All,
Big thanks to everyone who came out to the Half Christmas Cookout, it was a blast! Hopefully you had fun. If you couldn’t make it, hopefully you can next year. Lots of important stuff this week so do your best to read it all.
LMT/LKV Routings
As you all know, we have been working on getting the arrival changed to have the routes to SEA be over KNZIE and KAATH. That is still a ways out so I have been looking for a way to make minor changes in the meantime. I am reluctant to try to get ZOA to send all SEA arrivals back over BTG because that would undo all of the work that we put into having built in holding at KNGDM and BLYTZ. So that being said, what do you all think about giving ZOA the ability to send SEA arrivals direct to KNGDM or BLYTZ at their discretion? This would move that traffic flow slightly while still putting the aircraft over fixes that have a published hold. I would like to think this would also help ZOA, but after talking to airspace about it, I have some concerns that they might push back on it. Either way, let me know your thoughts on this so I can try to start making moves to accomplish whatever you guys want, regardless of what that is.
Flight Data Relaying Clearances
As we adjust to the flight data relaying clearances, please try to be patient with them. I know it is not an ideal situation but there isn’t much we can do. Earlier this week, a pilot called the D area desk asking for his clearance. I know this occasionally happens and isn’t a big deal but this guy said he was given the number by flight service. Hopefully they meant to give him the flight data number and this is a one off situation, but please let me know if these things happen in the future.
Cascade LOA Changes
So first off, regarding the tick marks, the majority of replies requested that the tick marks be on the 3 mile area map button so we will go with that for now. If we decide later that we want to add them to the D low map, we can do that.
Secondly, the Cascade LOA changes are in effect on tomorrow and the agency did an absolutely horrible job of briefing you all about it. There were “mandatory” briefings all week that we sent 13 people to. That is unacceptable and I have addressed that with Lee. He agrees and plans to get on the supes more about making sure people get to briefings.
As for the 70% of you that didn’t make the briefing, you are stuck doing it in CEDAR so I downloaded the powerpoint and attached it here so you can look at it now if you want to. Click here for that.
Highlights are:
MFR North Flow – At or descending to 12,000 ft., except aircraft filed between the OED VORTAC 120R-180R, must cross 35 NM southeast of the OED VORTAC at 12,000 ft.
Eug North Flow – Descending to 10,000 feet, except aircraft filed between the EUG VORTAC 125R-180R, must cross 30 NM southeast of the EUG VORTAC at 10,000 ft.
Seattle ARTCC has control on contact for aircraft landing RBG and OTH
Control for up to 30 degrees instead of 20.
Refresher (yay.)
D-Area is scheduled for September 9-13, 2019. Let me know if you want to be an instructor or have recommended topics.
Fix Posting Bay Header Things
I think we have this narrowed down to two options. The recommendation was made that we need a memory aid as to whether or not Sector 05 is open so that is one of the options here. Would you guys rather have….
Option 1
or
Option 2
Please let me know which of these you want or if you have a suggestion to add something to them, let me know. I am trying to keep the information on them to a minimum. I believe that most people use the ERIDs/AI function to look things up like ASOS frequencies and runway configs for airports. As always though, I am open to feedback on this and any other issue. Don’t be afraid to come talk to me.
And one last thing, Devin wanted me to let those of you who like to hang out in the ladies lounge know that your internet booster is offline there due to the major mechanical project going on. There is no estimated date of it being returned to service. I hope you all make it through this tough time.
In Solidarity,
Drew