[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 67 (Tuesday, April 8, 2003)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 16992-16993]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-8287]


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 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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  Federal Register / Vol. 68, No. 67 / Tuesday, April 8, 2003 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 16992]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Parts 1, 71, 91, 95, 97, 121, 125, 129, and 135

[Docket No. FAA-2002-14002; Notice No. 02-20]
RIN 2120-AH77


Area Navigation (RNAV) and Miscellaneous Amendments; Partial 
Reopening of Comment Period

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM); partial reopening of 
comment period.

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SUMMARY: This action reopens the comment period for portions of an NPRM 
that was published December 17, 2002. In that document, the FAA 
proposed to amend its regulations to reflect technological advances 
that support area navigation (RNAV); make certain terms consistent with 
those of the International Civil Aviation Organization; remove the 
middle marker as a required component of instrument landing systems; 
and clarify airspace terminology. This reopening is a result of 
requests from the regulated public to extend the comment period of the 
proposal.

DATE: Comments must be received on or before July 7, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Comments on this document should be mailed or delivered, in 
duplicate, to: U.S. Department of Transportation Dockets, Docket No. 
FAA-2002-14002, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Room Plaza 401, Washington, DC 
20590. Comments may be filed and examined in Room Plaza 401 between 10 
a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays, except Federal holidays. Comments also may be 
sent electronically to the Dockets Management System (DMS) at the 
following Internet address: http://dms.dot.gov at any time. Commenters 
who wish to file comments electronically, should follow the 
instructions on the DMS Web site.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lawrence Buehler, Flight Technologies 
and Procedures Division, Flight Standards Service, AFS-400, Federal 
Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 
20591; telephone: (202) 385-4586.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites interested persons to participate in this 
rulemaking by submitting written comments, data, or views. We also 
invite comments relating to the economic, environmental, energy, or 
federalism impacts that might result from adopting this rulemaking 
action. The most helpful comments reference a specific portion of the 
proposal, explain the reason for any recommended change, and include 
supporting data. We ask that you send us two copies of written 
comments.
    We will file in the docket all comments we receive, as well as a 
report summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA personnel 
concerning this proposed rulemaking. The docket is available for public 
inspection before and after the comment closing date. If you wish to 
review the docket in person, go to the address in the ADDRESSES section 
of this preamble between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. You may also review the docket using the 
Internet at the web address in the ADDRESSES section.
    Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all comments 
received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual 
submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf 
of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT's 
complete Privacy Act statement in the Federal Register of April 11, 
2000 (65 FR 19477-19478), or you may visit http://dms.dot.gov.
    Before acting on this rulemaking action, we will consider all 
comments we receive on or before the closing date for comments. We will 
consider comments filed late if it is possible to do so without 
incurring expense or delay. We may change this rulemaking in light of 
the comments we receive.
    If you want the FAA to acknowledge receipt of your comments on this 
proposal, include with your comments a pre-addressed, stamped postcard 
on which the docket number appears. We will stamp the date on the 
postcard and mail it to you.

Background

    On December 17, 2002 (67 FR 77326; Dec. 17, 2002), the FAA issued a 
proposed rule entitled, ``Area Navigation (RNAV) and Miscellaneous 
Amendments.'' The comment period closed January 31, 2003. The changes 
were proposed to facilitate the transition from ground-based navigation 
to new reference sources, enable advancements in technology, and 
increase efficiency of the National Airspace System (NAS).

Today's Action

    The FAA has received requests to extend the comment period from 
Aeronautical Radio Inc., Airline Dispatchers Federation, the Air 
Transport Association, Alaska Airlines, Boeing, Continental Airlines, 
Delta Air Lines, Northwest Airlines, the Regional Airline Association, 
United Parcel Service, and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. 
Each organization stated that it needed additional time to review the 
NPRM and formulate its responses. The FAA has also received comments on 
the proposed amendments to communications and navigation equipment 
requirements, and instrument approach procedure terminology. These 
particular comments were substantive and reflected significant public 
interest in the many areas of the proposed amendments. Based on these 
considerations, the FAA has determined that it is in the public 
interest to reopen the comment period for certain portions of the NPRM. 
However, for reasons discussed below, this docket will remain closed 
for comments addressing the following proposed amendments:
    Part 1--Definitions and Abbreviations, under Sec.  1.1 General 
definitions, the terms ``Air Traffic Service (ATS) route,'' ``Area 
navigation (RNAV),'' ``Area navigation (RNAV) route,'' and ``Route 
segment.''
    Part 71--Designation of Class A, Class B, Class C, Class D, and 
Class E Airspace Areas; Air Traffic Service Routes; and Reporting 
Points, Sec. Sec.  71.11, 71.13, 71.15, 71.73, 71.75, 71.77, and 71.79.
    Part 95--IFR Altitudes, Sec.  95.1.
    Part 97--Standard Instrument Procedures, Sec.  97.20.

[[Page 16993]]

    The FAA has issued a separate final rule with request for comments 
for these proposed amendments. The separate final rule with request for 
comment is in today's Federal Register. The separate rule action will 
enable the FAA to proceed with the design and development phase of a 
high altitude RNAV route structure. The FAA believes that these 
amendments can be adopted separately without adverse impact on the 
continuing rulemaking process on the remaining proposed amendments in 
the NPRM.
    The FAA has decided to accommodate the requests to reopen and 
extend the comment period. Based on the number of requests for 
extension, the FAA believes that the additional time is necessary for 
the public to fully analyze and comment on the proposed amendments.

Conclusion

    In accordance with 14 CFR 11.47(c), the FAA has reviewed the 
requests for an extension of the comment period on ``Area Navigation 
(RNAV) and Miscellaneous Amendments'' published in the Federal Register 
December 17, 2002, and grants the requests in part.
    Except as explained above and separately in this issue of the 
Federal Register, the comment period for the proposed RNAV operations 
and equipment provisions is reopened for an additional 90-day period 
until July 7, 2003.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on March 28, 2003.
Louis C. Cusimano,
Acting Director, Flight Standards Service.
[FR Doc. 03-8287 Filed 4-7-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P