[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 20 (Thursday, January 30, 2003)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 4741-4742]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-2189]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2002-13994; Airspace Docket No. 02-AAL-10]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Establishment of Colored Federal Airways; AK

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This notice proposes to establish two colored Federal airways, 
Amber-5 (A-5) and Blue 1 (B-1), in Alaska. This action would add to the 
instrument flight rules (IFR) airway and route structure in Alaska. The 
FAA is taking this action to enhance safety and the management of 
aircraft operations in Alaska.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 17, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on this proposal to the Docket Management 
System, U.S. Department of Transportation, Room Plaza 401, 400 Seventh 
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001. You must identify the docket 
number FAA-2002-13994/Airspace Docket No. 02-AAL-10, at the beginning 
of your comments.
    You may also submit comments on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov. 
You may review the public docket containing the proposal, any comments 
received, and any final disposition in person in the Dockets Office 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The Docket Office (telephone 1-800-647-5527) is on the plaza 
level of the Department of Transportation NASSIF Building at the above 
address.
    An informal docket may also be examined during normal business 
hours at the office of the Regional Air Traffic Division, Federal 
Aviation Administration, 222 West 7th Avenue, 14, Anchorage, 
AK 99533.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ken McElroy, 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 both docket numbers 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 Docket No. FAA-2002-13994/
Airspace Docket No. 02-AAL-10.'' The postcard will be date/time stamped 
and returned to the commenter. All communications received on or before 
the specified

[[Page 4742]]

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 public 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

    An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded through the 
Internet at http://dms.dot.gov. Recently published rulemaking documents 
can also be accessed through the FAA's web page at http://www.faa.gov 
or the Superintendent of Document's web page at http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara.
    Additionally, any person may obtain a copy of this notice 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 both docket numbers for this notice. Persons interested in 
being placed on a mailing list for future NPRM's should contact the 
FAA's Office of Rulemaking, (202) 267-9677, to request 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 to amend Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations 
(CFR) part 71 (part 71) by establishing two colored Federal airways, A-
5 and B-1, in Alaska. Presently there are several uncharted 
nonregulatory routes that use the same routing as the proposed colored 
Federal airways. These uncharted nonregulatory routes are used daily by 
commercial and general aviation aircraft. However, the air traffic 
control (ATC) management of aircraft operations is limited on these 
routes. The FAA is proposing to convert these uncharted nonregulatory 
routes to colored Federal airways. This action would add to the IFR 
airway and route structure in Alaska. The routes conversion would 
provide an airway structure to support existing commercial services in 
Alaska.
    Additionally, adoption of these Federal airways would: (1) Provide 
pilots with minimum en route altitudes and minimum obstruction 
clearance altitudes information; (2) establish controlled airspace thus 
eliminating some of the commercial IFR operations in uncontrolled 
airspace; and (3) improve the management of air traffic operations and 
thereby enhance safety.
    Colored Federal airways are published in paragraph 6009 of FAA 
Order 7400.9K dated August 30, 2002, and effective September 16, 2002, 
which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR Section 71.1. The colored 
Federal airways listed in this document would be published subsequently 
in the order.
    The FAA has determined that this proposed 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 proposed 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 FAA Order 
7400.9K, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 30, 
2002, and effective September 16, 2002, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6009(c)--Amber Federal Airways

* * * * *

A-5 [New]

    From Ambler, AK, NDB to Evansville, AK, NDB.
* * * * *

Paragraph 6009(d)--Blue Federal Airways

* * * * *

B-1 [New]

    From Woody Island, AK, NDB to Iliamna, AK, NDB.
* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on January 23, 2003.
Reginald C. Matthews,
Manager, Airspace and Rules Division.
[FR Doc. 03-2189 Filed 1-29-03; 8:45 am]
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