[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 65 (Tuesday, April 4, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 17588-17589]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-8230]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 98-AAL-15]
RIN 2120-AA66


Establishment of Colored Federal Airways; AK

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action establishes 13 colored Federal airways located in 
Alaska (AK) to improve the management of air traffic operations and to 
enhance safety.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 0901 UTC, June 15, 2000.

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:

Background

    On January 14, 1999, the FAA proposed to amend 14 CFR part 71 (part 
71) to establish 17 colored Federal airways, G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, G-16, 
G-17, G-18, G-19, R-1, R-2, A-7, B-1, B-2, B-4, B-5, B-7, and B-8 in 
Alaska (64 FR 2450). Interested parties were invited to participate in 
this rulemaking by submitting written comments on the proposal to the 
FAA. No comments were received.
    Following the publication of the notice, flight inspections of the 
17 colored Federal airways were performed. Six of the proposed colored 
Federal airways (A-7, B-2, B-5, B-8, G-2, and G-16) met navigational 
requirements without any changes. Seven colored Federal airways (B-4, 
G-1, G-4, G-17, G-18, R-1, and R-2) required legal description changes 
to meet navigational requirements. Four colored Federal airways (B-1, 
B-7, G-3, and G-19) have been deleted from the proposal as they did not 
pass flight check. Except for editorial changes, the correction of the 
descriptions for B-4, G-1, G-4, G-17, G-18, R-1, and R-2, and the 
deletion of B-1, B-7, G-3, and G-19, this amendment is the same as that 
proposed in the notice.
    Colored Federal airways are published in paragraph 6009 of FAA 
Order 7400.9G, dated September 1, 1999, and effective September 16, 
1999, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The colored 
Federal airways listed in this document will be published subsequently 
in the order.

The Rule

    This action amends part 71 by establishing 13 colored Federal 
airways, G-1, G-2, G-4, G-16, G-17, G-18, R-1, R-2, A-7, B-2, B-4, B-5, 
and B-8, in Alaska.
    Prior to this action there were a number of uncharted nonregulatory 
routes that used the same routings as the colored Federal airways in 
this rule, with the exception of G-16, G-17, and G-18. The latter 
airways are being adopted, as proposed, as a result of the 
commissioning of nondirectional radio beacons at Atqasuk, Wainwright, 
and Nuiqsut, AK. Those nonregulatory routings were used daily by air 
carrier and general aviation aircraft. The FAA is taking this action to 
establish these 13 colored Federal airways for the following reasons: 
(1) The conversion of these uncharted nonregulatory routes to colored 
Federal airways will add to the instrument flight rules (IFR) airway 
and route infrastructure in Alaska; (2) pilots will be provided with 
minimum en route altitudes and minimum obstruction clearance altitudes 
information; (3) this amendment will establish controlled airspace, 
thus eliminating some of the commercial IFR operations in uncontrolled 
airspace; and (4) addition of these routes will improve the management 
of air traffic operations and thereby enhance safety. Additionally, 
this action corrects the descriptions of B-4, G-1, G-4, G-17, G-18, R-
1, and R-2 to meet flight inspection requirements.
    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 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.
    Colored Federal airways are published in paragraph 6009 of FAA 
Order 7400.9G, dated September 1, 1999, and effective September 16, 
1999, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The colored 
Federal airways listed in this document will be published subsequently 
in the Order.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71

    Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).

Adoption of the Amendment

    In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation 
Administration amends 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 7400.9G, Airspace Designations and 
Reporting Points, dated September 1, 1999, and effective September 16, 
1999, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6009(a)-Green Federal Airways

* * * * *

G-1  [New]

    From Mt. Moffett, AK, NDB; INT Elfee, AK, NDB 253 deg. and Dutch 
Harbor, AK, NDB 360 deg.; INT Elfee, AK, NDB 253 deg. and Cold Bay 
VORTAC 82 DME; to Elfee, AK, NDB.

G-2  [New]

    From Borland, AK, NDB; to Woody Island, AK, NDB.
* * * * *

G-4  [New]

    From Wood River, AK, NDB; to Iliamna, AK, NDB.
* * * * *

G-16  [New]

    From Point Lay, AK, NDB; Wainwright Village, AK, NDB; 
Browerville, AK, NDB; Nuiqsut Village, AK, NDB; to Put River, AK, 
NDB.

G-17  [New]

    From Wainwright Village, AK, NDB; to Atqasuk, AK, NDB.

[[Page 17589]]

G-18  [New]

    From Hotham, AK, NDB; Point Lay, AK, NDB; to Atqasuk, AK, NDB.
* * * * *

Paragraph 6009(b)--Red Federal Airways

* * * * *

R-1  [New]

    From St. Paul Island, AK, NDB 20 AGL; INT Saldo, AK NDB 262 deg. 
and Cape Newenham, AK NDB, 131 deg.; to Saldo, AK, NDB.

R-2  [New]

    From Elfee, AK, NDB; to Port Heiden, AK, NDB.
* * * * *

Paragraph 6009(c)--Amber Federal Airways

* * * * *

A-7  [New]

    From Campbell Lake, AK, NDB; to Mineral Creek, AK, NDB.
* * * * *

Paragraph 6009(d)--Blue Federal Airways

* * * * *

B-2  [New]

    From Point Lay, AK, NDB; Cape Lisburne, AK, NDB; Hotham, AK, 
NDB; Tin City, AK, NDB; to Fort Davis, AK, NDB.
* * * * *

B-4  [New]

    From Bishop, AK, NDB; Utopia Creek, AK, NDB; Evansville, AK, 
NDB; to Yukon River, AK, NDB.

B-5  [New]

    From Cape Lisburne, AK, NDB; to Point Hope, AK, NDB.
* * * * *

B-8  [New]

    From Shishmaref, AK, NDB; to Tin City, AK, NDB.
* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on March 27, 2000.
Reginald C. Matthews,
Manager, Airspace and Rules Division.
[FR Doc. 00-8230 Filed 4-3-00; 8:45 am]
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