U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION

Section 4. Processing of Airport Proposals By Regional Flight Procedures Offices

11-4-1. EFFECT ON INSTRUMENT PROCEDURES

a. The appropriate FPO shall determine the feasibility of instrument approach procedures, ensure that required instrument procedures are formulated, flight inspected, and published to coincide with the appropriate aeronautical charting date.

b. The appropriate FPO shall review proposals to determine any impact to existing and proposed instrument approach procedures. When the proposed airport underlies an existing or proposed instrument approach procedure the FPO will notify the appropriate air traffic office.

11-4-2. CHANGE OF AIRPORT STATUS FROM VFR TO IFR

a. Establishment of Instrument Procedures. Requests for instrument approach procedures must be forwarded to the appropriate FPO. The FPO must effect coordination with the appropriate air traffic, Airports, and technical operations services offices, as well as other offices of interest. The request for instrument approach procedures should normally be disapproved if the change in the airport status study indicates a safety problem.

b. Establishment of NAVAID. When an airport status is to be changed from VFR to IFR, notify the public by means of the nonrulemaking circular associated with the establishment of the NAVAID being installed to support the procedure.

c. Existing NAVAID. If the flight procedure is to be based upon an existing NAVAID, the public notification may be accomplished in the NPRM associated with changes to controlled airspace. If no change in airspace is required, it is recommended that the public be notified through the non-rulemaking circularization process.

d. No NAVAID Required. Public notification will be accomplished with the rulemaking action for controlled airspace.

11-4-3. EVALUATION OF INSTRUMENT RUNWAY DESIGNATIONS

The appropriate FPO shall evaluate the runway or runways to be used in the proposed instrument procedure. Consideration should be given to airport data, expected users, conflicts with IFR traffic, location of existing and proposed NAVAIDs, availability of weather information, and probable minimums.