[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 167 (Thursday, August 28, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 45591-45593]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-22974]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Airspace Docket No. 97-ASW-4]
Proposed Realignment of Jet Routes; Texas
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.
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SUMMARY: This notice proposes to realign 14 jet routes located in the
Dallas/Ft. Worth (DFW), TX, area. These proposed realignments would
remove all high altitude navigation routes from the DFW Very High
Frequency Omnidirectional Range/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) and
realign them to existing navigational aids (NAVAIDs) located in the DFW
area. This proposal is a portion of a master plan to relocate the DFW
VORTAC 3/4 nautical miles (NM) to the west of its current position and
to provide more NAVAID capacity for airport traffic use by eliminating
the high altitude en route traffic service. Additionally, Jet Route J-
66 will be further realigned west of the DFW area to include the Big
Springs, TX, VORTAC as part of its route structure. This realignment
would allow pilots to fly at lower minimum enroute altitudes (MEA)
between the Newman, TX, and Abilene, TX, VORTACs.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 15, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Send comments on the proposal in triplicate to: Manager, Air
Traffic Division, ASW-500, Docket No. 97-ASW-4, Federal Aviation
Administration, 2601 Meacham Blvd; Fort Worth, TX 76193-0500.
The official docket may be examined in the Rules Docket, Office of
the Chief Counsel, Room 916, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington,
DC, weekdays, except Federal holidays, between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
An informal docket may also be examined during normal business
hours at the office of the Regional Air Traffic Division, Federal
Aviation Administration, 2601 Meacham Blvd; Fort Worth, TX 76193-0500.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Brown, Airspace and Rules
Division, ATA-400, Office of Air Traffic Airspace Management, Federal
Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC
20591; telephone: (202) 267-8783.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
Interested parties are invited to participate in this proposed
rulemaking by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as they
may desire. Comments that provide the factual basis supporting the
views and suggestions presented are particularly helpful in developing
reasoned regulatory decisions on the proposal. Comments are
specifically invited on the overall regulatory, aeronautical, economic,
environmental, and energy-related aspects of the proposal.
Communications should identify the airspace docket number and be
submitted in triplicate to the address listed above. Commenters wishing
the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments on this notice must
submit with those comments a self-addressed, stamped postcard on which
the following statement is made: ``Comments to Airspace Docket No. 97-
ASW-4.'' The postcard will be date/time stamped and returned to the
commenter. All communications received on or before the specified
closing date for comments will be considered before taking action on
the proposed rule. The proposal contained in this notice may be changed
in light of comments received. All comments submitted will be available
for examination in the Rules Docket both before and after the closing
date for comments. A report summarizing each substantive public contact
with FAA personnel concerned with this rulemaking will be filed in the
docket.
Availability of NPRM's
Any person may obtain a copy of this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
(NPRM) by submitting a request to the Federal Aviation Administration,
Office of Air Traffic Airspace Management, 800 Independence Avenue,
SW., Washington, DC 20591, or by calling (202) 267-8783. Communications
must identify the notice number of this NPRM. Persons interested in
being placed on a mailing list for future
[[Page 45592]]
NPRM's should call the FAA's Office of Rulemaking, (202) 267-9677, for
a copy of Advisory Circular No. 11-2A, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
Distribution System, which describes the application procedure.
The Proposal
The FAA is proposing an amendment to part 71 of the Federal
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 71) to realign 14 jet routes located
in the DFW area. These proposed realignments will remove all high
altitude navigation routes from the DFW VORTAC. Ten of the jet routes
will use the Ranger, TX, VORTAC, which is located approximately 8 NM to
the west. One jet route will use the Cowboy, TX, Very High Frequency
Omnidirectional Range/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME), which is
located approximately 6.5 NM to the east. Two jet routes will terminate
at the Wichita Falls, TX, VORTAC rather than continue to the DFW area.
These particular two jet routes originally terminated at the DFW
VORTAC. The remaining jet route bypasses DFW altogether by proceeding
direct from the Ardmore, OK, VORTAC to the Texarkana, AR, VORTAC. The
DFW VORTAC will no longer service high altitude en route traffic,
thereby increasing NAVAID capacity for DFW International Airport
traffic area use.
Additionally, Jet Route J-66 will be further realigned west of the
DFW area to include the Big Springs, TX, VORTAC as part of its route
structure. This realignment would allow pilots to fly at lower minimum
enroute altitudes (MEA) on J-66 between the Newman, TX, and Abilene,
TX, VORTACs.
Jet routes are published in paragraph 2004 of FAA Order 7400.9D,
dated September 4, 1996, and effective September 16, 1996, which is
incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The jet routes listed in this
document would be published subsequently in the Order.
The FAA has determined that this regulation only involves an
established body of technical regulations for which frequent and
routine amendments are necessary to keep them operationally current.
It, therefore--(1) is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under
Executive Order 12866; (2) is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT
Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034; February 26, 1979);
and (3) does not warrant preparation of a Regulatory Evaluation as the
anticipated impact is so minimal. Since this is a routine matter that
will only affect air traffic procedures and air navigation, it is
certified that this rule, when promulgated, will not have a significant
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities under the
criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71
Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).
The Proposed Amendment
In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation
Administration proposes to amend 14 CFR part 71 as follows:
PART 71--DESIGNATION OF CLASS A, CLASS B, CLASS C, CLASS D, AND
CLASS E, AIRSPACE AREAS; AIRWAYS; ROUTES; AND REPORTING POINTS
1. The authority citation for part 71 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40103, 40113, 40120; E.O. 10854, 24
FR 9565, 3 CFR, 1959-1963 Comp., p. 389.
