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Approach Procedures Update –
New GPS Offset Approach Published!
(May, 2005)
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Attention Pilots. Please use
the following
arrival procedure whenever possible -- for noise abatement purposes. |
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The Remote Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS)
instrument approach to Runway 20L was officially published in the May 12,
2005, edition of the U.S. Flight Information Terminal Procedures manual. This
new satellite-based approach generally establishes a final approach course
down the Peachtree Industrial Boulevard (PIB) – MARTA – CSX
railroad tracks transportation corridor.
An instrument approach is an approach to the Airport
conducted under weather conditions in which the pilot is navigating to land
the aircraft at the airport without reference to visual features on the ground.
As the name implies, it is an approach to the airport with a pilot using
onboard aircraft control & navigational instruments only. Instrument
approaches rely on navigation facilities located on the ground at the Airport,
the Global Positioning System (GPS) that is satellite or space-based, or a
combination of the two.
The FAA has designed and approved this satellite-based
“15º offset approach” to the standard Instrument Landing System
(ILS) approach. The ILS is an airport/ground based precision approach system,
while the 15º offset approach is GPS or space-based. The ILS is used
repetitively during inclement weather conditions. When the weather is not good,
virtually all the traffic comes down this same approach path.
The implementation of the 15º offset will bring aircraft
into the airport from the northeast down Highway 141 / Peachtree Industrial
Boulevard (PIB). This will help to concentrate the noise of arriving aircraft
over what we call the highly industrialized PIB Corridor.
Now that the approach is officially published, airport staff
will work closely with the FAA to more clearly establish defined expectations
on when this offset approach will be used compared to the ILS. First, it is
obviously weather dependent. In the worst weather conditions, the standard ILS
offers the lowest approach minimums. Second, the aircraft must be equipped with
GPS receiver equipment. However, other than these two discriminators, the
community and airport staff wants this offset approach used to the maximum extent
possible.
The possible future implementation of any approach procedure
compliments work being done on Departure Procedures (DP’s) and could reduce
and/or standardize aircraft noise impacts from approaching aircraft in a manner
similar to that used in the development and implementation of formal DP’s.
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