[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 31 (Tuesday, February 17, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 8240-8242]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-03062]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2014-1112; Airspace Docket No. 14-ANM-16]
RIN 2120-AA66


Amendment of VOR Federal Airway V-330 in the Vicinity of Mountain 
Home, Idaho

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule, technical amendment.

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SUMMARY: This action amends VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal 
Airway V-330 in the vicinity of Mountain Home, ID. The FAA is taking 
this action to correct the V-330 description contained in Part 71 to 
ensure it matches the information contained in the FAA's aeronautical 
database, matches the depiction on the associated charts, and promotes 
safety and efficiency within the National Airspace System (NAS).

DATES: Effective date 0901 UTC, April 30, 2015. The Director of the 
Federal Register approves this incorporation by reference action under 
1 CFR part 51, subject to the annual revision of FAA

[[Page 8241]]

Order 7400.9 and publication of conforming amendments.

ADDRESSES: FAA Order 7400.9Y, Airspace Designations and Reporting 
Points, and subsequent amendments can be viewed online at http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/. The Order is also available for 
inspection at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). 
For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 
(202) 741-6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal-regulations/ibr_locations.html.
    FAA Order 7400.9, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, is 
published yearly and effective on September 15. For further 
information, you can contact the Airspace Policy and Regulations Group, 
Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW., 
Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267-8783.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Colby Abbott, Airspace Policy and 
Regulations Group, Office of Airspace Services, Federal Aviation 
Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591; 
telephone: (202) 267-8783.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

History

    After a recent review of aeronautical data, the legal description 
for V-330 published in FAA Order 7400.9Y, Airspace Designations and 
Reporting Points, did not match the airway information contained in the 
FAA's aeronautical database or the charted depiction of the airway. In 
2004, the FAA received a request from the U.S. Air Force to change the 
name and identifier of the Mountain Home, ID, VOR due to safety of 
flight concerns. At that time, Mountain Home Air Force Base (AFB), an 
on-base Tactical Air Navigation (TACAN) navigation aid (NAVAID), and a 
VOR located 5.5 nautical miles (NM) off-base all shared the same 
Mountain Home name and MUO identifier.
    An event involving a KC-135 aircraft navigating to conduct aerial 
refueling (AR) activities highlighted the potential flight safety 
issue. While navigating to one of the AR tracks south of Mountain Home 
AFB, the flight crew entered ``MUO'' as the reference fix. The flight 
computer indicated two fixes identified as MUO. The crew, not familiar 
with the area, spent considerable time determining which NAVAID to use. 
As a result of this hazard to navigation and flight safety issue of 
having two navigation aids located 5.5 NM apart with the same name and 
identifier, the USAF requested the Mountain Home VOR (MUO) be renamed 
Liberator VOR with a new identifier of LTR.
    In response, the FAA amended the aeronautical database information 
changing the Mountain Home VOR name to Liberator VOR and changing the 
MUO identifier to LIA, in lieu of LTR, effective September 30, 2004. 
The associated charts were published with the amended information, but 
the rulemaking action to amend the V-330 legal description to reflect 
the amendment was inadvertently overlooked at that time.
    To overcome confusion and flight safety issues associated with the 
conflicting published V-330 airway description, the FAA is amending the 
legal description to reflect the Mountain Home VOR name change to 
Liberator VOR. Since this is an administrative correction to update the 
V-330 description to be in concert with the FAA's aeronautical database 
and charting, notice and public procedure under Title 5 U.S.C. 553(b) 
are unnecessary.
    VOR Federal airways are listed in paragraph 6010 of FAA Order 
7400.9Y dated August 6, 2014, and effective September 15, 2014, which 
is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The VOR Federal airway 
listed in this document will be revised subsequently in the Order.

Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference

    This document amends FAA Order 7400.9Y, airspace Designations and 
Reporting Points, dated August 6, 2014, and effective September 15, 
2014. FAA Order 7400.9Y is publicly available as listed in the 
ADDRESSES section of this final rule. FAA Order 7400.9Y lists Class A, 
B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and 
reporting points.

The Rule

    The FAA amends Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 
71 by modifying the legal description of VOR Federal airway V-330 in 
the vicinity of Mountain Home, ID. Specifically, the FAA amends V-330, 
renaming the Mountain Home, ID, VOR to reflect the Liberator, ID, VOR; 
thus, matching the information currently contained in the FAA's 
aeronautical database and the charted depiction of the airway.
    The FAA has determined that this regulation only involves an 
established body of technical regulations for which frequent and 
routine amendments are necessary to keep them operationally current. 
Therefore, this 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 only affects air traffic 
procedures and air navigation, it is certified that this rule, when 
promulgated, does 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 amends an existing VOR Federal airway within the NAS.

Environmental Review

    The FAA has determined that this action qualifies for categorical 
exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act in accordance 
with 311a, FAA Order 1050.1E, ``Environmental Impacts: Policies and 
Procedures.'' 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).

Adoption of the Amendment

    In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation 
Administration amends 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 14 CFR 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.

[[Page 8242]]

Sec.  71.1  [Amended]

0
2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of FAA Order 7400.9Y, 
Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 6, 2014, and 
effective September 15, 2014, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6010 VOR Federal Airways

    (a) Domestic VOR Federal airways.
* * * * *

V-330

    From Wildhorse, OR; Boise, ID; INT Boise 130[deg] and Liberator, 
ID, 084[deg] radials; to INT Liberator 084[deg] and Burley, ID, 
323[deg] radials. From Idaho Falls, ID; Jackson, WY; Dunoir, WY; 
Riverton, WY; to Muddy Mountain, WY.

    Issued in Washington, DC, February 6, 2015.
Gary A. Norek,
Manager, Airspace Policy and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2015-03062 Filed 2-13-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P