{"id":27712,"date":"2025-06-03T05:55:36","date_gmt":"2025-06-03T09:55:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/?p=27712"},"modified":"2025-06-04T08:40:09","modified_gmt":"2025-06-04T12:40:09","slug":"three-ways-to-escape-from-new-york","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/three-ways-to-escape-from-new-york\/","title":{"rendered":"Three Ways To Escape From New York"},"content":{"rendered":"<h6><strong>Key Points<\/strong><\/h6>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>If you&#8217;re flying out of the New York area, expect delays. ATC staffing and tech issues, along with heavy traffic, are causing slowdowns.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>But there are three lesser-known routing options (SERMN, Deep Water, TEC) that can get you airborne faster &#8211; if you&#8217;re willing to fly lower, carry extra fuel, and meet a few added requirements.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"p1\">In the middle of last year, the FAA <a href=\"https:\/\/reason.org\/aviation-policy-news\/newark-air-traffic-control-shifted-to-philadelphia-tracon\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">transferred<\/a> control of Newark\u2019s airspace from <strong>New York TRACON (N90)<\/strong> to <strong>Philadelphia TRACON\u2019s Area C<\/strong> due to a shortage of staff.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">And it hasn\u2019t been smooth sailing. Philly itself is understaffed, and has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.faa.gov\/newsroom\/statements\/general-statements\">reported<\/a> several failures recently with data sent from New York via aging copper lines affecting both radar and communication equipment.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Recent murmurings from OPSGROUP members indicate <strong>EDCT delays<\/strong> are rife &#8211; even at outlier airports. We&#8217;re talking <strong>hours<\/strong> here, not minutes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">And in the short term at least, it looks like things will get worse before they get better.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">The Memorial Day Weekend set records for US air travel, and the Summer peak is nearly upon us.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">A couple of weeks back some clever folk from the <a href=\"https:\/\/nbaa.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NBAA<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.faa.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">FAA<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/teterborousersgroup.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Teterboro Users Group (TUG)<\/a> 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 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bigmarker.com\/nbaa\/nbaa-news-hour-northeast-airspace-disruptions-strategies-for-decision-making-and-delay-mitigation\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Some of the juiciest intel was the use of not-so-secret <strong>ATC routes to significantly reduce departure delays<\/strong> and get you clear of New York\u2019s airspace post-haste.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">In fact, <strong>three less conventional route options<\/strong> were discussed to help you escape the Big Apple.<\/p>\n<h4 class=\"p1\">A Quick Word on Fuel<\/h4>\n<p class=\"p1\">A recurring theme here is \u2018operational flexibility.\u2019 <strong>None of these options will save you fuel, only time.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">To use these routes, you will need to carry more. In some cases enough to operate at low level (less than 10,000\u2019) 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.<\/p>\n<h4 class=\"p1\">Escape Plan #1: SERMN Routes<\/h4>\n<p class=\"p1\">When weather gets in the way of things, the FAA has a literal <strong>playbook<\/strong> of strategic options to help manage high volumes of traffic. You can find it <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fly.faa.gov\/PLAYBOOK\/pbindex.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Within this playbook, is something called <strong>SERMN Routes<\/strong>. SERMN stands for SWAP Escape Routes &#8211; Metro New York. SWAP stands for severe weather avoidance plan. With me so far?<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">They comprise a <strong>low-level game plan<\/strong> to help ATC manage traffic out of the NY Metro area when the regular routes are not available due to nasty build-ups.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">When this happens, ATC has three plays available (depending on the direction you\u2019re headed):<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-27827 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/waterboy-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/waterboy-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/waterboy-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/waterboy-140x140.jpg 140w, https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/waterboy-500x500.jpg 500w, https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/waterboy-350x350.jpg 350w, https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/waterboy-1000x1000.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/waterboy-800x800.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/strong><strong>\ud83c\udfc8 SERMN North<\/strong> (BUF, ROC, SYR, YYZ etc). Example routing ex KTEB: COATE \u2192 LAAYK \u2192 STUBN \u2192BENEE \u2192 BUF\u2192 KROC. Jets capped at <strong>10,000&#8242; <\/strong>until exiting NY\u00a0 Center&#8217;s airspace.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong> \ud83c\udfc8\u00a0 SERMN South<\/strong> (DCA, CLT, ATL etc). Example routing ex KTEB: ELVAE \u2192 COL \u2192 DIXIE \u2192 T303 \u2192 LEEAH \u2192 T315\u2192 TAPPA\u2192 THHMP\u2192 CAVLR6\u2192 KIAD Jets capped at <strong>8,000&#8242;.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>\ud83c\udfc8\u00a0 SERMN East<\/strong> &#8211; (BOS, North Eastern Corridor). Example routing ex KTEB: BREZY \u2192 V39 \u2192 CMK \u2192 V3 \u2192 WOONS \u2192 KBOS. Jets capped at <strong>9,000.&#8217;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Their aim is to get you under weather and away from traffic.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_27809\" style=\"width: 989px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fly.faa.gov\/PLAYBOOK\/pbindex.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-27809\" class=\"wp-image-27809 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/SERMN-Routes.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"979\" height=\"553\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/SERMN-Routes.png 979w, https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/SERMN-Routes-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/SERMN-Routes-768x434.