[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 95 (Tuesday, May 17, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 28379-28382]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-12002]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2011-0376; Airspace Docket No. 10-AEA-11]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Amendment and Establishment of Air Traffic Service 
Routes; Northeast United States

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to amend five Air Traffic Service (ATS) 
routes and establish four new ATS routes. The existing routes that 
would be amended are Q-42, J-60, V-16, V-229 and V-449. The proposed 
new routes are Q-62, Q-406, Q-448 and Q-480. The FAA is proposing this 
action to increase National Airspace System (NAS) efficiency, enhance 
safety and reduce delays within the New York Metropolitan area 
airspace.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 1, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on this proposal to the U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., 
West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001; 
telephone: (202) 366-9826. You must identify FAA Docket No. FAA-2011-
0376 and Airspace Docket No. 10-AEA-11 at the beginning of your 
comments. You may also submit comments through the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Gallant, Airspace, Regulations 
and ATC Procedures Group, Office of Airspace Services, 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-2011-0376 and Airspace Docket No. 10-AEA-11) and be submitted in 
triplicate to the Docket Management Facility (see ADDRESSES section for 
address and phone number). You may also submit comments through the 
Internet at http://www.regulations.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-2011-0376 and Airspace Docket No.10-AEA-11.'' The 
postcard will be date/time stamped and returned to the commenter.
    All communications received on or before the specified comment 
closing date 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

[[Page 28380]]

public docket both before and after the comment closing date. A report 
summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA personnel 
concerned with this rulemaking will be filed in the docket.

Availability of NPRMs

    An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded through the 
Internet at http://www.regulations.gov. Recently published rulemaking 
documents can also be accessed through the FAA's Web page at http://www.faa.gov/airports_airtraffic/air_traffic/publications/airspace_amendments/.
    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 Eastern Service Center, Operations Support Group, 
Federal Aviation Administration, Room 210, 1701 Columbia Ave., College 
Park, GA 30337.
    Persons interested in being placed on a mailing list for future 
NPRMs 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

