Aircraft Procedure Request Environmental Process Familiarization Program

Federal AviationAdministrationAircraft Procedure

Request Environmental ProcessFamiliarization Program

2Federal AviationAdministration

Aircraft Procedure Request Environmental Process Familiarization2013

Introduction

Welcome to the Aircraft Procedure Request Environmental Process Familiarization Program. This Familiarization program is designed to prepare you to use a streamlined aircraft procedure request environmental process, which will be implemented soon. The goal is to standardize and streamline the process in preparation for Nextgen, which will provide new ways for aircraft to operate in the National Airspace System (NAS).



Introduction

The content of this program is divided into four main topics, which are covered individually in the following modules:

1. Familiarization Program Overview

2. Changes in the Environmental Process

3. Aircraft Procedure Environmental Prescreening Filter

4. Review of Filter Results



Basic Environmental Process Unchanged

The basic steps of the Environmental Process will not be much different than they are now. There are only a few new procedural and role modifications that you will need to know about, and these relatively minor changes will be covered in modules 2 and 4. The rest will be “old hat,” so after providing quick descriptions of the changes, the focus of the familiarization will shift to the biggest difference in the process…



Supplemental Familiarization Materials

The learning objectives for the familiarization will be presented at the beginning of each module to which they apply. In addition to the informational components of the familiarization program, such as this PowerPoint presentation, the following familiarization materials will be provided for use during familiarization and for reference afterwards.




Aircraft Procedure Request Environmental Process User Guide




Quick-reference card



Self-checkedKnowledge ExercisesTo obtain feedback on how well you remember the information presented in the program, you may volunteer to take a self-checked knowledge exercise upon completion.



Module 2

Changes in the Aircraft Procedure Request Environmental Process



Introduction

This goal of this module is to prepare you to identify the changes that will soon occur in the environmental process to obtain a categorical exclusion (CATEX) or a need for additional environmental review.



Learning ObjectivesThis instructional module will prepare you to identify the:• Information needed for evaluation by the Aircraft

Procedure Environmental Pre-screening Filter,• Parts of the Aircraft Procedure Request

Environmental Process User Guide that provide additional information related to the environmental process, and

• Steps in the aircraft procedure request environmental process at which a proposed procedure could receive a CATEX, be sent for additional environmental review, or returned to the proponent.



Streamlined Environmental Process Benefits

The environmental process has been streamlined to enable participants to:• Understand each step in the process as it

relates to environmental issues,• Use one environmental process for all

proposed procedures, and• Optimize the use of resources in reviewing

proposed procedures.



Streamlined Environmental Process BenefitsThe environmental process:• Is consistent , repeatable, and efficient• Is based on fully defined roles and their

corresponding tasks,• Includes environmental concepts in the early

planning of changes of airspace and• Manages proposed procedure development

changes to ensure that changes outside of the established environmental parameters are returned for additional environmental review.



Who Will Find the Streamlined Process Helpful?The streamlined environmental process was designed to serve the following groups:• Proponents,• Flight-standard-service (AFS) specialists,• Operations-support-group (OSG) flight-

procedures-team (FPT) specialists,• OSG environmental specialists,• AeroNav Products, and• Third-party developers.



Aircraft Procedure Request Environmental Process

The process-flow diagram below depicts a high-level view of the aircraft procedure request environmental process.

Perform Additional

Environmental Review

Complete/ Update

Procedure Action Design

Publish or Implement Procedure

Complete Environmental Pre-screening

Filter

Review Environmental

Submission

Develop Procedure

Need for New/Updated

Aircraft Procedure

YES

YES

NO

NO

Passed Environmenta

l Review?

No Changes or Changes within Environmental Parameters?

New/Updated Procedure

Published or Implemented

Receive FAA Responsible

Federal Official (RFO) Approval



The process starts with a proponent’s request to design a new or to update an existing aircraft procedure, and culminates in either the publication or implementation of the procedure by the FAA.




