[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 9 (Thursday, January 14, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 2453-2454]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-855]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 98-AAL-14]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Establishment of VOR Federal Airways; AK

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to establish four Very High Frequency 
Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airways located in the State of 
Alaska (AK). The FAA is proposing this action to improve the management 
of air traffic operations in the State of Alaska and to enhance safety.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 1, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on the proposal in triplicate to: Manager, Air 
Traffic Division, AAL-500, Docket No. 98-AAL-14, Federal Aviation 
Administration, 222 West 7th Avenue, #14, Anchorage, AK 99533.
    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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joseph C. White, 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. 98-
AAL-14.'' 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 NPRM by submitting a request 
to the Federal Aviation Administration, Office of Air Traffic Airspace 
Management, ATA-400, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 
20591, or by calling (202) 267-8783. Communications must identify the 
notice number of the NPRM. Persons interested in being placed on a 
mailing list for future 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.
    An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded, using a 
modem and suitable communications software, from the FAA regulations 
section of the Fedworld electronic bulletin board service (telephone: 
703-321-3339) or the Federal Register's electronic bulletin board 
service (telephone: 202-512-1661).
    Internet users may reach the FAA's web page at http://www.faa.gov 
or the Federal Register's web page at http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/
index.html for access to recently published rulemaking documents.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 (part 71) to 
establish four VOR Federal airways in AK, specifically, V-603, V-605, 
V-617, and V-621. Presently, there are a number of uncharted 
nonregulatory routes that use the same routings as these proposed 
airways. The current routings are used daily by air carrier and general 
aviation aircraft. The FAA is proposing to establish these four Federal 
airways for

[[Page 2454]]

the following reasons: (1) The conversion of these uncharted 
nonregulatory routes to VOR Federal airways would add to the instrument 
flight rules (IFR) airway and route infrastructure in Alaska; (2) 
pilots would be provided with minimum en route altitudes and minimum 
obstruction clearance altitudes information; (3) this amendment would 
establish controlled airspace, thus eliminating some of the commercial 
IFR operations in uncontrolled airspace; and (4) addition of these 
routes would improve the management of air traffic operations and 
thereby enhance safety.
    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. 
Therefore, this proposed regulation: (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.
    Alaskan VOR Federal airways are published in paragraph 6010(b) of 
FAA Order 7400.9F dated September 10, 1998, and effective September 16, 
1998, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Alaskan 
VOR Federal airways listed in this document would be published 
subsequently in the Order.

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 7400.9F, Airspace Designations and 
Reporting Points, dated September 10, 1998, and effective September 16, 
1998, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6010(b)--Alaskan VOR Federal Airways

* * * * *

V-603  [New]

    From Elfee, AK, NDB, 20 AGL; to Dillingham, AK.
* * * * *

V-605  [New]

    From Biorka Island, AK; to Middleton Island, AK.
* * * * *

V-617  [New]

    From Homer, AK; to Johnstone Point, AK.
* * * * *

V-621  [New]

    From Barrow, AK, VOR; to Atqasuk, AK, NDB.
* * * * *
    Issued in Washington, DC, on January 7, 1999.
Reginald C. Matthews,
Acting Program Director for Air Traffic Airspace Management.
[FR Doc. 99-855 Filed 1-13-99; 8:45 am]
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