Sec. 71.1 [Amended]
2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of the Federal
Aviation Administration Order 7400.9D, Airspace Designations and
Reporting Points, dated September 4, 1996, and effective September 16,
1996, is amended as follows:
Paragraph 2004--Jet Routes
* * * * *
J-4 [Revised]
From Los Angeles, CA, via INT Los Angeles 083 deg. and
Twentynine Palms, CA, 269 deg. radials; Twentynine Palms; Parker,
CA; Buckeye, AZ; San Simon, AZ; Newman, TX; Wink, TX; Abilene, TX;
Ranger, TX; Belcher, LA; Jackson, MS; Meridian, MS; Montgomery, AL;
INT Montgomery 051 deg. and Colliers, SC, 268 deg. radials;
Colliers; Columbia, SC; Florence, SC; to Wilmington, NC.
* * * * *
J-21 [Revised]
From the INT of the United States/Mexican Border and the Laredo,
TX, 172 deg. radial via Laredo; San Antonio, TX; Austin, TX; Waco,
TX; Ranger, TX; Ardmore, OK; Will Rogers, OK; Wichita, KS; Omaha,
NE; Gopher, MN; to Duluth, MN.
* * * * *
J-25 [Revised]
From Matamoras, Mexico, via Brownsville, TX; INT of the
Brownsville 358 deg. and the Corpus Christi, TX, 178 deg. radials;
Corpus Christi; INT of the Corpus Christi 311 deg. and the San
Antonio, TX, 167 deg. radials; San Antonio; Austin, TX; Waco, TX;
Ranger, TX; Tulsa, OK; Kansas City, MO; Des Moines, IA; Mason City,
IA; Gopher, MN; Brainerd, MN; to Winnipeg, MB, Canada. The airspace
within Canada is excluded. The airspace within Mexico is excluded.
* * * * *
J-33 [Revised]
From Humble, TX, via INT Humble 349 deg. and Ranger, TX,
135 deg.T(129 deg.M) radials; to Ranger.
* * * * *
J-42 [Revised]
From Delicias, Mexico, via Fort Stockton, TX; Abilene, TX;
Ranger, TX; Texarkana, AR; Memphis, TN; Nashville, TN; Beckley, WV;
Montebello, VA; Gordonsville, VA; Nottingham, MD; INT Nottingham
061 deg. and Woodstown, NJ, 225 deg. radials; Woodstown;
Robbinsville, NJ; LaGuardia, NY; INT LaGuardia 042 deg. and
Hartford, CT, 236 deg. radials; Hartford; Putman, CT; Boston, MA.
The portion of this route outside of the United States is excluded.
* * * * *
J-52 [Revised]
From Vancouver, BC, Canada; via Spokane, WA; Salmon, ID; Dubois,
ID; Rock Springs, WY; Falcon, CO; Hugo, CO; Lamar, CO; Liberal, KS;
INT Liberal 137 deg. and Ardmore, OK, 309 deg. radials; Ardmore;
Texarkana, AR; Sidon, MS; Bigbee, MS; Vulcan, AL; Atlanta, GA;
Colliers, SC; Columbia, SC; Raleigh-Durham, NC; to Richmond, VA. The
portion within Canada is excluded.
* * * * *
J-58 [Revised]
From Oakland, CA, via Manteca, CA; Coaldale, NV; Wilson Creek,
NV; Milford, UT; Farmington, NM; Las Vegas, NM; Amarillo, TX;
Wichita Falls, TX; Ranger, TX; Alexandria, LA; Harvey, LA; INT of
Grand Isle, LA, 105 deg. and Crestview, FL, 201 deg. radials; INT of
Grand Isle 105 deg. and Sarasota, FL, 286 deg. radials; Sarasota;
Lee County, FL; to the INT Lee County 120 deg. and Dolphin, FL,
293 deg. radials; Dolphin.
* * * * *
J-66 [Revised]
From Newman, TX; via Big Spring, TX; Abilene, TX; Ranger, TX;
Bonham, TX; Little Rock, AR; Memphis, TN; to Rome, GA.
* * * * *
J-72 [Revised]
From Boulder City, NV, via Peach Springs, AZ; Gallup, NM;
Albuquerque NM; Texico, NM; to Wichita Falls, TX.
* * * * *
J-76 [Revised]
From Las Vegas, NV, via INT Las Vegas 090 deg. and Tuba City,
AZ, 268 deg. radials; Tuba City; Las Vegas, NM; Tucumcari, NM; to
Wichita Falls, TX.
* * * * *
J-87 [Revised]
From Humble, TX, via Navasota, TX; INT of Navasota
342 deg.T(336 deg.M) and Cowboy, TX, 166 deg.T(160 deg.M) radials;
Cowboy; Tulsa, OK; Butler, MO; Kirksville, MO; Moline, IL; Joliet,
IL; to Northbrook, IL.
* * * * *
[[Page 45593]]
J-105 [Revised]
From Ranger, TX; via McAlester, OK; Razorback, AR; Springfield,
MO; Bradford, IL; to Badger, WI.
* * * * *
J-131 [Revised]
From San Antonio, TX, via INT San Antonio 007 deg. and Ranger,
TX, 214 deg.T (208 deg.M) radials; Ranger; Texarkana, AR; Little
Rock, AR; to Pocket City, IN.
* * * * *
J-181 [Revised]
From Ranger, TX; Okmulgee, OK; Neosho, MO; INT Neosho 049 deg.
and Bradford, IL, 219 deg. radials; to Bradford.
* * * * *
Issued in Washington, DC, on August 21, 1997.
Reginald C. Matthews,
Acting Program Director for Air Traffic Airspace Management.
[FR Doc. 97-22974 Filed 8-27-97; 8:45 am]
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