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NOU4.26.2019

A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association

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I traveled to Oakland Center April 16-18 to participate in a LOA revision meeting between ZOA/ZLA and the 30 th Space Wing (Vandenberg AFB). FacRep Scott Conde and VP JT Lenhart were also present. The goal of the meeting was to initiate dialogue between the parties to reopen and modernize the existing LOA which has been in place since 1991. As it stands now, commercial for-profit entities are conducting commercial space launch operations from Vandenberg under DOD launch requirements and safety parameters (10 to the -6 safety envelope) as opposed to commercial space parameters (10 to -7 or 10 to -9 as appropriate). Integrating commercial space into ZOA will be particularly difficult as the majority of their airspace utilizes non-radar procedural separation, and therefore poses a myriad of unique circumstances not found on the Eastern Range. This will require a series of meetings in the coming years to also include ATOPS and NexGen reps. Conde expressed the need for two distinct LOAs versus one multiparty agreement. The workgroup was evenly split and discussed the pros and cons of the LOAs. It was clear that the 30th and DCC would prefer one LOA for the ease of workload and at one point someone said, "Write it as one LOA and see if Scott and Jeff (their ATM) like it". I interjected at that point and reinforced Scott's position of two not one and said that if they were going to write one simply for the fact that it is less work, then that is not an acceptable reason. We might as well do the work now and get it right the first time. Commercial space is growing exponentially and not going away; taking the easy road now will not benefit anyone in the future. An airspace and procedures staff specialist from ZLA came around to that idea and supported the premise two LOAs. From what I understand, Beth Adams (DCC) will be drafting two LOA templates for ZOA and ZLA individually with the 30th Space Wing and then the negotiations will begin from there. Meetings that occurred this week: • April 22 - Space NOTAM meeting at 1 p.m. in Washington, D.C. at L'Enfant Plaza. • April 23 - Commercial Space Integration Team (CSIT) monthly meeting at 11 a.m. • April 23-25 - ALR training kickoff meetings to be held at PCT • April 25 - Commercial Space meeting at 11 a.m. in 10A. Upcoming meeting: • April 30 - ALR implementation meeting at 11 a.m. in 10A. RNAV and PERFORMANCE BASED NAVIGATION (PBN) Bennie Hutto (PCT) is the Article 114 Representative for RNAV and PBN criteria work. His report is below: PBN Criteria Update Standard Terminal Arrival (STAR) Criteria WG - We continue to participate in weekly or bi-weekly meetings discussing criteria concerns and proposed changes pertaining to FAA 8260.3 (United States Standard for Terminal Instrument Approach Procedures),

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