Preferred Routes

The ZSE website has a page linked from the top menu with "preferred routes." You can search using the boxes at the top of the origin and destination fields.

The purpose of these routes is in the name: preferred. They are not required.

If you have an aircraft that needs a route, this is a good place to start. Possible reasons they might need a route:

• The pilot has not filed a route.

• The pilot has filed a route to the wrong airport.

• The pilot has filed a route, but it has significant issues.

The most important parts are the SID and STAR; if these match the preferred route, and the rest of the route is reasonable, there is probably no reason to change the route. Even if these are different from the preferred route (but are current procedures), as long as the route looks acceptable, it is unnecessary to change the route.

One of the only times a specific route would be required would be during an event to help manage higher traffic levels.