    The New York/New Jersey/Philadelphia Metropolitan Area is served by 
four major airports: Newark Liberty International, John F. Kennedy 
International, La Guardia, and Philadelphia International, as well as 
numerous smaller airports generating significant air traffic 
operations. The close proximity of the airports, combined with high air 
traffic volume and a complex airspace structure, contribute to less 
efficient system operations and air traffic delays that can affect 
airports across the United States. The FAA has been working on various 
initiatives to increase the efficiency and reliability of the airspace 
structure in order to maintain safety, respond to increasing aviation 
operations and mitigate mounting air traffic delays. Key elements of 
these efforts include improving user access to the NAS, expediting 
arrivals and departures, and providing more flexible routing options. 
Other benefits include reduced ATC system complexity, balanced air 
traffic controller workload, reduced voice communications requirements 
and reduced aircraft fuel consumption. This notice proposes a number of 
ATS route changes to help address the above issues.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to Title 14, Code of Federal 
Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 to amend jet route J-60, area navigation 
(RNAV) route Q-42, and VOR Federal airways V-16, V-229 and V-449. In 
addition, the FAA is proposing to establish four new RNAV routes 
designated as Q-62, Q-406, Q-448 and Q-480.
    The proposed changes would facilitate the rerouting of westbound 
air traffic departing the New York metropolitan area and would also 
better sequence this departing traffic with en route overflight 
traffic. The current traffic flows would be split with new routes and 
navigation fixes added to reduce delays within the New York terminal 
airspace. The proposed new and revised ATS routes would mostly be used 
for departures but are also designed to more efficiently accommodate 
aircraft landing within the Potomac Terminal Radar Approach Control 
(TRACON) airspace. Potomac TRACON airspace includes, but is not limited 
to, Washington Dulles International Airport, Ronald Reagan Washington 
National Airport, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall 
Airport, and their satellite airports. The proposed route changes would 
also help segregate the Potomac TRACON arrivals from the high altitude 
routes extending from the Boston Air Route Traffic Control Center 
(ARTCC) and New York ARTCC areas of responsibility.
    This action proposes to modify the following existing routes: J-60, 
Q-42, V-16, V-229 and V-449. J-60 would be realigned at a point 
northwest of the East Texas, PA, VHF Omnidirectional Range/Distance 
Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME), by inserting a dogleg to the north of 
course, then bypassing the East Texas VOR/DME, and extending through a 
new westgate departure fix, NEWEL, to be added in the vicinity of the 
ELIOT fix. J-60 would then resume course to the Sparta, NJ, VORTAC. 
This realignment would help reduce congestion and converging en route 
aircraft flows and mitigate a choke point over the existing ELIOT 
departure fix.
    RNAV route Q-42 would be amended by deleting the current segments 
between the BRNAN, PA, waypoint (WP) and ELIOT, PA, WP and replacing 
them with segments extending from BRNAN WP to new WPs HOTEE, PA; BTRIX, 
PA; SPOTZ, PA, and terminating at a new waypoint ZIMMZ, NJ. This change 
would also help reduce converging flows and reduce congestion.
    VOR Federal airways V-16 and V-229 would be amended by inserting a 
dogleg north of their present courses by following the Kennedy VOR/DME 
052[deg] (magnetic) radial northeast of Kennedy VOR/DME. V-16 would 
then turn east bound, bypassing the Deer Park VOR/DME, then proceeding 
to the Calverton VOR/DME and resuming its current course. V-229 would 
also be modified along the Kennedy VOR/DME 052[deg] radial, then 
turning eastbound to re-intercept its current course toward the 
Bridgeport, CT, VOR/DME. The V-16 and V-229 changes are intended to 
free up airspace to accommodate a climb corridor for John F. Kennedy 
International Airport departures.
    V-449 currently extends between the Lake Henry, PA, VORTAC and the 
Albany, NY, VORTAC. This route would be lengthened westward by adding a 
new segment that extends between the Selinsgrove, PA, VORTAC and the 
Lake Henry VORTAC via the Milton, PA, VORTAC. This change would 
facilitate routing for arrivals into La Guardia Airport.
    Four new RNAV routes are being proposed and would be designated as 
Q-62, Q-406, Q-448 and Q-480. Q-62 would enhance westward flows, reduce 
congestion and provide flexibility for aircraft entering the Cleveland 
ARTCC area and routings toward Chicago.
    Q-406, Q-448 and Q-480, along with the amended Q-42, would reduce 
current converging en route flows that result from dependency on 
ground-based navigation aids. The new Q-route segments would permit 
some alignment with the, to be established, New York departure fixes 
NEWEL, CANDR and ZIMMZ. These new fixes would be used for departures 
from the New York metropolitan area airports to transition and merge 
aircraft from the terminal structure into the high altitude en route 
structure and vice versa. In addition, the new routes would relieve 
congestion by providing alternate routings for aircraft landing at 
airports outside the New York Metropolitan area.
    For the full descriptions of these proposed route changes, see The 
Proposed Amendment section, below. Radials in the VOR Federal airway 
descriptions below are stated in True degrees, except for the proposed 
amended airway segments, which include both True and Magnetic values. 
In a final rule, only True degrees would be stated.
    Jet routes are published in paragraph 2004, high altitude RNAV 
routes are published in paragraph 2006, and VOR Federal airways are 
published in

[[Page 28381]]

paragraph 6010, respectively, of FAA Order 7400.9U dated August 18, 
2010, and effective September 15, 2010, which is incorporated by 
reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The jet routes, high altitude RNAV routes and 
VOR Federal airways listed in this document would be subsequently 
published 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 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.
    The FAA's authority to issue rules regarding aviation safety is 
found in Title 49 of the United States Code. Subtitle I, Section 106 
describes the authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII, 
Aviation Programs, describes in more detail the scope of the agency's 
authority.
    This rulemaking is promulgated under the authority described in 
Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart I, Section 40103. Under that section, the 
FAA is charged with prescribing regulations to assign the use of the 
airspace necessary to ensure the safety of aircraft and the efficient 
use of airspace. This regulation is within the scope of that authority 
as it modifies the route structure as required to preserve the safe and 
efficient flow of air traffic in the northeast United States.

