PSP Traffic Management Tips

Palm Springs (PSP) is a seasonal destination which is more favorable during winter months when the climate is mild.  Demand to the airport will increase dramatically during this period, although not normally beyond the airport's available capacity.  Temperatures will regularly exceed 100 degrees during summer months, with many days in the 115 to 120 degree range, thereby making it less desirable during this period.

The terminal area contains three airports, Palm Springs (PSP), Thermal (TRM), and Bermuda Dunes (UDD), all within close proximity of one another within a valley surrounded by mountainous terrain.  Departures from these airports are in a non-radar environment until close to the exit/transition points between the terminal area and Los Angeles Center (ZLA).

ZLA ARRIVAL TMI:

ZLA utilizes an arrival tunneling TMI to manage arrival inventory into the PSP area.  These aircraft must descend below all other arrival traffic into the LA Basin and San Diego Terminal area.  This type of TMI will prevent inverted stacks of arrival inventory and reduces complexity and workload, especially within ZLA sectors 37 and 39.

ZLA LAADR (Low Altitude Arrival/Departure Routes):

PSP departures destined for LAS Terminal Area proceed at or below FL230.  This assists in managing high altitude volume in Sector 38 and can mitigate the need and/or impact of other LA Basin airport departure TMIs over DAG.

PSP departures destined for the SFO Bay Area and/or the Pacific Northwest, proceed via the Palmdale (PMD) VOR and will be restricted in climb due to arrival traffic descending into the LA Basin via Hector (HEC) VOR and departure traffic from LAX, SMO, BUR and VNY climbing eastbound over the Daggett (DAG) VOR into ZLA sector 38.  These departures may also be restricted in climb until progressing west of PMD to manage volume in sector 38.

ZLA ROUTE TMI:

PSP area airports have limited route options.  Most departures to destinations outside of ZLA will require routes over Thermal (TRM) VOR and routing into ZAB airspace.  Some aircraft may be routed via TRM, Needles (EED) and then to Tuba City (TBC) and exit into ZDV airspace in order to navigate around convective weather or to manage en route sector volume within ZLA and/or ZAB airspace.  Such routes can mitigate the impact of other LA Basin airport departure TMIs over TRM.