The Side Step Procedure

 
 

After the opening of the third runway in October 2000, Phoenix Air Traffic Controllers cleared large commercial aircraft that were scheduled to land on the new third runway from the east via the center runway approach, requiring the pilots to do a "side-step" maneuver to mitigate noise impacts on downtown areas in Tempe, see the Tempe - Phoenix Intergovernmental Agreement. The "side-step visual approach procedure was introduced to reduce the area impacted by significant noise levels, (65DNL), from large aircraft on final descent over Tempe bound for the new runway, by keeping them on the approach to the center runway as long as possible and thereby closer to the river bottom of the Salt River.

On March 27, 2002 the FAA decided to suspend this practice and the planned implementation of a formalized "side-step procedure" because of flight safety concerns. In May 2002 the City met with the FAA, and after the meeting the City sent proposals to the FAA for a formalized visual side-step procedure that included additional visual references and information to pilots that could contribute to a reevaluation of the suspension.

 
 

 
 

Upon request from the Tempe Aviation Commission the City made a Freedom of Information Act Request in January 2006 for FAA documents related to the suspension and the implementation of a straight-in visual approach to the third runway from the east in 2003. The FAA documents show that the formalization of the procedure failed because of following reasons:

  • The destabilizing effect on the approach.

  • The inability to intercept the glide slope for the third runway.

  • Computer reprogramming going on in the cockpit.

  • Loss of visual reference, particularly at night (Sun Devil Stadium not always being lit).

 
 

The FAA determined that because the end of the south runway (25L) is located farther west than the center runway (25R), aircraft on approach to the center runway is too low to intercept the glide slope to the south runway.

 
 

The Tempe Aviation Commission made a recommendation to Tempe Council October 12, 2006 to investigate the suspension further and estimate potential increases in aircraft noise caused by the implementation of a straight-in visual approach to the third runway.