Environmental Review

    This proposed action qualifies for a categorical exclusion in 
accordance with FAA Order 1050.1E, Environmental Impacts: Policies and 
Procedures, Paragraph 311a. This airspace action is not expected to 
cause any potentially significant environmental impacts, and no 
extraordinary circumstances exist that warrant preparation of an 
environmental assessment.

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 
7400.9U, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, Dated August 18, 
2010 and effective September 15, 2010, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 2004 Jet Routes.

* * * * *

J-60 [Amended]

    From Los Angeles, CA; via Paradise, CA; Hector, CA; Boulder 
City, NV; Bryce Canyon, UT; Hanksville, UT; Red Table, CO; Mile 
High, CO; Hayes Center, NE; Lincoln, NE; Iowa City, IA; Joliet, IL; 
Goshen, IN; DRYER, OH; Philipsburg, PA; INT Philipsburg 100[deg] 
(110[deg] M) and Ravine, PA 071[deg] (082[deg] M) radials; INT 
Sparta, NJ, 253[deg] (264[deg] M) and Broadway, NJ, 295[deg] 
(306[deg] M) radials; to Sparta, NJ.
* * * * *

Paragraph 2006 United States Area Navigation Routes.

* * * * *

Q42 Kirksville, MO (IRK) to ZIMMZ, NJ [Amended]
 
Kirksville, MO (IRK)                        VORTAC                               (Lat. 40[deg]08'06'' N., long. 92[deg]35'30'' W.)
STRUK, IL                                   WP                                   (Lat. 40[deg]14'04'' N., long. 90[deg]18'22'' W.)
Danville, IL (DNV)                          VORTAC                               (Lat. 40[deg]17'38'' N., long. 87[deg]33'26'' W.)
Muncie, IN (MIE)                            VOR/DME                              (Lat. 40[deg]14'14'' N., long. 85[deg]23'39'' W.)
HIDON, OH                                   WP                                   (Lat. 40[deg]10'00'' N., long. 81[deg]37'27'' W.)
BUBAA, OH                                   WP                                   (Lat. 40[deg]10'27'' N., long. 80[deg]58'17'' W.)
PSYKO, PA                                   WP                                   (Lat. 40[deg]08'37'' N., long. 79[deg]09'13'' W.)
BRNAN, PA                                   WP                                   (Lat. 40[deg]08'07'' N., long. 77[deg]50'07'' W.)
HOTEE, PA                                   WP                                   (Lat. 40[deg]20'36'' N., long. 76[deg]29'37'' W.)
BTRIX, PA                                   WP                                   (Lat. 40[deg]36'06'' N., long. 75[deg]49'11'' W.)
SPOTZ, PA                                   WP                                   (Lat. 40[deg]45'55'' N., long. 75[deg]22'59'' W.)
ZIMMZ, NJ                                   WP                                   (Lat. 40[deg]48'11'' N., long. 75[deg]07'25'' W.)
 
