight radar data.
March 27, 2015	FAA informs the City of Scottsdale about initiation of Phoenix Metroplex Project. Notice (PDF)
March 30, 2015	Mayor and Council Office sends letter (PDF) to Senator Flake.
April 6, 2015	Scottsdale Aviation Department collaborated with City of Phoenix on information for their community meeting.
April 7, 2015	Mayor and staff meet with Congressman Schweikert and residents to listen to his plan for improvement. Letter (PDF) sent to Senator McCain.
April 13, 2015	City of Phoenix held community meeting with Phoenix residents located west of Scottsdale Airport and shared results of noise measurement study, included Scottsdale Airport information; and presentation stated no major changes to Scottsdale flight paths.
April 23, 2015	Scottsdale Airport Director signs letter (PDF) from a coalition of airports in response to Phoenix Metroplex.
April 24, 2015	Scottsdale Airport Director sends separate letter (PDF) regarding EA for Phoenix Metroplex.
April 30, 2015	Letter (PDF) from Senator McCain
May 5, 2015	City Council members asked for Aviation staff presentation about noise abatement program and RNAV/Metroplex, view video
May 13, 2015	Aviation staff met with FAA officials to continue discussion on impacts of Sky Harbor changes to Scottsdale and ask for evaluation of potential for procedural changes.
July 22, 2015	Directors of Arizona airports within the FAA’s Phoenix Metroplex Project area sent this letter (PDF) to the FAA following up on requests that were made in an April 23 letter.
July 28, 2015	City asks for cooperation of two flight schools to minimize overflights and noise in northern Scottsdale. – Letter (PDF)
Aug 12, 2015	Mayor and Council office sent letter (PDF) to FAA Administrator
Sept. 9, 2015	McCain-Flake sent letter to FAA Administrator
Oct. 12, 2015	Arizona League of Cities sent letter to FAA Administrator
Nov. 9, 2015	Mayor sent letter (PDF) to Representative Schweikert
Nov. 19, 2015	Senate action on bill which includes McCain-Flake flight path amendment is on hold until at least Monday, Nov. 30. - Article
Nov. 24, 2015	Valley mayors sign letter asking Senate to support McCain-Flake amendment
Dec. 11, 2015	Metroplex project officially suspended due to RNAV issues at Phoenix Sky Harbor
Dec. 16, 2015	Leaders in Congress agreed on bill to fund government, this is text of omnibus funding bill.
Dec. 18, 2015	Omnibus Spending Bill Signed into Law, includes noise mitigation procedures provisions - more information.
Dec. 22, 2015	Letter from Senator McCain to FAA Administrator regarding Omnibus bill approval.
Jan. 13, 2016	Letter received by Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport regarding Metroplex
Jan. 21, 2016	Mayor Lane sent letter to Phoenix Mayor Stanton regarding including Scottsdale in FAA conversations.
Jan. 29, 2016	Sens. McCain and Flake sent letter to House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation urging them to address Phoenix flight-path changes in the FAA Reauthorization Bill.
Jan. 29, 2016	Reps Gallego, Sinema, Schweikert and Kirkpatrick letter to FAA Administrator urging compliance with Congressional mandates to mitigate unacceptable levels of aircraft noise in Phoenix.
Feb. 3, 2016	Sen. McCain applauded the House Committee for including Phoenix flight path changes in reauthorization bill.
Feb. 3, 2016	US Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster unveiled his draft FAA Reauthorization Bill, which includes language on FAA flight path changes, review of effects of aircraft noise on communities and proposed review of certain categorical exclusions like one FAA used for Sky Harbor.
Feb. 11, 2016	Senators McCain and Flake sent letter to affirm FAA's commitment to address flight path changes.
Feb. 26, 2016	Senators Flake and McCain cosponsor Airspace Management Advisory Act
Feb. 29, 2016	Scottsdale Aviation Dept. sent letters to Transpac and Westwind asking for cooperation to minimize noise impacts.
March 16, 2016	Arizona Senators Flake and McCain issued press release applauding Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee's passage of FAA Reauthorization Bill.
April 6, 2016	Senators Flake and McCain spoke on Senate floor regarding FAA Reauthorization bill.
April 12, 2016	The U.S. Senate unanimously approved a FAA Reauthorization Act amendment introduced by Sens. Jeff Flake and John McCain requiring an airspace management advisory committee to review and report on the FAA’s process for developing proposals that impact airspace changes - Senate press release.
April 19, 2016	Senators applaud Senate passage of FAA Reauthorization Act
April 22, 2016	Mayor Lane, Councilmembers Korte & Littlefield, and city staff met with Councilwoman Sinema on congressional updates, including FAA flight path changes.
May 2, 2016	Phoenix Rep. Gallego among the Quiet Skies Caucus members to introduce the Airplane Impacts Mitigation Act of 2016. The act will examine the health impacts of airplane overflights on local communities. Press release
June 15, 2016	Arizona Airport Directors send letter regarding Phoenix Metroplex project.
