[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 119 (Wednesday, June 22, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 36084-36085]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-12122]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2005-21381; Airspace Docket No. 05-ASW-2]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Establishment of Area Navigation Routes; Southwestern 
and South Central United States

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to establish three area navigation (RNAV) 
routes in Southwestern and South Central United States in support of 
the High Altitude Redesign (HAR) program. The FAA is proposing this 
action to enhance safety and to improve the efficient use of the 
navigable airspace.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before August 8, 2005.

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 FAA Docket 
No. FAA-2005-21381 and Airspace Docket No. 05-ASW-2, at the beginning 
of your comments. You may also submit comments through the Internet at 
http://dms.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Rohring, Airspace and Rules, 
Office of System Operations and Safety, 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 (FAA Docket No. 
FAA-2005-21381 and Airspace Docket No. 05-ASW-2) and be submitted in 
triplicate to the Docket Management System (see ADDRESSES section for 
address and phone number). You may also submit comments through the 
Internet at http://dms.dot.gov.
    Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments 
on this action must submit with those comments a self-addressed, 
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments 
to FAA Docket No. FAA-2005-21381 and Airspace Docket No. 05-ASW-2.'' 
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 action 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 Federal Register's Web page at http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html.
    You may review the public docket containing the proposal, any 
comments received, and any final disposition in person in the Dockets 
Office (see ADDRESSES section for address and phone number) between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. 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.
    Persons interested in being placed on a mailing list for future 
NPRM's should contact 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

    As part of the on-going National Airspace Redesign, the FAA 
implemented the HAR program. This program focuses on developing and 
implementing improvements in navigation structure and operating methods 
to allow more flexible and efficient en route operations in the high 
altitude airspace environment. In support of this program, the FAA is 
establishing RNAV routes to provide greater freedom to properly 
equipped users and to achieve the economic benefits of flying user-
selected, non-restrictive routings.
    The new RNAV routes will be identified by the letter prefix ``Q'' 
followed by a number consisting of from one to three digits. The 
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has allocated the 
``Q'' prefix, along with the number set 1 through 499, for use by the 
United States for designating domestic RNAV routes.

Related Rulemaking

    On April 8, 2003, the FAA published the Designation of Class A, B, 
C, D, and E Airspace Areas; Air Traffic Service Routes, and Reporting 
Points rule in the Federal Register (68 FR 16943). The purpose of the 
rule was to facilitate the establishment of RNAV routes in the National 
Airspace System for use by aircraft with advanced navigation system 
capabilities. This rule adopted certain amendments proposed in Notice 
No. 02-20, Area Navigation and Miscellaneous Amendments. The rule 
revised and adopted several definitions in FAA regulations, including 
Air Traffic Service Routes, to be in concert with ICAO definitions and 
reorganized the structure of FAA regulations concerning the designation 
of Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, airways, routes, and 
reporting points.
    On May 9, 2003, the FAA published a final rule in the Federal 
Register (68 FR 24864) establishing 11 new RNAV routes along high-
density air traffic tracks in the western and north central United 
States in support of Phase I of the HAR. Additionally, on February 7, 
2005, the FAA published in the Federal Register (70 FR 6376) a notice 
of proposed rulemaking to establish eight RNAV routes in Florida in 
support of this program.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing to amend Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations 
(14 CFR) part 71 to establish three RNAV routes in Southwestern and 
South Central

[[Page 36085]]

United States within the airspace assigned to the Albuquerque and Fort 
Worth Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCC). These routes are 
proposed as part of the HAR program to enhance safety and to facilitate 
the more flexible and efficient use of the navigable airspace for en 
route instrument flight rules operations within the Albuquerque and the 
Fort Worth ARTCCs' areas of responsibility.
    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 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, B, C, D, AND E AIRSPACE AREAS; AIR 
TRAFFIC SERVICE 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 
7400.9M, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 30, 
2004, and effective September 16, 2004, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 2006 Area Navigation Routes

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Q-20 JCT to CNX [New]
JCT...........................  VORTAC...........  (Lat. 30[deg]35'53'' N., long. 099[deg]49'03'' W).
FUSCO.........................  WP...............  (Lat. 31[deg]11'02'' N., long. 101[deg]19'30'' W).
UNNOS.........................  WP...............  (Lat. 32[deg]57'00'' N., long. 103[deg]56'00'' W).
HONDS.........................  WP...............  (Lat. 33[deg]33'60'' N., long. 104[deg]51'12'' W).
CNX...........................  VORTAC...........  (Lat. 34[deg]22'01'' N., long. 105[deg]40'41'' W).
Q-22 GUSTI to CATLN [New]
GUSTI.........................  WP...............  (Lat. 29[deg]58'15'' N., long. 092[deg]54'35'' W).
OYSTY.........................  WP...............  (Lat. 30[deg]28'15'' N., long. 090[deg]11'49'' W).
RUBAE.........................  WP...............  (Lat. 30[deg]55'27'' N., long. 088[deg]22'11'' W).
CATLN.........................  WP...............  (Lat. 31[deg]18'26'' N., long. 087[deg]34'48'' W).
Q-24 LCH to PAYTN [New]
LCH...........................  VORTAC...........  (Lat. 30[deg]08'29'' N., long. 093[deg]06'20'' W).
BTR...........................  VORTAC...........  (Lat. 30[deg]29'06'' N., long. 091[deg]17'39'' W).
IRUBE.........................  WP...............  (Lat. 31[deg]00'16'' N., long. 088[deg]56'19'' W).
PAYTN.........................  WP...............  (Lat. 31[deg]28'04'' N., long. 087[deg]53'08'' W).
 

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    Issued in Washington, DC, on June 10, 2005.
Edith V. Parish,
Acting Manager, Airspace and Rules.
[FR Doc. 05-12122 Filed 6-21-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P