FAA Scrambles Eastern Flight Paths as NJ Nav Station Powers Down
Published Date: 10/5/2026
Proposed Rule
Summary
The FAA is updating some important flight paths in the eastern U.S. because they're shutting down the Cedar Lake, NJ navigation station. This means they’re changing routes V-16 and V-184 and getting rid of V-284 and V-577. Pilots and airlines should get ready for these changes, and everyone can share their thoughts by November 19, 2026. No extra costs are expected, just smoother skies ahead!
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Cedar Lake VOR shutdown changes airways
The FAA plans to decommission the Cedar Lake, NJ (VCN) VOR/DME on June 10, 2027 and proposes to amend V-16 and V-184 and revoke V-284 and V-577. If you fly under instrument flight rules (IFR) through the area, segments of V-16 and V-184 would be removed and V-284 and V-577 would be eliminated, so you may need to use adjacent VOR airways or accept air traffic control (ATC) radar vectors; the FAA says these changes are expected to cause, at most, de minimis costs and will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.
RNAV-equipped pilots can use RNAV alternatives
IFR pilots with Area Navigation (RNAV)-equipped aircraft can use adjacent RNAV routes T-224, T-303, T-307, T-315, T-358, T-416, and T-457 or navigate point-to-point using remaining waypoints to continue through the affected area after the Cedar Lake VOR/DME decommissioning.
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