[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 221 (Friday, November 15, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 68777-68779]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-27335]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2013-0891; Airspace Docket No. 12-ASO-37]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Establishment of Area Navigation (RNAV) Routes; Atlanta, 
GA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to establish nine low-altitude RNAV 
routes (T-routes) in the Atlanta, GA area. The new routes would support 
the Atlanta Optimization of Airspace and Procedures in a Metroplex 
(OAPM) project. The proposed routes would have connectivity to the 
current airway structure and would provide routing through, around and 
over the busy Atlanta Metroplex airspace.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 30, 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-
0891 and Airspace Docket No. 12-ASO-37 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-2013-0891 and Airspace Docket No. 12-ASO-37) 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-2013-0891 and Airspace Docket No. 12-ASO-37.'' 
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 NPRMs

    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

[[Page 68778]]

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 nine low altitude RNAV routes 
(T-routes) in the Atlanta, GA area. Since there are no published routes 
currently available for aircraft to use to circumnavigate the busy 
Atlanta Metroplex airspace, the Atlanta Air Route Traffic Control 
Center (ARTCC) (ZTL) and Atlanta Terminal Radar Approach Control 
(TRACON) (A80) facilities routinely vector and reroute aircraft around 
areas where high volumes of large aircraft consistently fly. This 
results in increased track miles flown and air traffic controller and 
pilot task complexity. The proposed routes would support the Atlanta 
OAPM project and provide routes through, around and over the Atlanta 
Metroplex area that are procedurally deconflicted from arrivals, 
departures and other airspace areas. The following routes are proposed:
    T-290: T-290 would provide a route through the southern portion of 
the Atlanta Metroplex area from the SCAIL, AL, waypoint (WP), near 
Tallapoosa County, AL, to the JACET, GA, WP, near Augusta, GA.
    T-292: T-292 would provide a route through a portion of the 
Metroplex to the north of Atlanta from the RKMRT, GA, WP (near Polk 
County Airport, GA) to the JACET, GA, WP.
    T-293: T-293 is proposed to provide a route around the west of the 
Atlanta area from the CHUTT, AL, WP, in Alabama (south of Columbus, GA) 
to the DAISI, GA, WP (near Pickens County Airport, GA [JZP]). Aligning 
the route segments between the RTLRY, HONRR and POLLL waypoints would 
keep T-293 within Atlanta TRACON's airspace and provide vertical and 
lateral separation from three separate published arrival procedures 
used by aircraft descending to land at airports within the Metroplex 
area.
    T-294: T-294 would provide an alternative RNAV route through the 
Metroplex airspace on the southwest side, between the GRANT, GA, WP 
(near Thomaston, GA) and the HEFIN, AL, WP (near Heflin, AL).
    T-296: T-296 would provide a route southeast of Atlanta between the 
JMPPR, GA, WP (near Woodbury, GA) and the TACKL, GA, WP (southwest of 
Athens, GA).
    T-297: T-297 would provide an alternative route around the west 
side of the Metroplex airspace between the PAIRA, GA, WP (south of 
Atlanta, near Geneva, GA) and the REELL, GA, WP (northwest of Athens, 
GA). The route would have altitude limitations so that T-297 flights 
would be procedurally separated from all optimized published departure 
and arrival procedures.
    T-319: T-319 would provide an RNAV route directly over the 
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) for aircraft 
transitioning Class B airspace from north-to-south and vice versa.
    T-321: T-321 would provide a north-south oriented route east of 
ATL, between the BBOAT, GA, WP (near Eatonton, GA) and the BIGNN, GA, 
WP (abeam Habersham County, GA). The BBOAT and BIGNN waypoints would 
also connect to T-290 and T-323, respectively, enabling more 
flexibility in routing options.
    T-323: The proposed T-323 would allow aircraft to transition the 
Metroplex airspace between a point approximately 110 NM northeast of 
ATL from the HIGGI, NC, WP and a point 110 NM southeast of ATL at the 
CROCS, GA, WP. T-323 would intersect the proposed T-290 and T-321 
enabling alternative routing between the Knoxville, TN, area and 
locations south of the Atlanta Metroplex area.
    RNAV routes are published in paragraph 6011 of FAA Order 7400.9X 
dated August 7, 2013, and effective September 15, 2013, 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 would modify the route structure as required to enhance the safe 
and efficient flow of air traffic in the Atlanta, GA area.

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 7400.9X, 
Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, Dated August 7, 2013, and 
effective September 15, 2013, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6011 United States Area Navigation Routes.

 
 
 
T-290 SCAIL, AL to JACET, GA [New]
SCAIL, AL               WP                     (Lat. 33[deg]02'01'' N., long. 85[deg]39'32'' W.)
BBAIT, GA               WP                     (Lat. 33[deg]07'14'' N., long. 84[deg]46'13'' W.)
BBASS, GA               WP                     (Lat. 33[deg]11'33'' N., long. 83[deg]59'21'' W.)
BBOAT, GA               WP                     (Lat. 33[deg]16'51'' N., long. 83[deg]28'10'' W.)

[[Page 68779]]

 
BOBBR, GA               WP                     (Lat. 33[deg]19'57'' N., long. 83[deg]08'19'' W.)
JACET, GA               WP                     (Lat. 33[deg]29'41'' N., long. 82[deg]06'28'' W.)
 
