New approach- when does ATC get it?

Matthew

Matthew

Touchdown! Greaser!
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The newest releases include a new approach into KMKC (Downtown KC). When does ATC get that info? How far in advance do they learn about a new approach?
 
ATC (TERPS) Terminal Instrument Procedures created it so…before anyone else
 
I don’t know how it all works. I thought TERPS is the standard, I didn’t know it was a “thing” that develops procedure. Still, someone in the system has to know some time in advance before it goes live with the publication of the plates. I was curious about how far in advance that happens.
 
I’ll leave the TERPSter and Flight Check machinations to @RussR, but when our homedrome added an entirely new approach, the local ATC facilities were doing outreach about it with the local flying community prior to the cycle it became effective.

Now, that approach was added simultaneously with all the SID/STARs being redesigned as well, so there was a lot of change multiple airports and the airspace all at once.
 
My understanding with this approach is it was developed by a third party and released to subscribers like charter operators and ATC and was available to anyone who requested it. I don’t know all the details, but I’m guessing the subscribers got the plates. Then FAA flight checked it and the new plates were published and released to everyone. So it was like a hidden approach for a while, I guess.

That just sounded like something I didn’t expect. But maybe that’s one way it works.
 
The question reminds me of the early days of GPS. I was doing some practice approaches and asked for the new GPS approach. TRACON asked if vectors to final was Ok because the IAF wasn't on their scope yet.
 
Matthew said:
My understanding with this approach is it was developed by a third party and released to subscribers like charter operators and ATC and was available to anyone who requested it. I don’t know all the details, but I’m guessing the subscribers got the plates. Then FAA flight checked it and the new plates were published and released to everyone. So it was like a hidden approach for a while, I guess.

That just sounded like something I didn’t expect. But maybe that’s one way it works.
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One of our clients has a GPS approach to a runway on his ranch. It’s private and we are the only users. ATC had it once we went operational with it so it was easy.
 
Matthew said:
RNAV (GPS) RWY 1
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As mentioned, ATC is involved in the approach development process, typically through their Regional Airspace and Procedures Team (RAPT). Beyond that, my guess is that since they know well in advance, there is some internal briefing process before it goes "live" for them the same time it goes "live" for us.

Interestingly, there's already an amendment pending. Nothing major.
 
Matthew said:
The newest releases include a new approach into KMKC (Downtown KC). When does ATC get that info? How far in advance do they learn about a new approach?
Click to expand...

Was there a problem getting cleared for the approach? ATC should have it, and any pertinent fixes displayed on the radar map, on publication day. Now, I'm sure that doesn't always happen, of course, because things aren't perfect. How long before publication they get it, I don't know.

The development process can start anywhere generally from 9 months to years ahead of time. I've seen shorter in priority cases. I believe Flight Check is supposed to have the procedure a minimum of 50 days prior to publication, but I'm pulling that number out of my distant memory and am not sure about it. This is also about the same time the procedure is put up on the IFP Gateway coordination tab, for public comment. So ATC at least technically has "access" to it 50 days out, as does everybody else.
 
RussR said:
Was there a problem getting cleared for the approach? ATC should have it, and any pertinent fixes displayed on the radar map, on publication day. Now, I'm sure that doesn't always happen, of course, because things aren't perfect. How long before publication they get it, I don't know.

The development process can start anywhere generally from 9 months to years ahead of time. I've seen shorter in priority cases. I believe Flight Check is supposed to have the procedure a minimum of 50 days prior to publication, but I'm pulling that number out of my distant memory and am not sure about it. This is also about the same time the procedure is put up on the IFP Gateway coordination tab, for public comment. So ATC at least technically has "access" to it 50 days out, as does everybody else.
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No problem with it. I was just curious on the timeline on things that happen before it goes “live”.
 
RussR said:
This is also about the same time the procedure is put up on the IFP Gateway coordination tab, for public comment.
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Matthew said:
I was just curious on the timeline on things that happen before it goes “live”.
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what many don’t realize is that each individual procedure is a regulation and, like other new regulations, goes through a mandatory public comment period.
 
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