                                                                     * * * * * * *
Q62 NOLNN, OH to SARAA, PA [New]
NOLNN, OH                                   WP                                   (Lat. 41[deg]14'04'' N., long. 84[deg]38'12'' W.)
WEEVR, OH                                   WP                                   (Lat. 41[deg]13'21'' N., long. 84[deg]13'04'' W.)
PSKUR, OH                                   WP                                   (Lat. 41[deg]09'16'' N., long. 82[deg]42'57'' W.)
FAALS, OH                                   WP                                   (Lat. 41[deg]02'51'' N., long. 80[deg]52'40'' W.)
ALEEE, OH                                   WP                                   (Lat. 41[deg]00'28'' N., long. 80[deg]31'54'' W.)
QUARM, PA                                   WP                                   (Lat. 40[deg]49'45'' N., long. 79[deg]04'39'' W.)
BURNI, PA                                   FIX                                  (Lat. 40[deg]39'25'' N., long. 77[deg]48'14'' W.)
MCMAN, PA                                   FIX                                  (Lat. 40[deg]38'16'' N., long. 77[deg]34'14'' W.)
VALLO, PA                                   FIX                                  (Lat. 40[deg]37'37'' N., long. 77[deg]26'18'' W.)
Ravine, PA                                  (RAV) VORTAC                         (Lat. 40[deg]33'12'' N., long. 76[deg]35'58'' W.)
SUZIE, PA                                   FIX                                  (Lat. 40[deg]27'12'' N., long. 75[deg]58'22'' W.)
SARAA, PA                                   FIX                                  (Lat. 40[deg]26'22'' N., long. 75[deg]53'16'' W.)
 
Q406 Broadway, NJ (BWZ) to Barnes, MA (BAF) [New]
 
Broadway, NJ (BWZ)                          VOR/DME                              (Lat. 40[deg]47'54'' N., long. 74[deg]49'19'' W.)
JEETR, NY                                   WP                                   (Lat. 41[deg]08'30'' N., long. 74[deg]05'46'' W.)
BASYE, NY                                   FIX                                  (Lat. 41[deg]20'37'' N., long. 73[deg]47'55'' W.)

[[Page 28382]]

 
TRIBS, CT                                   WP                                   (Lat. 41[deg]39'29'' N., long. 73[deg]19'03'' W.)
BIGGO, CT                                   FIX.                                 (Lat. 41[deg]57'21'' N., long. 73[deg]04'05'' W.)
Barnes, MA (BAF)                            VORTAC                               (Lat. 42[deg]09'43'' N., long. 72[deg]42'58'' W.)
 
Q448 Pottstown, PA (PTW) to Barnes, MA (BAF) [New]
Pottstown, PA (PTW)                         VORTAC                               (Lat. 40[deg]13'20'' N., long. 75[deg]33'37'' W.)
LANNA, NJ                                   FIX                                  (Lat. 40[deg]33'35'' N., long. 75[deg]01'40'' W.)
JEETR, NY                                   WP                                   (Lat. 41[deg]08'30'' N., long. 74[deg]05'46'' W.)
BASYE, NY                                   FIX                                  (Lat. 41[deg]20'37'' N., long. 73[deg]47'55'' W.)
TRIBS, CT                                   WP                                   (Lat. 41[deg]39'29'' N., long. 73[deg]19'03'' W.)
BIGGO, CT                                   FIX.                                 (Lat. 41[deg]57'21'' N., long. 73[deg]04'05'' W.)
Barnes, MA (BAF)                            VORTAC                               (Lat. 42[deg]09'43'' N., long. 72[deg]42'58'' W.)
 
Q480 ZANDR, OH to Kennebunk, ME (ENE) [New]
 
ZANDR, OH                                   FIX                                  (Lat. 40[deg]00'19'' N., long. 81[deg]31'58'' W.)
Bellaire, OH (AIR)                          VOR/DME                              (Lat. 40[deg]01'01'' N., long. 80[deg]49'02'' W.)
LEJOY, PA                                   FIX                                  (Lat. 40[deg]00'12'' N., long. 79[deg]24'54'' W.)
VINSE, PA                                   FIX                                  (Lat. 39[deg]58'16'' N., long. 77[deg]57'21'' W.)
BEETS, PA                                   WP                                   (Lat. 39[deg]57'20'' N., long. 77[deg]26'59'' W.)
HOTEE, PA                                   WP                                   (Lat. 40[deg]20'36'' N., long. 76[deg]29'37'' W.)
BTRIX, PA                                   WP                                   (Lat. 40[deg]36'06'' N., long. 75[deg]49'11'' W.)
SPOTZ, PA                                   WP                                   (Lat. 40[deg]45'55'' N., long. 75[deg]22'59'' W.)
CANDR, NJ                                   WP                                   (Lat. 40[deg]58'02'' N., long. 74[deg]57'30'' W.)
JEFFF, NJ                                   WP                                   (Lat. 41[deg]14'46'' N., long. 74[deg]27'43'' W.)
Kingston, NY (IGN)                          VOR/DME                              (Lat. 41[deg]39'56'' N., long. 73[deg]49'20'' W.)
LESWL, CT                                   WP                                   (Lat. 41[deg]53'31'' N., long. 73[deg]19'20'' W.)
Barnes, MA (BAF)                            VORTAC                               (Lat. 42[deg]09'43'' N., long. 72[deg]42'58'' W.)
Kennebunk, ME (ENE)                         VORTAC                               (Lat. 43[deg]25'32'' N., long. 70[deg]36'49'' W.)
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
 

Paragraph 6010 VOR Federal Airways.

V-16 [Amended]

    From Los Angeles, CA; Paradise, CA; Palm Springs, CA; Blythe, 
CA; Buckeye, AZ; Phoenix, AZ; INT Phoenix 155[deg] and Stanfield, 
AZ, 105[deg] radials; Tucson, AZ; Cochise, AZ; Columbus, NM; El 
Paso, TX; Salt Flat, TX; Wink, TX; INT Wink 066[deg] and Big Spring, 
TX, 260[deg] radials; Big Spring; Abilene, TX; Bowie, TX; Bonham, 
TX; Paris, TX; Texarkana, AR; Pine Bluff, AR; Marvell, AR; Holly 
Springs, MS; Jacks Creek, TN; Shelbyville, TN; Hinch Mountain, TN; 
Volunteer, TN; Holston Mountain, TN; Pulaski, VA; Roanoke, VA; 
Lynchburg, VA; Flat Rock, VA; Richmond, VA; INT Richmond 039[deg] 
and Patuxent, MD, 228[deg] radials; Patuxent; Smyrna, DE; Cedar 
Lake, NJ; Coyle, NJ; INT Coyle 036[deg] and Kennedy, NY, 209[deg] 
radials; Kennedy; INT Kennedy 040[deg] (052[deg] M) and Calverton, 
NY, 261[deg] (274[deg]M) radials; Calverton; Norwich, CT; Boston, 
MA. The airspace within Mexico and the airspace below 2,000 feet MSL 
outside the United States is excluded. The airspace within 
Restricted Areas R-5002A, R-5002C, and R-5002D is excluded during 
their times of use. The airspace within Restricted Areas R-4005 and 
R-4006 is excluded.

V-229 [Amended]

    From Patuxent, MD; INT Patuxent 036[deg] and Atlantic City, NJ, 
236[deg] radials; Atlantic City; INT Atlantic City 055[deg] and 
Colts Neck, NJ, 181[deg] radials; INT Colts Neck 181[deg] and 
Kennedy, NY, 209[deg] radials; Kennedy; INT Kennedy 040[deg] 
(052[deg] M) and Calverton, NY, 261[deg] (274[deg] M) radials; INT 
Calverton 261[deg] (274[deg]) and Kennedy 053[deg] (065[deg] M) 
radials; INT Kennedy 053[deg] and Bridgeport, CT, 200[deg] radials; 
Bridgeport; Hartford, CT; INT Hartford 040[deg] and Gardner, MA, 
195[deg] radials; Gardner; Keene, NH; INT Keene 336[deg] and 
Burlington, VT, 160[deg] radials; to Burlington. The airspace within 
R-5002B is excluded during times of use. The airspace below 2,000 
feet MSL outside the United States is excluded.

V-449 [Amended]

    From Selinsgrove, PA; Milton, PA; INT Milton 064[deg] (073[deg] 
M) and Williamsport, PA 109[deg] (118[deg] M) radials; Lake Henry, 
PA; DeLancey, NY; Albany, NY.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on May 10, 2011.
Gary A. Norek,
Acting Manager, Airspace, Regulations & ATC Procedures Group.
[FR Doc. 2011-12002 Filed 5-16-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P