[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 118 (Wednesday, June 19, 2019)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 28434-28436]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-12892]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2019-0431; Airspace Docket No. 19-ASO-9]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Amendment of VOR Federal Airway V-159 in the Vicinity of 
Hamilton, AL

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to modify VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) 
Federal airway V-159 due to the planned decommissioning of the 
Hamilton, AL, VORTAC navigation aid which provides navigation guidance 
for a segment of the route. The Hamilton VORTAC is being decommissioned 
as part of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before August 5, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on this proposal to the U.S. Department of

[[Page 28435]]

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-
2019-0431; Airspace Docket No. 19-ASO-9 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 http://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: Paul Gallant, 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 VOR Federal airway route structure in 
the eastern United States to maintain the 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-2019-0431; Airspace Docket No. 19-ASO-9) 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-2019-0431; Airspace Docket No. 19-ASO-9''. 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. 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. 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 Eastern Service Center, Federal 
Aviation Administration, Room 210, 1701 Columbia Ave., College Park, GA 
30337.

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 proposed rule. FAA Order 7400.11C 
lists Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service 
routes, and reporting points.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to Title 14 Code of Federal 
Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 to modify the description of VOR Federal 
airway V-159 due to the planned decommissioning of the Hamilton, AL, 
VORTAC. The proposed route change is described below.
    V-159: V-159 currently extends between the Virginia Key, FL, VOR/
DME and the Huron, SD, VORTAC. The FAA proposes to remove the airway 
segment between the Vulcan, AL, VORTAC, and the Holly Springs, MS, 
VORTAC due to the planned decommissioning of the Hamilton, AL, VORTAC 
which provides navigation guidance between Vulcan and Holly Springs. As 
amended, V-159 would consist of two sections. The first section would 
extend between Virginia Key, FL, and Vulcan, AL, as currently charted. 
This would be followed by a gap in the route between Vulcan, AL, and 
Holly Springs, MS. The second section would extend between Holly 
Springs, MS, and Huron, SD, as currently charted.
    A low altitude area navigation (RNAV) route (T-route) is being 
developed to replace the airway section proposed for removal. In the 
interim, alternative routing would be available via airway V-7 between 
Vulcan, AL, and the Muscle Shoals, AL, VORTAC; then airway V-54 between 
Muscle Shoals and Holly Springs.
    Domestic VOR Federal airways are published in paragraph 6010(a) 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 VOR 
Federal airways listed in this document would 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

[[Page 28436]]

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-159 [Amended]

    From Virginia Key, FL: INT Virginia Key 344[deg] and Treasure, 
FL, 178[deg] radials; Treasure; INT Treasure 318[deg] and Orlando, 
FL, 140[deg] radials; Orlando; Ocala, FL; Cross City, FL; 
Greenville, FL; Pecan, GA; Eufaula, AL; Tuskegee, AL; to Vulcan, AL. 
From Holly Springs, MS; Gilmore, AR; Walnut Ridge, AR; Dogwood, MO; 
Springfield, MO; Napoleon, MO; INT Napoleon 005[deg] and St. Joseph, 
MO, 122[deg] radials; St. Joseph; Omaha, NE; Sioux City, IA; 
Yankton, SD; Mitchell, SD; to Huron, SD.
* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on June 12, 2019.
Rodger A. Dean Jr.,
Manager, Airspace Policy Group.
[FR Doc. 2019-12892 Filed 6-18-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P