[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 200 (Thursday, October 16, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 53750-53751]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-27405]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 97

[Docket No. 29037; Amdt. No. 1828]


Standard Instrument Approach Procedures; Miscellaneous Amendments

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This amendment establishes, amends, suspends, or revokes 
Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAP's) for operations at 
certain airports. These regulatory actions are needed because of the 
adoption of new or revised criteria, or because of changes occurring in 
the National Airspace System, such as the commissioning of new 
navigational facilities, addition of new obstacles, or changes in air 
traffic requirements. These changes are designed to provide safe and 
efficient use of the navigable airspace and to promote safe flight 
operations under instrument flight rules at the affected airports.

DATES: An effective date for each SIAP is specified in the amendatory 
provisions.
    Incorporation by reference-approved by the Director of the Federal 
Register on December 31, 1980, and reapproved as of January 1, 1982.

ADDRESSES: Availability of matters incorporated by reference in the 
amendment is as follows:
    For Examination--
    1. FAA Rules Docket, FAA Headquarters Building, 800 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591;
    2. The FAA Regional Office of the region in which the affected 
airport is located; or
    3. The Flight Inspection Area Office which originated the SIAP.
    For Purchase--Individual SIAP copies may be obtained from:
    1. FAA Public Inquiry Center (APA-200), FAA Headquarters Building, 
800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591; or
    2. The FAA Regional Office of the region in which the affected 
airport is located.
    By Subscription--Copies of all SIAP's, mailed once every 2 weeks, 
are for sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government 
Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul J. Best, Flight Procedures 
Standards Branch (AFS-420), Technical Programs Division, Flight 
Standards Service, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591; telephone (202) 267-8277.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This amendment to part 97 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 97) establishes, amends, suspends, or 
revokes SIAP's. The complete regulatory description of each SIAP is 
contained in official FAA form documents which are incorporated by 
reference in this amendment under 5 U.S.C. 552(a), 1 CFR part 51, and 
14 CFR 97.20 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR). The applicable 
FAA Forms are identified as FAA Form 8260-5. Materials incorporated by 
reference are available for examination or purchase as stated above.
    The large number of SIAP's, their complex nature, and the need for 
a special format make their verbatim publication in the Federal 
Register expensive and impractical. Further, airmen do not use the 
regulatory text of the SIAPs, but refer to their graphic depiction on 
charts printed by publishers of aeronautical materials. Thus, the 
advantages of incorporation by reference are realized and publication 
of the complete description of each SIAP contained in FAA form 
documents is unnecessary. The provisions of this amendment state the 
affected CFR sections, with the types and effective dates of the 
SIAP's. This amendment also identifies the airport, its location, the 
procedure identification and the amendment number.
    This amendment to part 97 is effective upon publication of each 
separate SIAP as contained in the transmittal. The SIAP's contained in 
this amendment are based on the criteria contained in the United States 
Standard for Terminal Instrument Approach Procedures (TERPS). In 
developing these SIAPs, the TERPS criteria were applied to the

[[Page 53751]]

conditions existing or anticipated at the affected airports.
    The FAA has determined through testing that current non-localizer 
type, non-precision instrument approaches developed using the TERPS 
criteria can be flown by aircraft equipped with Global Positioning 
System (GPS) equipment. In consideration of the above, the applicable 
SIAP's will be altered to include ``or GPS'' in the title without 
otherwise reviewing or modifying the procedure. (Once a stand alone GPS 
procedure is developed, the procedure title will be altered to remove 
``or GPS'' from these non-localizer, non-precision instrument approach 
procedure titles.)
    The FAA has determined through extensive analysis that current 
SIAP's intended for use by Area Navigation (RNAV) equipped aircraft can 
be flown by aircraft utilizing various other types of navigational 
equipment. In consideration of the above, those SIAP's currently 
designated as ``RNAV'' will be redesignated as ``VOR/DME RNAV'' without 
otherwise reviewing or modifying the SIAP's.
    Because of the close and immediate relationship between these 
SIAP's and safety in air commerce, I find that notice and public 
procedure before adopting these SIAPs are, impracticable and contrary 
to the public interest and, where applicable, that good cause exists 
for making some SIAPs effective in less than 30 days.
    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. For the same reason, the FAA 
certifies that this amendment 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 97

    Air traffic control, Airports, Navigation (air).

    Issued in Washington, DC, on October 3, 1997.
Thomas E. Stuckey,
Acting Director, Flight Standards Service.

Adoption of the amendment

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me, part 97 of 
the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 97) is amended as 
follows:

PART 97--STANDARD INSTRUMENT APPROACH PROCEDURES

    1. The authority citation for part 97 continues to read:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40103, 40106, 40113-40114, 40120, 
44502, 44514, 44701, 44719, 44721-44722.

    2. Amend Secs. 97.23, 97.27, 97.33 and 97.35, as appropriate, by 
adding, revising, or removing the following SIAP's, effective at 0901 
UTC on the dates specified, as follows:


Secs. 97.23, 97.27, 97.33, 97.35  [Amended]

* * * Effective Nov 6, 1997

Auburn, AL, Auburn-Opelika Robert G. Pitts, VOR or GPS RWY 28, Amdt. 
9B, Cancelled
Auburn, AL, Auburn-Opelika Robert G. Pitts, VOR RWY 28, Amdt. 9B
Forrest City, AR, Forrest City Muni, NDB or GPS RWY 35, Amdt. 3, 
Cancelled
Forrest City, AR, Forrest City Muni, NDB RWY 35
Helena/West Helena, AR, Thomspon-Robbins Field, NDB or GPS RWY 17, 
Amdt. 4, Cancelled
Helena/West Helena, AR, Thomspon-Robbins Field, NDB RWY 17, Amdt. 4
Orlando, FL, Executive, NDB or GPS RWY 7, Amdt. 15, Cancelled
Orlando, FL, Executive, NDB RWY 7, Amdt. 15
Elmira, NY, Elmira/Corning Regional, NDB or GPS RWY 24, Amdt. 13A, 
Cancelled
Elmira, NY, Elmira/Corning Regional, NDB RWY 24, Amdt. 13A

[FR Doc. 97-27405 Filed 10-15-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M