The first step in this process involves the completion of an action design, which is prerequisite to the environmental process.


Perform Additional


Complete/ Update




Filter


Submission

Develop Procedure


Aircraft Procedure

YES

YES

NO

NO

Passed Environmenta

l Review?








The next step is for the proponent to complete an aircraft procedure environmental pre-screening filter.


Perform Additional


Complete/ Update




Filter


Submission

Develop Procedure


Aircraft Procedure

YES

YES

NO

NO

Passed Environmenta

l Review?








The result will be one of two outcomes: identification of a possible CATEX or the need for additional environmental review.

In both cases, the filter will create a summary of the proponent information entered. When the filter identifies a CATEX, it will also produce an unofficial CATEX Declaration.




Aircraft Procedure Environmental Pre-screening Filter

The filter is an automated PDF. The filter will provide information in an efficient, repeatable, and time-saving manner.



After entering information concerning a proposed procedure into the filter, proponents will know whether a CATEX is identified, or whether further environmental review will be required.




The filter replaces the existing manual checklist. The new automated process should reduce the volume of paperwork and will provide more detailed information than was previously gathered.




The following information is needed to use the filter effectively:• Proponent information• New or updated procedure information • FAA Facility concurrence, acknowledging

awareness of the third party proposed procedure• Electronic satellite (such as Google) or land use

map (to show if the new or updated procedure directs traffic over a noise-sensitive area)

Filter Information Requirements



Procedure information includes:• Airport address of the proposed procedure• Minimum altitude of the proposed procedure• Type of procedure:

– new or existing– arrival, departure, en route, helicopter

• Noise-sensitive areas




Procedure information also includes:• Average annual number of operations by aircraft

type (props, jets, helicopters)• Average annual number of operations by time of

occurrence (day, evening, night)• Average daily number of operations by time of

occurrence (day, evening, night) for helicopter only requests

• Helicopter route (if over a major thoroughfare)




The filter outputs will be emailed to the FAA for review. The FAA will determine whether the filter information is complete and complies with FAA Order 1050.1E paragraph 303C. If the filter information is not complete, it will be returned to the proponent for review.


Perform Additional


Complete/ Update




Filter


Submission

Develop Procedure


Aircraft Procedure

YES

YES

NO

NO

Passed Environmenta

l Review?








Review of the Filter ResultsAfter the filter identifies a CATEX or the need for additional environmental review, the results will be sent via email to the FAA specialist coordinating the proposed procedure for review. The email will include the following attachments:• A PDF of the questions and responses entered into the

Filter by the proponent, and either– an unofficial CATEX Declaration, or– instructions for additional environmental review,

• Electronic satellite (such as Google) or land use map (if the proposed procedure directs traffic over a noise-sensitive area)



Review of the Filter Results

The email may also include the following attachments:• FAA Facility concurrence, acknowledging

awareness of the proposed procedure by a third party, and



If the filter information is complete and meets all the environmental requirements and the procedure package is complete, it is sent forward for development


Perform Additional


Complete/ Update




Filter


Submission

Develop Procedure


Aircraft Procedure

YES

YES

NO

NO

Passed Environmenta

l Review?








Review of the Filter Results

For public procedures, the completed procedure package will be forwarded to AeroNav Products (for development) using the FAA automated Procedure Tracking System (PTS).

For 3rd Party Specials the environmental requirement will be reviewed by ATO and the technical information by AFS.



If an additional environmental review is performed, an updated procedure design may be created. The proponent will then enter the updated procedure information into the filter, and the evaluation process will be repeated.


Perform Additional


Complete/ Update




Filter


Submission

Develop Procedure


Aircraft Procedure

YES

YES

NO

NO

Passed Environmenta

l Review?








Proposed procedures that conform to established environmental parameters will either be published or implemented, while those that do not meet the parameters will be returned for additional review. Third-party special procedures will be implemented (after approval by an FAA RFO), and public procedures will be scheduled for publication after approval by an FAA RFO.