T-292 RKMRT, GA to JACET, GA [New]
 
RKMRT, GA               WP                     (Lat. 34[deg]03'37'' N., long. 85[deg]15'03'' W.)
POLLL, GA               WP                     (Lat. 34[deg]08'57'' N., long. 84[deg]46'50'' W.)
CCATT, GA               WP                     (Lat. 34[deg]16'15'' N., long. 84[deg]09'05'' W.)
REELL, GA               WP                     (Lat. 34[deg]01'33'' N., long. 83[deg]31'44'' W.)
TRREE, GA               WP                     (Lat. 33[deg]47'15'' N., long. 82[deg]55'30'' W.)
JACET, GA               WP                     (Lat. 33[deg]29'41'' N., long. 82[deg]06'28'' W.)
 
T-293 CHUTT, AL to DAISI, GA [New]
 
CHUTT, AL               WP                     (Lat. 32[deg]13'23'' N., long. 85[deg]03'06'' W.)
NFTRY, GA               WP                     (Lat. 33[deg]02'03'' N., long. 85[deg]09'06'' W.)
RTLRY, GA               WP                     (Lat. 33[deg]45'18'' N., long. 85[deg]07'48'' W.)
HONRR, GA               WP                     (Lat. 33[deg]57'35'' N., long. 85[deg]01'28'' W.)
POLLL, GA               WP                     (Lat. 34[deg]08'57'' N., long. 84[deg]46'50'' W.)
DAISI, GA               WP                     (Lat. 34[deg]26'08'' N., long. 84[deg]25'51'' W.)
 
T-294 HEFIN, AL to GRANT, GA [New]
 
HEFIN, AL               Fix                    (Lat. 33[deg]35'55'' N., long. 85[deg]25'11'' W.)
BBAIT, GA               WP                     (Lat. 33[deg]07'14'' N., long. 84[deg]46'13'' W.)
JMPPR, GA               WP                     (Lat. 32[deg]57'42'' N., long. 84[deg]33'19'' W.)
GRANT, GA               Fix                    (Lat. 32[deg]49'45'' N., long. 84[deg]22'36'' W.)
 
T-296 JMPPR, GA to TACKL, GA [New]
 
JMPPR, GA               WP                     (Lat. 32[deg]57'42'' N., long. 84[deg]33'19'' W.)
BBASS, GA               WP                     (Lat. 33[deg]11'33'' N., long. 83[deg]59'21'' W.)
TATRS, GA               WP                     (Lat. 33[deg]20'37'' N., long. 83[deg]51'37'' W.)
TACKL, GA               WP                     (Lat. 33[deg]44'25'' N., long. 83[deg]30'31'' W.)
 
T-297 PAIRA, GA to REELL, GA [New]
 
PAIRA, GA               WP                     (Lat. 32[deg]31'48'' N., long. 84[deg]31'42'' W.)
NFTRY, GA               WP                     (Lat. 33[deg]02'03'' N., long. 85[deg]09'06'' W.)
HEFIN, AL               Fix                    (Lat. 33[deg]35'55'' N., long. 85[deg]25'11'' W.)
RKMRT, GA               WP                     (Lat. 34[deg]03'37'' N., long. 85[deg]14'03'' W.)
CHTTE, GA               WP                     (Lat. 34[deg]23'18'' N., long. 84[deg]52'55'' W.)
DAISI, GA               WP                     (Lat. 34[deg]26'08'' N., long. 84[deg]25'51'' W)
AWSON. GA               Fix                    (Lat. 34[deg]28'49'' N., long. 83[deg]59'03'' W.)
REELL, GA               WP                     (Lat. 34[deg]01'33'' N., long. 83[deg]31'44'' W.)
 
T-319 CCLAY, GA to BLEWW, GA [New]
 
CCLAY, GA               WP                     (Lat. 33[deg]18'11'' N., long. 84[deg]24'41'' W.)
DUNCS, GA               WP                     (Lat. 33[deg]27'34'' N., long. 84[deg]25'23'' W.)
SHURT, GA               WP                     (Lat. 33[deg]32'13'' N., long. 84[deg]25'50'' W.)
KLOWD, GA               WP                     (Lat. 33[deg]43'59'' N., long. 84[deg]26'05'' W.)
BLEWW, GA               WP                     (Lat. 33[deg]58'14'' N., long. 84[deg]25'43'' W.)
 
T-321 BBOAT, GA to BIGNN, GA [New]
 
BBOAT, GA               WP                     (Lat. 33[deg]16'51'' N., long. 83[deg]28'10'' W.)
TACKL, GA               WP                     (Lat. 33[deg]44'25'' N., long. 83[deg]30'31'' W.)
REELL, GA               WP                     (Lat. 34[deg]01'33'' N., long. 83[deg]31'44'' W.)
BIGNN, GA               WP                     (Lat. 34[deg]20'34'' N., long. 83[deg]33'07'' W.)
 
T-323 CROCS, GA to HIGGI, NC [New]
 
CROCS, GA               WP                     (Lat. 32[deg]27'18'' N., long. 82[deg]46'29'' W.)
BOBBR, GA               WP                     (Lat. 33[deg]19'57'' N., long. 83[deg]08'19'' W.)
BIGNN, GA               WP                     (Lat. 34[deg]20'34'' N., long. 83[deg]33'07'' W.)
ZPPLN, NC               WP                     (Lat. 34[deg]59'47'' N., long. 83[deg]49'38'' W.)
HIGGI, NC               WP                     (Lat. 35[deg]26'47'' N., long. 83[deg]46'41'' W.)
 


    Issued in Washington, DC, on November 4, 2013.
Gary A. Norek,
Manager, Airspace Policy and ATC Procedures Group.
[FR Doc. 2013-27335 Filed 11-14-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P