[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 237 (Tuesday, December 11, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 63603-63604]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-26679]



[[Page 63603]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0850; Airspace Docket No. 18-AWP-17]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Amendment of Multiple Air Traffic Service (ATS) Routes; 
Western United States

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to amend three domestic Very High 
Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal Airways (V-113, V-137, 
and V-485) in the western United States. The modifications are 
necessary due to the planned decommissioning of Priest, CA, VOR 
navigation aid (NAVAID), which provides navigation guidance for 
portions of the affected air traffic service (ATS) routes. The Priest, 
CA, VOR is being decommissioned as part of the FAA's VOR Minimum 
Operational Network (MON) program.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before January 25, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on this proposal to the U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Operations, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West 
Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590; telephone: 1 
(800) 647-5527, or (202) 366-9826. You must identify FAA Docket No. 
FAA-2018-0850; Airspace Docket No. 18-AWP-17 at the beginning of your 
comments. You may also submit comments through the internet at http://www.regulations.gov.
    FAA Order 7400.11C, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, and 
subsequent amendments can be viewed online at http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/. For further information, you can contact the 
Airspace Policy Group, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267-
8783. The Order is also available for inspection at the National 
Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the 
availability of FAA Order 7400.11C at NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go 
to https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.
    FAA Order 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, is 
published yearly and effective on September 15.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Authority for This Rulemaking

    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 National Airspace System as necessary 
to preserve the safe and efficient flow of air traffic.

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-2018-0850; Airspace Docket No. 18-AWP-17) 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-2018-0850; Airspace Docket No. 18-AWP-17.'' 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 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/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 
9:00 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 Western Service Center, Operations 
Support Group, Federal Aviation Administration, 2200 South 216th St., 
Des Moines, WA 98198.

Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference

    This document proposes to amend FAA Order 7400.11C, Airspace 
Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 13, 2018, and effective 
September 15, 2018. FAA Order 7400.11C is publicly available as listed 
in the ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order 7400.11C lists 
Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and 
reporting points.

Background

    The FAA is planning decommissioning activities for the Priest, CA, 
VOR in 2019 as one of the candidate VORs identified for discontinuance 
by the FAA's VOR MON program and listed in the final policy statement 
notice, ``Provision of Navigation Services for the Next Generation Air 
Transportation System (NextGen) Transition to Performance-Based 
Navigation (PBN) (Plan for Establishing a VOR Minimum Operational 
Network),'' published in the Federal Register of July 26, 2016 (81 FR 
48694), Docket No. FAA-2011-1082. The ATS routes impacted by the Priest

[[Page 63604]]

VOR are VOR Federal airways V-113, V-137, V-485.
    With the planned decommissioning of the Priest VOR, the remaining 
ground-based NAVAID coverage in the area is insufficient to enable the 
continuity of the affected airways. As such, proposed modifications to 
V-113, V-137, and V-485 would result in gaps in the route structures.
    To overcome the gap in V-113, instrument flight rules (IFR) traffic 
could use adjacent VOR Federal airways V-248 and V-107 between the Paso 
Robles, CA, VORTAC and the Panoche, CA, VORTAC.
    V-137 is proposed to terminate at the Avenal, CA, VOR/DME instead 
of the Salinas, CA, VORTAC (current route termination point). Alternate 
course to reach the Salinas, CA, VORTAC is to file V-248.
    V- 485 is proposed to terminate at the Fellows, CA, VOR/DME instead 
of the San Jose, CA, VOR/DME (current route termination point). 
Alternate course to reach San Jose, CA, VOR/DME is to file V-25. 
Additionally, ATS route T-333 is proposed to be extended as part of 
another rulemaking action that will mitigate the loss of V-485.
    Lastly, IFR traffic could file point to point through the affected 
area using fixes that will remain in place, or receive air traffic 
control (ATC) radar vectors through the area. Visual flight rules 
pilots who elect to navigate via the airways through the affected area 
could also take advantage of the adjacent VOR Federal airways or ATC 
services listed previously.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to Title 14 Code of Federal 
Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 to modify Domestic VOR Federal Airways (V-
113, V-137 and V-485). The proposed route changes are outlined below.
    V-113: V-113 currently extends between the Morro Bay, CA, VORTAC to 
the Lewistown, MT, VOR/DME. The FAA plans to delete the segment between 
the Paso Robles, CA, VORTAC and the Panoche, CA, VORTAC causing a gap 
in the route. The new route will stop at the Paso Robles, CA, VORTAC 
and resume at the Panoche, CA, VORTAC. The unaffected portion of the 
existing route will remain as charted.
    V-137: V-137 currently extends between Mexicali, Mexico via the 
Imperial, CA, VORTAC to the Salinas, CA, VORTAC. The FAA plans to 
delete the segment between the Avenal, CA, VOR/DME and the Salinas, CA, 
VORTAC. The new route will end at the Avenal, CA, VOR/DME. The 
unaffected portion of the existing route will remain as charted.
    V-485: V-485 currently extends between the Ventura, CA, VOR/DME to 
the San Jose, CA, VOR/DME. The FAA plans to delete the segment between 
the Fellows, CA, VOR/DME and the San Jose, CA, VOR/DME. The new route 
will end at the Fellows, CA, VOR/DME. The unaffected portion of the 
existing route will remain as charted.
    Domestic VOR Federal Airways in paragraph 6010 of FAA Order 
7400.11C dated August 13, 2018, and effective September 15, 2018, which 
is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Domestic VOR Federal 
Airways listed in this document will be subsequently published in the 
Order.

Regulatory Notices and Analyses

    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. 
It, therefore: (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.

Environmental Review

    This proposal will be subject to an environmental analysis in 
accordance with FAA Order 1050.1F, ``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(f), 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 7400.11C, 
Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 13, 2018 and 
effective September 15, 2018, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6010(a) Domestic VOR Federal Airways

V-113 (Amended)

    From Morro Bay, CA; to Paso Robles, CA. From Panoche, CA; to 
Linden, CA; INT Linden 046[deg](T) 029[deg](M) and Mustang, NV, 
208[deg](T) 192[deg](M) radials; Mustang; 42 miles, 24 miles, 115 
MSL, 95 MSL, Sod House, NV; 67 miles, 95 MSL, 85 MSL, Rome, OR; 61 
miles, 85 MSL, Boise, ID; Salmon, ID; Coppertown, MT; Helena, MT; to 
Lewistown, MT.
* * * * *

V-137 (Amended)

    From Mexicali, Mexico; via Imperial, CA; INT Imperial 
350[deg](T) 336[deg](M) and Thermal, CA 144[deg](T) 131[deg](M) 
radials; Palm Springs, CA; Palmdale, CA; Gorman, CA; Avenal, CA. The 
airspace within Mexico is excluded.
* * * * *

V-485 (Amended)

    From Ventura, CA; to Fellows, CA. The airspace within W-289 and 
R-2519 more than three (3) statute miles west of the airway 
centerline and the airspace within R-2519 below 5,000 feet MSL is 
excluded.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on December 3, 2018.
Rodger A. Dean Jr.,
Manager, Airspace Policy Group.
[FR Doc. 2018-26679 Filed 12-10-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P