Perform Additional


Complete/ Update




Filter


Submission

Develop Procedure


Aircraft Procedure

YES

YES

NO

NO

Passed Environmenta

l Review?








Proponents

Proponents will receive the following feedback on their proposed procedures:• Summary of question-and-answer

responses from the filter, and• Identification of a CATEX, with the

qualifying FAA Order 1050.1E paragraph 303C noted, or the need for further environmental review.



Third-party Developers

Third-party developers will create a comprehensive packages for proposed procedure. The expected actions of third-party developers are to:• Complete the filter• Develop and forward the completed procedure

package to AFS for review and approval. The Environmental Filter results will be forwarded to ATO Environmental Specialists for review and approval



ATO Environmental SpecialistATO Environmental Specialists will review the filter results for all third-party proposed special procedures to ensure they are complete and comply with FAA Order 1050.1E paragraph 303C. The approved package will then be sent back to the third party developer to be included in the submission to AFS

If additional environmental review is required for public procedures, the ATO Environmental Specialist will conduct the review and use the filter results to determine whether the proposed procedure meets the conditions for:•A CATEX declaration, or•An environmental assessment (EA).



Air Flight Standard (AFS) Service

AFS will review and approve all third party proposed special procedures

The AFS specialist may also return the procedure package to the third party to determine next steps if needed.



Operations Support Group (OSG)Flight Procedures Team (FPT)The OSG FPT will review the filter results to ensure they are complete and comply with FAA Order 1050.1E paragraph 303C. The expected outcomes from the OSG FPT are to:• Produce an approved CATEX declaration to be included in the

procedure package • Send a completed procedure package to AeroNav Products for

development if the conditions for a CATEX are met, or• Forward the procedure package to the OSG Environmental

Specialist if a CATEEX can not be identified or return the filter results to the proponent to determine next steps



OSG Environmental Specialists

If additional environmental review is required for pubic procedures, an OSG environmental specialist will conduct the environmental review and use the filter results to determine whether the proposed procedure meets the conditions for:• A CATEX declaration,• An environmental assessment (EA)

The OSG environmental specialist will send the results of the additional environmental review to OSG FPT for processing.



AeroNav Products

When AeroNav Products receives a completed public procedure package, containing all the required documents from OSG FPT or AFS via the Procedure Tracking System (PTS), AeroNav Products will determine whether procedure changes are required.



AeroNav Products

If no changes are needed, or if changes were made within the environmental parameters, AeroNav Products:• Develops the proposed procedure,• Makes any necessary changes to

procedure, and• Forwards the completed procedure package

for publication after receiving the approval of a responsible federal official (RFO).



AeroNav Products

If changes were made that were outside of parameters, AeroNav Products returns the procedure package to OSG FPT for review with the proponent to determine next steps.



Module 3




Introduction

The goal of this module is to understand the filter and how it is used.



Learning Objectives

This instructional module will prepare you to:• Access the filter,• Enter information into the filter, and• Recognize the filter outputs



Live Filter Demonstration



Module 4

Review of Filter Results



Introduction

The goal of this module is to recognize whether the results of the filter are compliant with FAA Order 1050.1E paragraph 303C.



Learning Objectives

This instructional module will prepare you to:• Recognize whether a CATEX identified by the filter

is compliant with FAA Order 1050.1E paragraph 303C,

• Use the CATEX quick-reference card and the Aircraft Procedure Request Environmental Process User Guide to recognize whether a CATEX identified by the filter is complaint with FAA Order 1050.1E paragraph 303C.

• Use the CATEX quick-reference card to identify the qualification criteria associated with a CATEX identified by the filter.



Overview

As noted in module two, the filter will improve the environmental process by increasing consistency, repeatability, and efficiency during the review process.



Overview

However, the filter will never be used as a substitute for human expertise in the review process. In fact, human expertise will be essential in reviewing the output(s) of the filter. The FAA personnel who have been responsible for environmental review in the past will retain their roles as reviewers.



