Chicago
Southbound
Departure
Enhancements
Presented to: Aviation Customers- Pilots
By: Chicago ARTCC- Operations Office & Sys. Ops.
Date: Effective – April 10th, 2008
Federal Aviation
Administration
Chicago
Southbound
Departure
Tracks
Effective April 10th, 2008, we
have completely redesigned
the Chicago-land South
Departures. This includes
routes, airspace, sectorization
and procedures. This short
Power Point is designed to
assist the pilots in
understanding differences and
the associated reasons.
CAP- Chicago Southbound Departure Enhancements
Pilot Brief- Changes effective April 10th, 2008
Federal Aviation
Administration
2
Current Chicago Southbound
Departure
Tracks
•Current state. This design
was based upon the need of
ground based navigational
aids (i.e. VORs). Current state
requires routing over RBS,
GUIDO (J73) or DNV.
Departures are currently
assigned headings from
Chicago Approach Control
when changing
communication to Chicago
Center.
CAP- Chicago Southbound Departure Enhancements
Pilot Brief- Changes effective April 10th, 2008
Federal Aviation
Administration
3
Beginning April 10th, 2008, we will begin using RNAV
equipment to enhance the flow of traffic and allow for an
increase in volume. We have built 5 RNAV Departure
routings (Tracks A, B, C, D, E). New RNAV fixes were
published in the Feb 14th, 2008 Chart Change. All
fixes along Track A begin with the letter A (ex. ACITO,
ADELL, ARYLN), all fixes along Track B begin with the
letter B, etc, etc. Additionally, routes to all major use
airports have been coordinated from Departure point to
Arrival point. We have examined the loading to the
destinations and have tried to balance the loading over
the fixes/routes to decrease the potential for delay. To
further reduce the potential for delay, we have developed
ATC assignable routes that allow ATC to dynamically
move the flights from one track to another. This will be
accomplished without significant additional mileages.
Example- your flight is dynamically moved from the D
Track to the C Track, the reason is probably to allow for
an expeditious departure (reasons may range from
airport configuration, Mile in trail requirements, Weather,
Sector volume issues, etc.) Bottom line is you should
depart closer to your filed departure time.
CAP- Chicago Southbound Departure Enhancements
Pilot Brief- Changes effective April 10th, 2008
Federal Aviation
Administration
4
Enhanced Chicago southbound
Departure
Tracks
• The Tracon Departure
Controller will clear you direct
to the first fix in your Track (i.e.
ACITO, BACEN, CMSKY,
DENNT, EARND) As these
fixes are less than 7nm apart,
increased vigilance in your
pilotage is greatly appreciated
(ATC Separation Standard
calls for 5nm or greater).
CAP- Chicago Southbound Departure Enhancements
Pilot Brief- Changes effective April 10th, 2008
Federal Aviation
Administration
5
CURRENT vs. ENHANCED
•This is a graphic depicting the Current vs. Enhanced. Note, we
have added 19 new fixes (within the 5 new Tracks). You can
expect to be cleared direct any fix along your Track. This will be
dependent on other traffic in the area.
CAP- Chicago Southbound Departure Enhancements
Pilot Brief- Changes effective April 10th, 2008
Federal Aviation
Administration
6
CURRENT vs. ENHANCED
CAP- Chicago Southbound Departure Enhancements
Pilot Brief- Changes effective April 10th, 2008
Federal Aviation
Administration
7
PROCEDURAL CHANGES
• Upon communication change from Chicago Approach to
Chicago Center- you will be cleared direct to the appropriate fix
for the departure track.
• Currently aircraft in the RBS Track are assigned 200 headings,
GUIDO 190 headings and EON 170 headings. Beginning April
10th, 2008 you will be cleared direct ACITO, BACEN, CMSKY,
DENNT or EARND by Chicago Approach.
CAP- Chicago Southbound Departure Enhancements
Pilot Brief- Changes effective April 10th, 2008
Federal Aviation
Administration
8
PROCEDURAL CHANGES
• ORD Departures will be independent of other Chicago Metro
Area Departures (vice- versa)
• Current procedures require Chicago Approach Control to provide
spacing for all departures within the same track (RBS, GUIDO or
EON)
• Typically this requires vectors in-trail (5nm) prior to
communication change to Chicago Center
• Beginning April 10th, 2008 the only in-trail requirements will
be ORD to ORD or Chicago Metro to Chicago Metro
• This should eliminate most of the large vectors for in-trail that
you may be receiving today
CAP- Chicago Southbound Departure Enhancements
Pilot Brief- Changes effective April 10th, 2008
Federal Aviation
Administration
9
PROCEDURAL CHANGES
• ORD Departures and other Chicago Departures
will be “de-coupled”
• This is a significant change, that should be very
beneficial to our Customers
• No longer should a MDW or other sattellite
Departure need to wait for an “opening” from ORD
(and vice- versa)
• The airports will be managed independently due to
both the airspace changes as well as the procedural
changes.
CAP- Chicago Southbound Departure Enhancements
Pilot Brief- Changes effective April 10th, 2008
Federal Aviation
Administration
10
PROCEDURAL CHANGES
• Procedurally, all flights will be assigned 250kts prior to communication
change from Chicago Approach to Chicago Center
•This is necessary to allow the Center the ability to dynamically cope
with the volume and new complexities as a result of the changes
•It is anticipated that normal speeds will be assigned within a
relatively short distance (approximately 50 miles of departure)
• Vertical Separation vs. Lateral Separation
• ORD departures will be separated from other Metro departures
using altitude (vertical) vs. In-trail (lateral)
•The new procedures will allow ORD departures to climb to 15,000 ft,
while the other Metro departures will be climbing to 12,000 ft as they
are cleared direct the first fix
CAP- Chicago Southbound Departure Enhancements
Pilot Brief- Changes effective April 10th, 2008
Federal Aviation
Administration
11
PROCEDURAL CHANGES
• Non-ORD, including MDW, southbound
satellite traffic may have to level at 12,000ft
and be “stepped up” under ORD departures
• ZAU will endeavor to reduce the likelihood
of step climbs to the extent possible
– This may necessitate additional speed adjustments.
CAP- Chicago Southbound Departure Enhancements
Pilot Brief- Changes effective April 10th, 2008
Federal Aviation
Administration
Conclusion
• We all have the same goals:
– Safety first
– then the best possible service to our Customers
• These changes should greatly enhance the service
that we are able to provide
• For questions please contact Mike O’Brien, ZAU,
at 630 630-906-8445 (Michael.O'[email protected])
or Bill Smar, Front Line Manger, ZAU Operations,
630-906-8239 ([email protected])
CAP- Chicago Southbound Departure Enhancements
Pilot Brief- Changes effective April 10th, 2008
Federal Aviation
Administration
13