[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 100 (Friday, May 23, 2003)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 28179-28181]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-13036]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

RIN 2120-AA66
[Docket No. FAA 2003-15061; Airspace Docket No. ASD 03-ASW-1]


Proposed Revision of Federal Airways V-13 and V-407; Harlingen, 
TX

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to revise Federal Airway 13 (V-13) 
northeast of the McAllen, TX, Very High Frequency Omni-directional 
Range/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) by realigning the airway 
to intersect with V-163 south of the Corpus Christi, TX, Very High 
Frequency Omni-directional Range/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) 
rather than proceeding to the Harlingen, TX, VOR/DME. Additionally, 
this action proposes to revise the point of origin of V-407 from the 
Harlingen VOR/DME to the Brownsville, TX, VORTAC. Also, this action 
proposes to revise V-407 north of the Harlingen VOR/DME to reflect a 
change of the radial of the airway. The FAA is proposing this action 
due to the relocation of the Harlingen VOR/DME and to enhance the 
management of aircraft operations over the Harlingen, TX, area.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 11, 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 docket 
numbers FAA-2003-15061/Airspace Docket No. 03-ASW-1, 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, 2601 Meacham Blvd; Fort Worth, TX 76193-0500.

[[Page 28180]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Rohring, 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 2003-15061/
Airspace Docket No. 03-ASW-1.'' 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 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, 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 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.

Background

    The FAA is relocating the Harlingen VOR/DME approximately 8 
nautical miles to the southeast of its current location. As a part of 
that effort, the FAA plans to realign V-13 northeast of the McAllen 
VOR/DME to intersect with V-163 south of the Corpus Christi VORTAC. 
Additionally, the FAA plans to revise the point of origin of V-407 from 
the Harlingen VOR/DME to the Brownsville VORTAC and to revise a segment 
of V-407 north of the Harlingen VOR/DME from the current Harlingen VOR/
DME 357[deg] radial to the new Harlingen VOR/DME 351[deg] radial. With 
this revision, the point at which V-407 intersects V-20 (JIMIE 
intersection) will remain the same.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing to amend part 71 of the Federal Aviation 
Regulations (14 CFR part 71) to revise V-13 and V-407 in the Harlingen, 
TX, area. Specifically, this action proposes to realign V-13 northeast 
of the McAllen VOR/DME to intersect with V-163 south of the Corpus 
Christi VORTAC; to revise the point of origin of V-407 from the 
Harlingen VOR/DME to the Brownsville VORTAC; and to revise V-407 north 
of the Harlingen VOR/DME to reflect the change of radial due to the 
relocation of the Harlingen VOR/DME. This action is necessary due to 
the relocation of the Harlingen VOR/DME and to enhance the management 
of aircraft operations over the Harlingen, TX, area.
    Federal airways are published in paragraph 6010(a) of FAA Order 
7400.9K dated August 30, 2002, and effective September 16, 2002, which 
is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The 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 Department of Transportation (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.

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 FAA Order 
7400.9K, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 30, 
2002, and effective September 16, 2002, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6010(a) Domestic VOR Federal Airways

* * * * *

V-13 [Revised]

    From McAllen, TX, via INT McAllen 060[deg]T(051[deg]M) radial 
and Corpus Christi, TX, 178[deg]T(169[deg]M) radials; Corpus 
Christi; INT Corpus Christi 039[deg] and Palacios, TX, 241[deg] 
radials; Palacios; Humble, TX; Lufkin, TX; Belcher, LA; Texarkana, 
AR; Rich Mountain, OK; Fort Smith, AR; INT Fort Smith 006[deg] and 
Razorback, AR, 190[deg] radials; Razorback; Neosho, MO; Butler, MO; 
Napoleon, MO; Lamoni, IA; Des Moines, IA; Mason City, IA; 
Farmington, MN; INT Farmington 017[deg] and Siren, WI, 218[deg] 
radials; Siren; Duluth, MN; to Thunder Bay, ON, Canada. The airspace 
outside the United States is excluded.
* * * * *

V-407 [Revised]

    From Brownsville, TX; Harlingen, TX; via INT Harlingen 
351[deg]T(346[deg]M) and Corpus Christi, TX, 193[deg]T(184[deg]M) 
radials; Corpus Christi; via INT Corpus Christi 039[deg] and 
Palacios, TX, 241[deg] radials; Palacios; via INT Palacios 017[deg] 
and Humble, TX, 242[deg] radials; Humble; Daisetta, TX; Lufkin, TX; 
Elm Grove, LA; to El Dorado, AR.
* * * * *


[[Page 28181]]


    Issued in Washington, DC, on May 15, 2003.
Reginald C. Matthews,
Manager, Airspace and Rules Division.
[FR Doc. 03-13036 Filed 5-22-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P