Update - February 2026

FAA to Hold Phoenix Area Modernization Virtual Workshops – May 2026

The FAA will conduct four virtual public workshops in May 2026 regarding the Phoenix Area FAA Modernization Project. The project proposes new and revised satellite-based flight procedures designed to enhance safety and increase efficiency at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and nearby airports.

Workshop Schedule:

  • May 13 (10 a.m.–12 p.m. MT): Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX)
  • May 14 (5–7 p.m. MT): West Valley airports (Glendale, Goodyear, Buckeye)
  • May 19 (5–7 p.m. MT): North Valley airports (Deer Valley, Scottsdale)
  • May 20 (5–7 p.m. MT): East Valley airports (Falcon Field, Mesa Gateway, Chandler, Stellar Airpark) 

Spanish interpretation will be provided.

Each workshop will include an overview of regional airspace operations, details on the proposed procedure updates, and a summary of findings from the Draft Environmental Assessment (EA). Ample time will be reserved for attendees to ask questions and receive responses.

The Draft EA and an interactive noise mapping tool will be posted on this website two weeks before the workshops. Community members are encouraged to review these materials in advance to better understand the proposed updates and prepare comments or questions.

View more information about the project

While pre-registration is not required, those who register will receive automatic email reminders and Zoom access information. A registration link will be posted on this site at a later date.

December 2025

The FAA will be preparing an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Phoenix Area FAA Modernization Project to determine potential environmental impacts. The Phoenix Area FAA Modernization Project is a proposal to implement new satellite-based air traffic procedures and make updates to the existing satellite-based air traffic procedures that will help enhance safety and improve air traffic efficiency at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and other valley airports. The FAA will be seeking stakeholder input on these changes and anticipates holding public engagement workshops in late Spring 2026.

Spring 2023

The FAA Performance Based Navigation team is hosting a procedure design meeting this June and has invited City of Scottsdale representatives and other cities in the valley with airports to attend. This meeting will focus on gathering input and determine what changes, if any changes, to airspace and procedures should be discussed.

Summer 2022

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) contacted the City of Phoenix Aviation Department to participate in a working group relating to studying potential changes to some arrival and departure flight paths serving Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. The first meeting was held on May 3-5, 2022. The City of Scottsdale was not invited to participate, despite a formal request to be included.

According to the FAA, this work group will reconvene in October, to continue the process and discuss proposed procedure designs to increase safety and efficiency within the PHX control airspace.

Scottsdale officials are continuing to request inclusion in the FAA's working group.

On June 24, 2022 the U.S. Court of Appeals dismissed the City of Scottsdale's legal brief. The City Attorney's Office is continuing their efforts to pursue a better outcome.

Two resources for updates and information:

FAA’s Community Engagement (PHX) for updates City of Phoenix Webpage

Background

In September 2014, the FAA implemented new routes at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport as part of its Next Gen, performance-based navigation initiative. The City of Phoenix and the historic neighborhoods filed a lawsuit. The FAA and the City of Phoenix entered into a settlement on the litigation about the flight path changes at Phoenix Sky Harbor.

Scottsdale Airport began receiving increased complaints from residents about increased overflights and noise related to these changes. Aviation staff responded by evaluating data and meeting with FAA representatives several times to determine impacts.

These changes appear to have impacted Scottsdale by:

  • creating tighter flight path corridors for Phoenix Sky Harbor commercial air traffic resulting in increased overflights in some areas and reducing them in other areas, and
  • shifting Scottsdale Airport air traffic to the outer cusps of our existing flights paths in northern Scottsdale to de-conflict with other air traffic.

City Response

Scottsdale Mayor and City Council members as well as aviation staff are fully engaged: sharing residents’ concerns with FAA, keeping the best interests of our community at hand and working with the FAA. The Mayor and Council Office are actively working with Congressional constituents. For more specifics, review the timeline.

In the meantime, residents can report noise complaints via the Noise Complaint Hotline at 480-312-3597 or online. Aviation staff promptly responds to these complaints when a callback is requested.

On April 26, 2021, the City of Scottsdale filed an opening brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. When the FAA formed a Core Working Group, the City Manager sent a formal request to participate in the Phoenix Airspace Work Group. The city received this response from the FAA letter to Scottsdale.