[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 128 (Wednesday, July 6, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 38826-38828]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-13266]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2005-20699; Airspace Docket No. 04-ASO-19]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Establishment of Area Navigation Instrument Flight Rules 
Terminal Transition Routes (RITTR); Cincinnati, OH

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to establish four Area Navigation 
Instrument Flight Rules Terminal Transition Routes (RITTR) in the 
Cincinnati, OH, terminal area. RITTRs are low altitude Air Traffic 
Service routes, based on area navigation (RNAV), for use by aircraft 
having instrument flight rules (IFR)-approved Global Positioning (GPS)/
Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) equipment. The purpose of 
RITTR is to expedite the handling of IFR overflight aircraft through 
busy terminal airspace areas. The FAA is proposing this action to 
enhance the safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace in the 
Cincinnati, OH, terminal area.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before August 22, 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-2005-20699 and Airspace Docket No. 04-ASO-19, at the beginning 
of your comments. You may also submit comments through the Internet at 
http://dms.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Gallant, 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-2005-20699 and Airspace Docket No. 04-ASO-19) 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-2005-20699 and Airspace Docket No. 04-ASO-19.'' 
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, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337.
    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.

[[Page 38827]]

Background

    In March 2000, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) 
requested that the FAA take action to develop and chart IFR RNAV 
airways for use by aircraft having IFR-approved GPS equipment. Due to 
the density of air traffic in some areas, en route aircraft are not 
always able to fly on the existing Federal airway structure when 
transiting congested terminal airspace. In such cases, air traffic 
control (ATC) is often required to provide radar vectors to reroute 
aircraft transitioning through the area to avoid the heavy flow of 
arriving and departing aircraft. AOPA stated that RNAV airways should 
facilitate more direct routings than are possible with the current 
Federal airway system and should provide pilots with easier access 
through terminal airspace. In addition, AOPA encouraged the expanded 
use of RNAV airways in the National Airspace System (NAS).
    In response to the AOPA request, a cooperative effort was launched 
involving the FAA, AOPA, and the Government/Industry Aeronautical 
Charting Forum. This effort began with the development of RNAV routes 
to provide more direct routing for en route IFR aircraft to transition 
through busy terminal airspace areas. One step in this effort was the 
development of IFR transition routes to expedite the handling of IFR 
overflight traffic through the Cincinnati, OH, terminal area. Nine 
Cincinnati IFR transition routes are currently published in the East 
Central U.S. volume of the Airport/Facility Directory (A/FD). The 
RITTRs proposed in this notice would replace the nine Cincinnati 
transition routes currently published in the A/FD. The proposed RITTRs 
would be depicted on the appropriate low altitude IFR en route charts 
in lieu of publication in the A/FD.

RITTR Objective

    The objective of the RITTR program is to enhance the expeditious 
movement of suitably equipped IFR aircraft around or through congested 
terminal airspace using IFR-approved RNAV equipment. RITTRs would 
enhance the ability of pilots to navigate through the area without 
reliance on ground-based navigation aids or ATC radar vectors. To 
facilitate this goal, and reduce ATC workload, RITTR routes would be 
designed based on the tracks routinely used by ATC to vector aircraft 
through or around the affected terminal area. Additionally, the routes 
begin and terminate at fixes or Navigational Aids located along 
existing VOR Federal airways in order to provide connectivity with the 
low-altitude en route structure. Initially, only GNSS-equipped aircraft 
capable of filing flight plan equipment suffix ``/G'' would be able to 
use RITTRs.

RITTR Identification and Charting

    RITTRs are identified by the letter ``T'' prefix, followed by a 
three digit number. The ``T'' prefix is one of several International 
Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) designators used to identify 
domestic RNAV routes. ICAO has allocated to the FAA the letter ``T'' 
prefix along with the number block 200 to 500 for this purpose.
    RITTRs would be depicted in blue on the appropriate IFR en route 
low altitude chart(s). Each route depiction would include a GNSS 
Minimum Enroute Altitude (MEA) to ensure obstacle clearance and 
communications reception.
    The FAA plans to publish information about the RITTR program in the 
Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) and the Notices to Airmen 
Publication (NTAP). In addition, a Charting Notice would be issued by 
the FAA's National Aeronautical Charting Office to explain the charting 
changes associated with the RITTRs.

