PALM BEACH AIRSPACE REDESIGN BENEFITS GENERAL AVIATION

The following information was released by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association:

By Dan Namowitz

The FAA has issued its final rule amending the boundaries of Class C airspace at Floridas Palm Beach International Airport to better accommodate arrivals and departures at Palm Beach County Park Airport.

The new configuration, which raises the floor of Class C airspace over Palm Beach County Airpark from 1,200 feet msl to 1,600 feet msl, goes into effect Feb. 9 in accordance with the charting cycle.

AOPA expressed appreciation for the FAAs responsiveness in making changes that benefit general aviation pilots in the airspace.

With this airspace design, the FAA has demonstrated its ability to serve as a good steward of the National Airspace System, said Tom Kramer, AOPA manager of airspace and modernization. This is an efficient design that serves the needs of all users while incorporating only the airspace necessary to accomplish these critical goals.

The association had submitted comments supporting the FAAs proposed airspace revisions during the proposed rules review process earlier this year. AOPA backed the design for the airspace over the satellite airport south of Palm Beach International as an example of the FAA using only the airspace needed for traffic management, with unused airspace restored for use by other users of the National Airspace System.

AOPA continues to advocate for an FAA policy of matching airspace to the actual needs in given circumstances to ensure the broadest possible access to the nations airspace for all users.