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 979px) 100vw, 979px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-27809\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Click for the SERMN routes in the FAA&#8217;s National Severe Weather Playbook.<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"p1\">But here\u2019s the kicker (football pun intended). You don\u2019t necessarily need bad weather to fly em.&#8217; If hit with a departure delay, communicate with Clearance Delivery that you&#8217;re <strong>fuelled and willing<\/strong> to accept a SERMN route. Or any of the other routes below (TEC and Deep Water) for that matter.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">If you can get it, it may be good option to beat the crowds.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><i>Hey, what about SERMN West?<\/i><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">It doesn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Westbound traffic is also not as typically constrained by adjacent airspace as those aircraft headed in the other directions &#8211; and in any case there are other plays in the play book available for westbound traffic, they just don\u2019t carry the title SERMN.<\/p>\n<h4 class=\"p1\">Escape Plan #2: Deep Water Routes<\/h4>\n<p class=\"p1\">Another option to consider are <strong>Deep Water routes<\/strong> which run north and south off the coast between the Northeast and Florida.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">If you have the right gear on board, don\u2019t be afraid to get your feet wet.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">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.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">But before you dive on in, it\u2019s important you are <strong>familiar with the requirements<\/strong> of these routes to fly them.<\/p>\n<p>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).<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">And don&#8217;t forget your <strong>survival gear<\/strong> either &#8211; which can include lift vests, a raft, survival kits, an ELT and pyrotechnic signalling devices depending on what part of the law you&#8217;re operating under. You can find these under FARs 91.509, 135.167 and 121.339.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s also important you&#8217;re thoroughly familiar with the <a href=\"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/one-contingency-procedure-to-rule-them-all\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">contingency procedures for oceanic airspace<\/a> including what to do in the event of a navigation failure (especially loss of RNP capability).<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_23583\" style=\"width: 1034px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/one-contingency-procedure-to-rule-them-all\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-23583\" class=\"wp-image-23583 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/OCEANIC-CONTINGENCY-1024x748.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"748\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/OCEANIC-CONTINGENCY-1024x748.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/OCEANIC-CONTINGENCY-300x219.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/OCEANIC-CONTINGENCY-768x561.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/OCEANIC-CONTINGENCY-1536x1122.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/OCEANIC-CONTINGENCY-2048x1496.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-23583\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Click for PDF.<\/p><\/div>\n<h4 class=\"p1\">Escape Plan #3: TEC Routes<\/h4>\n<p class=\"p1\">If you\u2019re not headed far from New York, consider the use of <strong>FAA TEC Routes<\/strong> (Tower Enroute Control).<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">These are low-altitude IFR routings (typically 5000 &#8211;<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>17,000\u2019) used for short-distance flights (usually less than 500nm) and often link nearby metropolitan centres.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-27816 alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/TEC-Routes.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"652\" height=\"549\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/TEC-Routes.png 652w, https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/TEC-Routes-300x253.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 652px) 100vw, 652px\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">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.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">These routes reduce controller workload, and keep you away from busier airways. They are typically used by<strong> turbo-prop<\/strong> aircraft, so let delivery know you have the fuel to fly them as they may not be immediately considered for jets.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">You can find the NE TEC routes in the <strong>FAA Chart Supplement<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/aeronav.faa.gov\/afd\/17apr2025\/NE_rear_17apr2025.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h4 class=\"p1\">Finally, stay clued in.<\/h4>\n<p class=\"p1\">You can avoid delays by predicting when and where they are most likely. The FAA provides a head\u2019s up via three useful sources &#8211; fly.faa.gov, <a href=\"http:\/\/nasstatus.faa.gov\"><span class=\"s1\">nasstatus.faa.gov<\/span><\/a> and X (formerly Twitter). This includes daily briefings on incoming weather, disruptions and the plans in place to mitigate against them.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key Points If you&#8217;re flying out of the New York area, expect delays. ATC staffing&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":49,"featured_media":27859,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[1968,1168,271],"class_list":{"0":"post-27712","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-briefings","8":"tag-kewr","9":"tag-kteb","10":"tag-new-york"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27712","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/49"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27712"}],"version-history":[{"count":34,"href":"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27712\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27860,"href":"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27712\/revisions\/27860"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27859"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27712"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27712"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ops.group\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27712"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}