Related Rulemaking

    On April 8, 2003, the FAA published a final rule, request for 
comment, entitled Designation of Class A, B, C, D, and E Airspace 
Areas; Air Traffic Service Routes, and Reporting Points, in the Federal 
Register (68 FR 16943). This rule adopted certain amendments proposed 
in Notice No. 02-20, RNAV and Miscellaneous Amendments. This rule 
revised and adopted several definitions in FAA regulations, including 
Air Traffic Service Routes, to be in concert with ICAO definitions. 
Additionally, the final rule reorganized the structure of FAA 
regulations concerning the designation of Class A, B, C, D, and E 
airspace areas, airways, routes, and reporting points. The rule was 
designed to facilitate the establishment of RNAV routes in the NAS for 
use by aircraft with advanced navigation system capabilities.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing to amend Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations 
(14 CFR) part 71 to establish four RITTRs in the Cincinnati, OH, 
terminal area. The routes would be designated T-212, T-213, T-215, and 
T-217, and would be depicted on the appropriate IFR Enroute Low 
Altitude charts. RITTRs are low altitude Air Traffic Service routes, 
similar to VOR Federal airways, but based on GNSS navigation. RNAV-
capable aircraft filing flight plan equipment suffix ``/G'' may file 
for these routes.
    If approved, the RITTR routes proposed in this notice would replace 
the nine Cincinnati IFR Transition Routes that are currently published 
in the A/FD.
    This proposed action would enhance safety, and facilitate more 
flexible and efficient use of the navigable airspace for en route IFR 
aircraft transitioning through the Cincinnati, OH, terminal area.
    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 6011--Area Navigation Routes

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[[Page 38828]]



T-212 HEDEN, OH to Midwest, OH [New]
 
HEDEN, OH...................  WP..................  (Lat. 39[deg]16'45'' N., long. 84[deg]02'02'' W.)
Midwest, OH (MXQ)...........  VOR/DME.............  (Lat. 39[deg]25'47'' N., long. 83[deg]48'04'' W.)
 
 
                                                  * ............................................................
T-213 Louisville, KY to
 Richmond, IN [New]
 
 Louisville, KY (IIU).......  VORTAC..............  (Lat. 38[deg]06'13'' N., long. 85[deg]34'39'' W.)
GAMKE, IN...................  WP..................  (Lat. 38[deg]47'02'' N., long. 85[deg]15'14'' W.)
MILAN, IN...................  WP..................  (Lat. 39[deg]21'22'' N., long. 85[deg]19'01'' W.)
Richmond, IN (RID)..........  VORTAC..............  (Lat. 39[deg]45'18'' N., long. 84[deg]50'20'' W.)
 
 
                                                  * ............................................................
T-215 Lexington, KY to
 GAMKE, IN [New]
 
 Lexington, KY (HYK)........  VORTAC..............  (Lat. 37[deg]57'59'' N., long. 84[deg]28'21'' W.)
GAMKE, IN...................  WP..................  (Lat. 38[deg]47'02'' N., long. 85[deg]15'14'' W.)
 
 
                                                  * ............................................................
T-217 Lexington, KY to
 Springfield, OH [New]
 
 Lexington, KY (HYK)........  VORTAC..............  (Lat. 37[deg]57'59'' N., long. 84[deg]28'21'' W.)
BOSTR, OH...................  WP..................  (Lat. 38[deg]53'08'' N., long. 84[deg]04'58'' W.)
HEDEN, OH...................  WP..................  (Lat. 39[deg]16'45'' N., long. 84[deg]02'02'' W.)
Springfield, OH (SGH).......  VOR/DME.............  (Lat. 39[deg]50'12'' N., long. 83[deg]50'42'' W.)
 
 

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    Issued in Washington, DC, on June 28, 2005.
Edith V. Parish,
Acting Manager, Airspace and Rules.
[FR Doc. 05-13266 Filed 7-5-05; 8:45 am]
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