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Fact Sheet

Dual J80 Route

On May 15, 2008, the Dual J80 Route, a new route alternative for flights from New York and Philadelphia metro areas, became operational. This route parallels the existing J80 route for departures to the west. It provides additional departure capability for west-bound traffic that alleviates constraints associated with airport departure flows that compete for room on the existing J80 route. The new route mirrors the existing J80 route to the north and extends through five air route traffic control centers — New York Center, Cleveland Center, Indianapolis Center, Chicago Center and Kansas City Center.

Since FAA Air Traffic began using the new route, more flights are being shifted to the alternative. It is estimated that approximately 50 percent of eligible aircraft used it the first day.

The route was placed in a location where it could best serve to alleviate constraints in the air traffic control system. It provides easy access for New York and Philadelphia departing traffic, which reduces departure delays for New York and Philadelphia airports. The route runs through airspace that is often constrained. That can be due to the number of aircraft in a particular sector (traffic volume and controller workload issues) or the number of aircraft on the three other available westbound routes. In order to address these constraints, a new airspace sector was implemented in conjunction with the new route at the New York Air Route Traffic Control Center on Long Island. Additionally, the route location had to take into account existing traffic flows and routes in order to ensure that controller workload remained manageable when accommodating aircraft on the new route.

The new route, eight miles wide, is approximately 735 miles. Once aircraft reach the western end of the new route at Kirksville, Missouri, aircraft will be either directed to the existing J80 route where air traffic demand is typically reduced, or the flight will proceed on its preferred routing.

The following are the geographical references for the new DUAL J80 Route that are noted on the graphical representation that accompanies this fact sheet:

• MAALS  -  15 miles west northwest of Lancaster, PA
• BRNAN  -  30 miles southeast of Altoona, PA
• PSYKO  -  20 miles southwest of Johnstown, PA
• BUBAA  -  12 miles northwest of Bellaire, OH
• HIDON   -  18 miles northeast of Zanesville, OH
• MIE        -  Muncie, IN
• DNV       - Danville, IL
• IRK        - Kirksville, MO

The heavy lines represent individual air route center boundary lines. The route begins at New York Center and runs through Cleveland, Indianapolis, Chicago and Kansas City Centers. The fainter lines are sector boundary lines within each center. And the checkered areas represent Special Use Airspace delegated to the Department of Defense for military exercises.