U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION

Section 2. FAA NAVAIDs

4-2-1. POLICY

a. Site locations for the establishment or relocation of NAVAIDs require approval by the appropriate Technical Operations service area offices, FPO, service area offices, Airports, and Flight Standards Divisions.

b. The Technical Operations service area offices' airspace focal point shall request the appropriate service area office to initiate a nonrulemaking study of the selected site.

c. The Technical Operations service area office must concur with the site location before the request for study is made.

4-2-2. COORDINATION

The service area office shall coordinate the proposed site with AIM, FPO, Flight Standards and Airports Divisions, as well as affected air traffic control facilities. The NAVAIDs purpose must be considered and, as appropriate, a preliminary decision made regarding:

a. The establishment of instrument procedures;

b. Airways/routes;

c. Designation of controlled airspace;

d. The ability to provide essential air traffic services;

e. The effect of the site on facility performance; and

f. The effect on the location or configuration of an airport. If all offices agree with the selected site, then the service area office should circularize the proposal, as determined necessary, for comment from the aviation community.

4-2-3. INFORMAL AIRSPACE MEETINGS

Convene an informal airspace meeting in accordance with the procedures detailed in chapter 2, section 6, of this Order. Informal airspace meetings may not be practical for time critical changes or in those cases where delay will adversely affect aviation safety. At such meetings, agency representatives should explain the planned use of the NAVAIDs, including instrument approaches or other terminal procedures or airspace planning, and any action will be subsequently handled by airspace rulemaking procedures. However, care should be taken that the agency's ex parte policy is not violated during these informal proceedings.

4-2-4. APPROVAL AUTHORITY

The service area office is responsible for coordination and final approval or disapproval of sites selected for installation of en route NAVAIDs. The regional FPO is responsible for coordination and final approval or disapproval of sites selected for installation of terminal NAVAIDs. The approval or disapproval determination shall be issued by memorandum to the appropriate Technical Operations service area office. Any disapproval issued shall include the reasons why a site is not acceptable. Agency personnel are reminded that en route site approval does not constitute approval of instrument approach procedures or controlled airspace planning to be processed under rulemaking action.

4-2-5. DISTRIBUTION

The service area office shall distribute a copy of the approval or disapproval determination to all FAA offices that participated in the site study and to ARN-1.

4-2-6. COMMISSIONING DATE

The responsible Technical Operations service area office is authorized to proceed with installation of the NAVAID upon receipt of the site approval. As soon as possible thereafter, an estimated date of commissioning shall be agreed upon by the service area office, FPO, Technical Operations service area office, and any other concerned FAA offices. To the extent possible, the date of commissioning shall coincide with the associated aeronautical charting dates.

4-2-7. PROCESSING REGULATORY ACTIONS

The FPO shall process the necessary instrument procedures and the service area office shall process airspace rulemaking actions to be effective with the associated aeronautical charting date.