Hi C Area,
Wednesday afternoon, I was on a telecon with DJ, EW, JI, TD, Paul from airspace, and a bunch of NATCA, management, and airspace representatives from ZLC. The gist of the meeting was to go over the AIT between us and ZLC in regard to GPI and MSO arrivals.
The need from ZLC stems from the amount of arrivals they’re running into GPI and MSO, upwards of 40,000 operations/year at GPI and 45,000 at MSO. The goal of splitting off a new sector (ZLC 12, which they’re HOPING to have the frequencies for perhaps this month, but they also requested this all starting in February to be ready for the summer traffic…..so……….”any day now”….) was to help alleviate some of the frequency congestion and workload on 19. Having set the stage, the AIT was developed to help streamline operations into GPI and MSO, reducing the amount of coordination ZLC would have to do with us and GEG (MSO). The request for AOB FL230 was so they would not have to reach out to ZSE 8 for a point out and control.
We reviewed a lot of traffic layouts, showing arrival lines through 8 into ZLC19. We also showed some examples of how these arrivals can go through ZLC6, making more coordination for us. We asked what the need for the specific fixes into MSO was for as well. Basically, ZLC has an LOA with GEG/MSO for 10 or 11 approved fixes aircraft can be cleared to without coordination, and they wanted to give something similar to us.
Overall, it was a great opportunity to collaborate and find out what ZLC’s specific needs were and how we could help them without going down the tubes ourselves.
There is going to be a draft written up and a trial period with some new procedures, so you will have time to evaluate them and give constructive feedback.
The following are ideas we are looking into implementing, nothing is set in stone yet.
These are not current procedures, and it is meant to be an overview for you so I can share with you what is being discussed.
GPI
If the aircraft are over or north of MLP, we will issue them AOB FL230
If the aircraft are south or east of MLP, we will give them to ZLC desceding to FL280 or FL290 (still working on that altitude and whether it will be a flash through from ZLC20 to 19 or 12 or if we’ll point them out and hand them off to ZLC19/12}
There will be something written about ZLC having control for GPI arrivals for descent
ZSE will be responsible for making sure interfacility coordination is done between 48/11/8
MSO
ZLC will flash through to MSO (I did bring up when they take the handoff and sit on it, that is not the intent and we can hope that improves with time)
If the MSO arrival clips or goes through ZLC6, hand off to 6 and let them work the aircraft into MSO. No altitude requirement to 6, but if you’re going to give a descent, give descending to FL240 so they don’t have to coordinate with 48 for control (PD is fine). Don’t worry about right for direction, they would rather have less coordination.
We will be given the approved fixes list from ZLC/MSO so we can give any of the fixes on that list without coordinating
Still give descent to 150 if ZLC6 is not involved in route, PD is fine
We are working on how to get the runway in use at MSO on our board and who and how will notify us of it.
Thank you for all your input and patience as we work this all out. It was a real productive meeting and I think both facilities walked away feeling like their needs were understood and respected.
Crumbley
360-635-8244