July 12, 2016	Congressional Representatives Schweikert and Gallego introduced "NextGen Flight Path Review and Notification Act of 2016."
Aug. 1, 2016	Congressional Representatives Ann Kirkpatrick and Ruben Gallego held meeting with FAA Administrator Michael Huerta on July 22.
Aug. 11, 2016	Mayor Lane sent letter to Congressional Representative Schweikert.
Aug. 18, 2016	FAA letter to aviation management on FAA Phoenix Metroplex Project
Sept. 28, 2016	Letter from aviation director to FAA regarding flight path changes and including Scottsdale in future meetings.
Nov. 1, 2016	Arizona Airport Managers send letter of request to extend deadline to review FAA's Advisory Circular on improved community outreach
Nov. 10, 2016	USDOT Office of Inspector General released follow-up audit report on FAA's NextGen program
Dec. 8. 2016	Language within the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act includes could require the FAA to review procedural changes at commercial airports. Read more
Jan. 10, 2017	Phoenix lawsuit against FAA scheduled for oral arguments on March 17, 2017
Jan. 26, 2017	Intergovernmental relations team met with Schweikert’s office to reiterate Scottsdale residents continuing to have issues related to the NextGen flight path changes.
Feb. 3, 2017	Aviation Director submitted comments on draft FAA AC on Community Involvement to ensure there is collaboration between airports and FAA, and that input is sought from community members.
Feb. 6, 2017	Mayor Lane sent letter to Council member Waring regarding proposed Phoenix multi-use project in 55DNL.
Feb. 6, 2017	Aviation Director emailed this letter to Phoenix Planning Department regarding proposed project in 55DNL.
Mar. 17, 2017	Federal appeals court heard oral arguments in case filed by Phoenix against flight path changes. Read City of Phoenix press release
April 3, 2017	Senators Flake and McCain sent letter to FAA seeking response to 2017 National Defense Authorization Act provision.
Aug. 29, 2017	The US Court of Appeals in Washington D.C. has ruled in favor of the City of Phoenix in its lawsuit against the FAA over flight path changes, for more information visit City of Phoenix web page.
Oct. 10, 2017	There has been an update on the lawsuit between the City of Phoenix and the FAA. The FAA has filed a motion to extend the deadline to seek a rehearing. Visit the Phoenix Sky Harbor web page for more information.
Nov. 30, 2017	City of Phoenix, Historic Neighborhoods and the FAA negotiated an agreement. Read more
Dec. 6, 2017	FAA and the City of Phoenix have entered into a settlement on the litigation about flight path changes at Sky Harbor; FAA press release lays out two-step process that involves future public outreach meetings.
Jan. 12, 2018	The FAA has scheduled public workshops on flight paths as part of the agreement between City of Phoenix and Historic District lawsuit. See schedule.
Jan. 23, 2018	Residents can comment about the flight path changes on the FAA portal from Feb. 1 – Feb. 16.
Feb. 7, 2018	D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals issued an amendment to its original opinion on the flight paths case.
Feb. 8, 2018	FAA hosted three workshops in early February. City staff and council members were present at Feb. 8 workshop.
Mar. 2, 2018	The FAA has posted an update on the process of returning westerly departures to approximately the same as they were before September 2014.
Mar. 29, 2018	The FAA has reverted to two former routes for aircraft departing Sky Harbor to the west and either continuing west or turning north. Read more
May 23, 2018	The FAA is implementing replacement departure procedures per agreement -- read more.
June 11, 2018	The US Circuit Court of Appeals closed the lawsuit. The City and the FAA will continue with Step 2 of the agreement, which includes discussions with neighborhoods in other areas throughout the Phoenix airspace. Read more
Oct. 9, 2018	The FAA has posted an update about Step 2 of the community involvement process on the flight path changes at Sky Harbor. Read more
Dec. 27, 2018	The FAA has scheduled three upcoming public workshops in February related to City of Phoenix flight path case.
Jan. 7, 2019	The FAA public workshops are postponed, due to government shutdown. They are anticipated to be rescheduled for April.
Jan. 18, 2019	Mayor writes letter to FAA regarding impacts of NextGen implementation on residents and asks that a workable alternative is presented.
Feb. 5, 2019	Steve Chucri, Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, District 2, letter to FAA.
Mar. 26, 2019	FAA will hold Step 2 public open houses from 5 to 8 p.m. April 22, 23 and 24. Get more information.
April 23,2019	Step 2 workshop materials are posted on line. Comments are being accepted through the FAA's website from April 24 through May 23, 2019.
April 29, 2019	U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema sends letter urging FAA to continue dialogue regarding eastbound flight paths.
Jan. 13, 2020	Final Comment, Categories and Topical Responses for Step Two
Feb. 18, 2020	City Council adopted resolution No 11728 authorizing the city to file a petition for review of FAA action related to flight routes from Sky Harbor or seek other available legal remedies.
April 26, 2021	Scottsdale filed opening brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit