[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 31 (Thursday, February 14, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 10562-10564]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-03462]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2013-0081; Airspace Docket No. 12-AEA-5]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Establishment of Area Navigation (RNAV) Routes; 
Washington, DC

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to establish five new RNAV routes in 
support of the Washington, DC, Optimization of Airspace and Procedures 
in a Metroplex (OAPM) project. The proposed routes would increase 
efficiency and allow easier transition into the high altitude structure 
for departures from the Washington, DC Metropolitan area airports.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 1, 2013.

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-2013-
0081 and Airspace Docket No. 12-AEA-5 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 Policy 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-2013-0081 and Airspace Docket No. 12-AEA-5) 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-2013-0081 and Airspace Docket No. 12-AEA-5.'' 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://www.regulations.gov.
    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 
9:00 a.m. and 5:00 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, Federal 
Aviation Administration, Room 210, 1701 Columbia Ave., 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.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to Title 14, Code of Federal 
Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 to establish three high altitude RNAV 
routes, designated Q-68, Q-72 and Q-80; and two low altitude RNAV 
routes, designated T-291 and T-295, in the Washington, DC area. The 
proposed Q-routes would facilitate the divergence of aircraft 
departures from the Washington, DC, Metropolitan area airports, produce 
shorter routings and allow easier transition into the high altitude 
route structure. The Q-routes are intended to be one-way routes going 
westward and would serve primarily as feeders and alternate dispersion 
routes for aircraft departing the DC Metro area to the west. The 
proposed T-routes are expected to reduce ATC complexity and provide 
shorter routes of flight in some cases.
    The following routes are proposed. Q-68 would extend between the 
Charleston, WV, VHF omnidirectional range tactical air navigation 
(VORTAC) aid and the OTTTO, VA, waypoint (WP). Q-72 would extend 
between the HACKS, WV, intersection and the RAMAY, VA, WP. It would 
provide an alternate route for jet route J-149 via a direct routing to 
the HACKS intersection, thus reducing miles flown for RNAV-equipped 
aircraft. Q-80 would extend between the FAREV, KY, WP and the OTTTO, 
VA, WP to serve aircraft headed to the southwest.

[[Page 10563]]

    T-291 would extend between the LOUIE, MD, navigation fix and the 
Harrisburg, PA, VORTAC. T-295 would extend between the LOUIE fix and 
the Lancaster, PA, VORTAC. T-291 and T-295 would have a maximum 
assigned altitude (MAA) of 11,000 feet MSL. The T-routes would provide 
more efficient and predictable routing for aircraft utilizing airports 
near Harrisburg, PA, and the airports south of Patuxent River, MD, that 
normally fly VOR Federal airways V-31, V-33, V-93 and V-499 near the 
area. The T-routes would also enhance segregation of those aircraft 
utilizing those airways from the DC Metro arrivals coming from the 
northeast and from the DC Metro departures headed eastbound.
    The proposed routes would increase National Airspace System (NAS) 
efficiency and advance the use of NextGen technology.
    High altitude RNAV routes are published in paragraph 2006, and low 
altitude RNAV routes are published in paragraph 6011, respectively, of 
FAA Order 7400.9W dated August 8, 2012, and effective September 15, 
2012, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The RNAV 
routes 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 establishes RNAV routes as required to preserve the safe and 
efficient flow of air traffic.

Environmental Review

    This proposal will be subject to an environmental analysis in 
accordance with FAA Order 1050.1E, ``Environmental Impacts: Policies 
and Procedures'' prior to any FAA final regulatory action.

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

0
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]

0
2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of FAA Order 7400.9W, 
Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, Dated August 8, 2012, and 
effective September 15, 2012, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 2006 United States Area Navigation Routes

* * * * *

Q68 Charleston, WV (HVQ) to OTTTO, VA [New]
 
Charleston, WV (HVQ)         VORTAC             (Lat. 38[deg]20'59'' N., long. 081[deg]46'12'' W.)
TOMCA,WV                     WP                 (Lat. 38[deg]34'42'' N., long. 080[deg]36'41'' W.)
RONZZ, WV                    WP                 (Lat. 38[deg]33'16'' N., long. 080[deg]07'57'' W.)
HHOLZ, WV                    WP                 (Lat. 38[deg]38'02'' N., long. 079[deg]41'33'' W.)
HAMME, WV                    WP                 (Lat. 38[deg]42'30'' N., long. 079[deg]14'39'' W.)
CAPOE, VA                    WP                 (Lat. 38[deg]51'13'' N., long. 078[deg]22'27'' W.)
OTTTO, VA                    WP                 (Lat. 38[deg]51'16'' N., long. 078[deg]12'20'' W.)
 
Q72 HACKS, WV to RAMAY, VA [New]
 
HACKS, WV                    FIX                (Lat. 39[deg]07'46'' N., long. 081[deg]05'35'' W.)
GEQUE, WV                    WP                 (Lat. 39[deg]05'19'' N., long. 080[deg]17'58'' W.)
BENSH, WV                    WP                 (Lat. 39[deg]01'10'' N., long. 079[deg]10'29'' W.)
RAMAY, VA                    WP                 (Lat. 38[deg]57'39'' N., long. 078[deg]12'59'' W.)
 
Q80 FAREV, KY to OTTTO, VA [New]
 
FAREV, KY                    WP                 (Lat. 37[deg]12'28'' N., long. 085[deg]07'21'' W.)
JEDER, KY                    WP                 (Lat. 37[deg]19'31'' N., long. 084[deg]45'14'' W.)
ENGRA, KY                    WP                 (Lat. 37[deg]29'02'' N., long. 084[deg]15'02'' W.)
DEWAK, KY                    WP                 (Lat. 37[deg]46'38'' N., long. 083[deg]14'58'' W.)
CEGMA, KY                    WP                 (Lat. 37[deg]54'00'' N., long. 082[deg]50'32'' W.)
JONEN, KY                    WP                 (Lat. 37[deg]59'09'' N., long. 082[deg]32'46'' W.)
BULVE, WV                    WP                 (Lat. 38[deg]13'20'' N., long. 081[deg]42'43'' W.)
WISTA, WV                    WP                 (Lat. 38[deg]17'01'' N., long. 081[deg]27'47'' W.)
LEVII, WV                    WP                 (Lat. 38[deg]22'20'' N., long. 081[deg]05'52'' W.)
RONZZ, WV                    WP                 (Lat. 38[deg]33'16'' N., long. 080[deg]07'57'' W.)
HHOLZ, WV                    WP                 (Lat. 38[deg]38'02'' N., long. 079[deg]41'33'' W.)
HAMME, WV                    WP                 (Lat. 38[deg]42'30'' N., long. 079[deg]14'39'' W.)
CAPOE, VA                    WP                 (Lat. 38[deg]51'13'' N., long. 078[deg]22'27'' W.)
OTTTO, VA                    WP                 (Lat. 38[deg]51'16'' N., long. 078[deg]12'20'' W.)
 



[[Page 10564]]

Paragraph 6011 United States Area Navigation Routes

* * * * *

T-291 LOUIE, MD to Harrisburg (HAR), PA [New]
 
LOUIE, MD                    Fix                (Lat. 38[deg]36'44'' N., long. 076[deg]18'04'' W.)
MORTY, MD                    WP                 (Lat. 39[deg]19'51'' N., long. 076[deg]24'41'' W.)
Harrisburg, PA (HAR)         VORTAC             (Lat. 40[deg]18'08'' N., long. 077[deg]04'10'' W.)
 
T-295 LOUIE, MD to Lancaster (LRP), PA [New]
LOUIE, MD                    Fix                (Lat. 38[deg]36'44'' N., long. 076[deg]18'04'' W.)
MORTY, MD                    WP                 (Lat. 39[deg]19'51'' N., long. 076[deg]24'41'' W.)
Lancaster, PA (LRP)          VORTAC             (Lat. 40[deg]07'12'' N., long. 076[deg]17'29'' W.)
 



    Issued in Washington, DC, on February 8, 2013.
Gary A. Norek,
Manager, Airspace Policy and ATC Procedures Group.
[FR Doc. 2013-03462 Filed 2-13-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P