The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is launching an initiative to improve air traffic flows over South-Central Florida including the Miami area. This initiative, called the South-Central Florida Metroplex, will include several airports in addition to Miami International Airport. The initiative will also examine airspace flows across the state, at areas in and around West Palm Beach, Tampa, Orlando, and Fort Lauderdale. Before the official start of the environmental review process, the FAA is hosting public workshops to gain input into the proposed designs.
The South-Central Florida Metroplex effort is in the procedure Design Phase. The purpose of the project is to optimize procedures and improve air traffic flow on a regional scale by analyzing current operational challenges and exploring opportunities for improvement. The Design Team is developing proposed updates to current arrival and departure procedures. With data collected during the project’s Study Phase, the FAA is working to increase efficiency and improve operations in your area while taking into account how these changes may affect your community.
Public Workshops
The FAA is planning a series of public workshops in April and May of 2019 to gather public input on the proposed changes. At the workshops, the public will be able to see the proposed paths and expected altitudes of these preliminary designs. The public will also be able to discuss the proposals with Subject Matter Experts and provide feedback. Public comments will be accepted at each workshop and through an online link, which will be available on this webpage for 30 days from the date of the last meeting in that city.
Upon completion of the Design Phase, the project will enter the Evaluation Phase where the procedure designs will be refined as necessary and the environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) will begin. The FAA will then provide an additional opportunity for comment and conduct additional public workshops to present the design proposals and the Draft Environmental Assessment. The Agency will review and consider all comments received.
INCREASED NOISE?
According to The Miami Herald, the plan includes “concentrating flight paths and likely causing noise increases in neighborhoods that typically do not feel such saturated jet traffic.”
While Miami Springs does get jet noise from the airport, we typically do not get a lot of flyover jet noise since the planes fly to the east and west and not north. However, will these changes mean planes might fly over Miami Springs, as part of their descent and then turn around and land in the airport? We don’t know. But we recommend residents attend the meeting on May 2nd to stay informed about the proposed changes and express your current concerns about airport noise and address any issues you may see with their proposed flight route changes.
MIAMI SPRINGS MEETING
May 2 – 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.Glenn Curtiss Mansion, 500 Deer Run, Miami Springs, FL 33166