OverviewHowever, instead of reviewing the checklists submitted by proponents…



Overview…they will be reviewing the output(s) of the filter after proponents have entered their information into the filter.



Overview

The rest of the traditional process for conducting environmental review of proposed procedures will remain essentially the same. Because FAA personnel are already familiar with this process, the following description focuses mainly on the part that will be a little different – the review of the filter output(s). The rest of the proposed procedure review will be summarized to note the minor changes that will occur after the initial review has been completed.



Reviewing The Filter Results

The FAA environmental review begins when the filter identifies a possible CATEX or the need for additional environmental review. In both cases, the filter produces a PDF document, summarizing the information entered by the proponent.




If a CATEX is identified, the filter also issues an unofficial CATEX Declaration, stating the appropriate FAA order that corresponds to the specified CATEX. The CATEX Declaration can only be approved after FAA review.




The PDF information summary generated by the filter, as well as the CATEX identified, will be emailed to the FAA official who has been assigned to review the proposed procedure.




The possible recipients of the filter are:• A member of the operational-support-group (OSG)

flight-procedure team (FPT) if the proposed procedure is not from a third party

• An OSG environmental specialist if additional environmental review or the proposed procedure is from a third party.




The CATEX quick-reference card contains information beneficial to reviewing the filter results. It can be used as a guide to determine if all of the information needed for an identified CATEX has been included. Once the CATEX type is determined, the General Checklist and CATEX Specific Checks sections of the Aircraft Procedure Request Environmental Process User Guide can be used to further evaluate if the information provided is complete and complies with FAA Order 1050.1E paragraph 303c.




To use these tables, first determine the type of proposed procedure by looking at the bottom of page one on the completed filter PDF. Either the New Procedure or the Change to an Existing Procedure box will be selected.




Next, determine whether the proposed procedure is a helicopter-only request.




If the answer to the question, Is this a helicopter-only request?, was no, refer to the:• New or Existing Procedure Quick-reference Card




To determine the correct CATEX type, match the following field information on the PDF to the card :• Type of Procedure• Administrative Change

(Existing Only) • Minimum Altitude of

Procedure• Noise Sensitive Areas• Multiple Aircraft Type Total

Annual Operations• Single Aircraft Type Total

Annual Operations




If the answer to the question, Is this a helicopter-only request?, is yes, refer to the Helicopter-only Procedure Quick-reference Card.




To determine the correct CATEX type, match the following field information on the PDF to the card:• Type of Procedure• Administrative Change• Minimum Altitude of

Procedure• Emergency Helicopter

Request• Noise Sensitive Areas• Daily Helicopter

Operations• Over a Major

Thoroughfare



Leveraging the User GuideThe General Checklist and the CATEX-specific checks in the Aircraft Procedure Request Environmental Process User Guide contains information that will be beneficial in reviewing the filter output(s) including:• The quick-reference card• A general checklist,• CATEX-specific checks that

provide CATEX outcomes by type and the conditions required for each.



Leveraging the User Guide

The general checklist presents CATEX outcomes in detail to enable reviewers to follow the logical sequences of conditions necessary to verify that the filter output(s) are complete and compliant with FAA Order 1050.1E paragraph 303C. In addition, the details of the question-and-answer process of entering information into the filter are listed.



Leveraging the User GuideOSG FPT and AFS specialists can use the user guide to assist them in reviewing the filter output(s).



Leveraging the User Guide

The checklist helps reviewers determine whether they would reach the same conclusion if presented with the same information. Consequently, the task of matching the information in the PDF information summary with the appropriate section of the checklist is vital to reviewers’ understanding of the reasons for the filter results. Proposed procedures that can not be identified for a CATEX will require additional environmental review.



Thank you for participating in this familiarization program!

Aircraft Procedure Request Environmental Process Familiarization Program

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Transcript of Aircraft Procedure Request Environmental Process Familiarization Program