[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 189 (Thursday, September 29, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67046-67047]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-23563]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Notice of Submission Deadline for Schedule Information for 
Chicago O'Hare International Airport, John F. Kennedy International 
Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, Newark Liberty 
International Airport, and San Francisco International Airport for the 
Summer 2017 Scheduling Season

AGENCY: Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration 
(FAA).

ACTION: Notice of submission deadline.

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SUMMARY: Under this notice, the FAA announces the submission deadline 
of October 6, 2016, for summer 2017 flight schedules at Chicago O'Hare 
International Airport (ORD), John F. Kennedy International Airport 
(JFK), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Newark Liberty 
International Airport (EWR), and San Francisco International Airport 
(SFO), in accordance with the International Air Transport Association 
(IATA) Worldwide Slot Guidelines (WSG). The deadline coincides with the 
schedule submission deadline for the IATA Slot Conference for the 
summer 2017 scheduling season.

DATES: Schedules must be submitted no later than October 6, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Schedules may be submitted by mail to the Slot 
Administration Office, AGC-200, Office of the Chief Counsel, 800 
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591; facsimile: 202-267-7277; 
or by email to: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan Pfingstler, System Operations 
Services, Air Traffic Organization, Federal Aviation Administration, 
600 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591; telephone number: 
202-267-6462; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA has designated EWR, LAX, ORD, and 
SFO as IATA Level 2 airports and JFK as an IATA Level 3 airport. The 
FAA currently limits scheduled operations at JFK by Order until October 
27, 2018.\1\
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    \1\ Operating Limitations at John F. Kennedy International 
Airport, 73 FR 3510 (Jan. 18, 2008) as amended 81 FR 32636 (May 24, 
2016).
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    The FAA is primarily concerned about scheduled and other regularly 
conducted commercial operations during peak hours, but carriers may 
submit schedule plans for the entire day. At ORD, the peak hours are 
0700 to 2100 Central Time (1200 to 0200 UTC), at LAX and SFO from 0600 
to 2300 Pacific Time (1300 to 0600 UTC), and at EWR and JFK from 0600 
to 2300 Eastern Time (1000 to 0300 UTC). Carriers should submit 
schedule information in sufficient detail, including, at minimum, the 
operating carrier, flight number, scheduled time of operation, 
frequency, and effective dates. IATA standard schedule information 
format and data elements (Standard Schedules Information Manual or 
SSIM, Chapter 6) may be used. The WSG provides additional information 
on schedule submissions and updates at Level 2 and Level 3 airports.
    The U.S. summer scheduling season for these airports is from March 
26 through October 28, 2017, in recognition of the IATA northern summer 
period. The FAA understands there may be differences in schedule times 
due to different U.S. daylight saving time dates and will accommodate 
these differences to the extent possible.
    JFK will have construction in 2017 on Runway 4R/22L for 
rehabilitation of pavement, widening of certain taxiways, new high 
speed taxiways, drainage system upgrades, and electrical light

[[Page 67047]]

systems replacement. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey 
(PANYNJ), the airport operator, plans to conduct the construction in 
three phases in order to minimize operational impacts during the 
busiest summer months of June through August. Phase I anticipates a 
full closure of Runway 4R/22L, currently scheduled from February 27 to 
June 1, 2017. Phase II anticipates closures nightly from 0400 to 1100 
UTC from June 1 to September 4, 2017, followed by Phase III with a full 
Runway 4R/22L closure planned from September 5 to November 17, 2017. 
The FAA and the PANYNJ are working together to minimize operational 
disruptions to the extent possible. The FAA is also continuing to 
review alternative runway configurations and procedures and modeling 
potential capacity and delay impacts. Regular meetings are conducted 
with the FAA, PANYNJ, and airline station and other staff, and may be 
the best source of project updates and impacts.
    LAX will undergo construction on Runway 7L/25R for runway safety 
areas and rehabilitation in 2017. Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), 
the airport operator, will close the runway for approximately four 
months from January to May 2017. The final dates have not been 
determined at this time. LAWA conducts monthly meetings on construction 
updates with FAA local air traffic control and airline representatives. 
Such meetings may be the best source of project updates and impacts.
    The FAA will use hourly runway capacity throughput for the Level 2 
airports in its schedule reviews, considering any differences 
associated with runway construction or other operational factors. The 
FAA will also review the operational performance metrics at the 
airports for the summer 2016 scheduling season as additional data 
become available.
    EWR is transitioning from Level 3 limitations under the FAA Order 
to a Level 2 designation effective with the winter 2016 scheduling 
season.\2\ In reviewing schedules, the FAA will consider the recent 
operational performance metrics, delay projections when the Level 3 
scheduling limits were adopted in 2008, and the scheduled flight levels 
the FAA accepted under the 2008 Order. Based on current and projected 
demand for the summer 2017 scheduling season, the FAA anticipates the 
0700 to 0859 and 1400-2059 Eastern Time (1100 to 1259 and 1800 to 0059 
UTC) hours will be the highest demand periods and not all requests are 
likely to be accommodated during these times. Carriers should be 
prepared to adjust schedules to meet available capacity in order to 
minimize potential congestion and delay.
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    \2\ Operating Limitations at Newark Liberty International 
Airport, 73 FR 29550 (May 21, 2008) as amended 79 FR 16857 (Mar. 26, 
2014). Change in Newark Liberty International Airport Designation, 
81 FR 19861 (April 6, 2016).
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    Each Level 2 airport also has a separate process adopted by the 
airport operator for certain types of flights, such as international 
passenger flights, or at particular terminals or gates. Those processes 
with the individual airports or terminals will continue separately from 
and in addition to the FAA review of schedules based on runway 
capacity. However, in conjunction with the schedule facilitators for 
terminal operations at those airports, the FAA may consider the need to 
harmonize terminal and runway availability in the schedule review 
process.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on September 23, 2016.
Daniel E. Smiley,
Vice President, System Operations Services.
[FR Doc. 2016-23563 Filed 9-28-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P