[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 237 (Tuesday, December 10, 2019)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 67381-67383]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-26387]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2019-0842; Airspace Docket No. 18-AGL-15]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Amendment of VOR Federal Airways V-59, V-92, V-115, and 
V-117 in the Vicinity of Newcomerstown, OH

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to amend VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) 
Federal airways V-59, V-92, V-115, and V-117 due to the planned 
decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Newcomerstown, OH (CTW), VOR/
Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) navigation aid (NAVAID). The 
Newcomerstown VOR is being decommissioned in support of the FAA's VOR 
Minimum Operational Network (MON) program and service availability 
issues.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before January 24, 2020.

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-2019-0842; Airspace Docket No. 18-AGL-15 at the beginning of your 
comments. You may also submit comments through the internet at https://www.regulations.gov.
    FAA Order 7400.11D, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, and 
subsequent amendments can be viewed online at https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/. For further information, you can contact the 
Rules and Regulations 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 7400.11D at NARA, email: 
[email protected] or go to https://

[[Page 67382]]

www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Colby Abbott, Rules and Regulations 
Group, Office of Policy, 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-2019-0842; Airspace Docket No. 18-AGL-15) 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 https://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-2019-0842; Airspace Docket No. 18-AGL-15.'' 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 https://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 Operations Support Group, Central 
Service Center, Federal Aviation Administration, 10101 Hillwood Blvd., 
Fort Worth, TX 76177.

Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference

    This document proposes to amend FAA Order 7400.11D, Airspace 
Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 8, 2019, and effective 
September 15, 2019. FAA Order 7400.11D is publicly available as listed 
in the ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order 7400.11D lists 
Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and 
reporting points.

Background

    The FAA originally planned to decommission the Newcomerstown, OH, 
(CTW), VOR during Phase 2 of the VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) 
program 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. However, based on a failed flight 
check which rendered seventy-five percent of the VOR service unusable 
and resulted in the VOR having been out of service since January 31, 
2017, the FAA is now planning to decommissioning the Newcomerstown, OH, 
VOR in July, 2020. The ATS routes effected by the Newcomerstown VOR 
decommissioning are VOR Federal airways V-59, V-92, V-115, and V-117.
    With the planned decommissioning of the Newcomerstown VOR, the 
remaining ground-based NAVAID coverage in the area is insufficient to 
enable the continuity of V-59, V-92, V-115, or V-117 within the 
affected area. As such, the proposed actions would result in airway 
segments being removed from V-59, V-92, and V-115, and the last airway 
point (WISKE fix) in V-117 being redefined.
    To overcome the proposed removal of the V-59, V-92, and V-115 
airway segments, IFR traffic could file point to point using the 
existing fixes that will remain in place or receive air traffic control 
(ATC) radar vectors to continue operating though the area. 
Additionally, the FAA is retaining the Newcomerstown DME facility in 
place with the same ``CTW'' identifier to support FAA NextGen flight 
procedures. To retain V-117 as charted, the FAA is planning to redefine 
the last airway point (WISKE fix) using intersecting radials from the 
Bellaire, OH, VOR/DME and the Briggs, OH, VOR/DME NAVAIDs. Visual 
flight rules (VFR) pilots who elect to navigate via the airways through 
the affected area could also take advantage of the air traffic services 
previously listed.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to Title 14 Code of Federal 
Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 to amend VOR Federal airways V-59, V-92, 
V-115, and V-117 due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion 
of the Newcomerstown, OH, VOR/DME. The proposed VOR Federal airway 
actions are described below.
    V-59: V-59 currently extends between the Pulaski, VA, VOR/Tactical 
Air Navigation (VORTAC) NAVAID and Newcomerstown, OH, VOR/DME. The FAA 
proposes to remove the airway segment between the Parkersburg, WV, VOR/
DME and the Newcomerstown, OH, VOR/DME. The unaffected portions of the 
existing airway would remain as charted.
    V-92: V-92 currently extends between the Chicago Heights, IL, 
VORTAC and Goshen, IN, VORTAC; and between the Newcomerstown, OH; VOR/
DME and Bellaire, OH, VOR/DME.

[[Page 67383]]

The FAA proposes to remove the airway segment between the 
Newcomerstown, OH, VOR/DME and the Bellaire, OH, VOR/DME. The 
unaffected portions of the existing airway would remain as charted.
    V-115: V-115 currently extends between the Crestview, FL, VORTAC 
and Franklin, PA, VOR/DME. The FAA proposes to remove the airway 
segment between the Parkersburg, WV, VORTAC, and the Franklin, PA, VOR/
DME. The unaffected portions of the existing airway would remain as 
charted.
    V-117: V-117 currently extends between the Parkersburg, WV; VORTAC 
and the intersection of the Bellaire, OH, VOR/DME 044[deg] radial and 
the Newcomerstown, OH, VOR/DME 099[deg] radial (WISKE fix). The FAA 
proposes to redefine the WISKE fix as the intersection of the existing 
Bellaire, OH, VOR/DME 044[deg] radial and the new Briggs, OH, 
136[deg](T)/140[deg](M) radial. The existing airway would remain as 
charted.
    All radials in the route descriptions below that do not reflect 
True (T)/Magnetic (M) degree radial information are unchanged and 
stated in True degrees.
    VOR Federal airways are published in paragraph 6010(a) of FAA Order 
7400.11D dated August 8, 2019, and effective September 15, 2019, which 
is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The ATS routes listed in 
this document would be subsequently published in the Order.
    FAA Order 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, is 
published yearly and effective on September 15.

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 7400.11D, 
Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 8, 2019, and 
effective September 15, 2019, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6010(a) Domestic VOR Federal Airways.

* * * * *

V-59 [Amended]

    From Pulaski, VA; Beckley, WV; to Parkersburg, WV.
* * * * *

V-92 [Amended]

    From Chicago Heights, IL; to Goshen, IN.
* * * * *

V-115 [Amended]

    From Crestview, FL; INT Crestview 001[deg] and Montgomery, AL, 
204[deg] radials; Montgomery; INT Montgomery 323[deg] and Vulcan, 
AL, 177[deg] radials; Vulcan; Choo Choo, GA; Volunteer, TN; Hazard, 
KY; Charleston, WV; to Parkersburg, WV.
* * * * *

V-117 [Amended]

    From Parkersburg, WV; Bellaire, OH; to INT Bellaire 044[deg] and 
Briggs, OH, 136[deg](T)/140[deg](M) radials.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on December 2, 2019.
Scott M. Rosenbloom,
Acting Manager, Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2019-26387 Filed 12-9-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P