Key Points
- If you’re flying out of the New York area, expect delays. ATC staffing and tech issues, along with heavy traffic, are causing slowdowns.
- But there are three lesser-known routing options (SERMN, Deep Water, TEC) that can get you airborne faster – if you’re willing to fly lower, carry extra fuel, and meet a few added requirements.
In the middle of last year, the FAA transferred control of Newark’s airspace from New York TRACON (N90) to Philadelphia TRACON’s Area C due to a shortage of staff.
And it hasn’t been smooth sailing. Philly itself is understaffed, and has reported several failures recently with data sent from New York via aging copper lines affecting both radar and communication equipment.
Recent murmurings from OPSGROUP members indicate EDCT delays are rife – even at outlier airports. We’re talking hours here, not minutes.
And in the short term at least, it looks like things will get worse before they get better.
The Memorial Day Weekend set records for US air travel, and the Summer peak is nearly upon us.
A couple of weeks back some clever folk from the NBAA, FAA and the Teterboro Users Group (TUG) got together to talk about the recent disruptions in the Northeast and what to do about it. You can view a replay of their excellent session here.
Some of the juiciest intel was the use of not-so-secret ATC routes to significantly reduce departure delays and get you clear of New York’s airspace post-haste.
In fact, three less conventional route options were discussed to help you escape the Big Apple.
A Quick Word on Fuel
A recurring theme here is ‘operational flexibility.’ None of these options will save you fuel, only time.
To use these routes, you will need to carry more. In some cases enough to operate at low level (less than 10,000’) for up to 100nm. But letting ATC know you are willing and capable of flying them may well see you jump an extremely long queue for conventional routes.
Escape Plan #1: SERMN Routes
When weather gets in the way of things, the FAA has a literal playbook of strategic options to help manage high volumes of traffic. You can find it here.
Within this playbook, is something called SERMN Routes. SERMN stands for SWAP Escape Routes – Metro New York. SWAP stands for severe weather avoidance plan. With me so far?
They comprise a low-level game plan to help ATC manage traffic out of the NY Metro area when the regular routes are not available due to nasty build-ups.
When this happens, ATC has three plays available (depending on the direction you’re headed):
🏈 SERMN North (BUF, ROC, SYR, YYZ etc). Example routing ex KTEB: COATE → LAAYK → STUBN →BENEE → BUF→ KROC. Jets capped at 10,000′ until exiting NY Center’s airspace.
🏈 SERMN South (DCA, CLT, ATL etc). Example routing ex KTEB: ELVAE → COL → DIXIE → T303 → LEEAH → T315→ TAPPA→ THHMP→ CAVLR6→ KIAD Jets capped at 8,000′.
🏈 SERMN East – (BOS, North Eastern Corridor). Example routing ex KTEB: BREZY → V39 → CMK → V3 → WOONS → KBOS. Jets capped at 9,000.’
Their aim is to get you under weather and away from traffic.
Click for the SERMN routes in the FAA’s National Severe Weather Playbook.
But here’s the kicker (football pun intended). You don’t necessarily need bad weather to fly em.’ If hit with a departure delay, communicate with Clearance Delivery that you’re fuelled and willing to accept a SERMN route. Or any of the other routes below (TEC and Deep Water) for that matter.
If you can get it, it may be good option to beat the crowds.
Hey, what about SERMN West?
It doesn’t actually exist, for a few reasons. Predominantly because western departures from the NY Metro area are heavily managed by other established routes such as J80 and J6.
Westbound traffic is also not as typically constrained by adjacent airspace as those aircraft headed in the other directions – and in any case there are other plays in the play book available for westbound traffic, they just don’t carry the title SERMN.
Escape Plan #2: Deep Water Routes
Another option to consider are Deep Water routes which run north and south off the coast between the Northeast and Florida.
If you have the right gear on board, don’t be afraid to get your feet wet.
The FAA advises they can be useful routes out of the area by getting you out of the way of traffic and restricted airspace along the coast.
But before you dive on in, it’s important you are familiar with the requirements of these routes to fly them.
For instance, in NY Oceanic airspace if you are not RNP 4 or 10 capable you need to let ATC know so that they can apply additional separation. If you do have RNP 4/10, you need to comply with those requirements which includes holding the appropriate Opspec/LOA and having the right equipment on board (such as two independent long range navigation systems).
And don’t forget your survival gear either – which can include lift vests, a raft, survival kits, an ELT and pyrotechnic signalling devices depending on what part of the law you’re operating under. You can find these under FARs 91.509, 135.167 and 121.339.
It’s also important you’re thoroughly familiar with the contingency procedures for oceanic airspace including what to do in the event of a navigation failure (especially loss of RNP capability).
Click for PDF.
Escape Plan #3: TEC Routes
If you’re not headed far from New York, consider the use of FAA TEC Routes (Tower Enroute Control).
These are low-altitude IFR routings (typically 5000 – 17,000’) used for short-distance flights (usually less than 500nm) and often link nearby metropolitan centres.
The idea behind them is to keep aircraft within TRACON (Terminal Radar Approach Control) without the need to hand them off to enroute centers. They are by design, simple and efficient.
These routes reduce controller workload, and keep you away from busier airways. They are typically used by turbo-prop aircraft, so let delivery know you have the fuel to fly them as they may not be immediately considered for jets.
You can find the NE TEC routes in the FAA Chart Supplement here.
Finally, stay clued in.
You can avoid delays by predicting when and where they are most likely. The FAA provides a head’s up via three useful sources – fly.faa.gov, nasstatus.faa.gov and X (formerly Twitter). This includes daily briefings on incoming weather, disruptions and the plans in place to mitigate against them.
