The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the US has issued the draft environmental assessment (EA) for the South-Central Florida Metroplex project for public review and comments.
As part of the project, air traffic procedures will be modernised for four major air carrier airports, as well as 17 additional airports in the southern half of the state.
A 60-day public comment period for the draft EA has started and will conclude on 10 July.
This September, the FAA expects to issue an environmental determination after considering and reviewing all substantive comments obtained during the comment period.
In the first two weeks of June, the FAA plans to conduct 12 virtual public workshops on the draft EA.
After viewing the schedule, residents can register to attend a virtual workshop at Community Involvement South Central Florida, where they will be provided with an overview of the draft EA.
FAA said in a statement: “Many of the procedures for South-Central Florida are based on outdated technology.
“While safe, these older procedures are less precise and efficient than those based on satellite technology. The satellite-based routes proposed for the South-Central Florida Metroplex project will enhance safety and efficiency across the region.”
The draft EA was conducted in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA).
Under NEPA, the FAA needs to identify and publicly disclose the potential environmental impacts of the proposed procedures.
Earlier this month, the FAA announced airport safety and infrastructure grants worth $1.187bn to 439 US airports for the entirety of the eligible costs as per the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
