[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 107 (Wednesday, June 3, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 34144-34146]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-11861]



[[Page 34144]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2020-0496; Airspace Docket No. 20-AEA-1]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Amendment of VOR Federal Airways V-2, V-14, V-31, V-33, 
V-36, V-84, V-164, V-252, and V-510 in the Vicinity of Buffalo, NY

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-2, V-14, V-31, V-33, V-36, V-84, V-164, V-252, and V-
510 due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the 
Buffalo, NY (BUF), VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) 
navigation aid (NAVAID). The Buffalo VOR provides navigation guidance 
for portions of the affected VOR Federal airways and is being 
decommissioned as part of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network 
(MON) program.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 20, 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-2020-0496; Airspace Docket No. 20-AEA-1 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://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-2020-0496; Airspace Docket No. 20-AEA-1) 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-2020-0496; Airspace Docket No. 20-AEA-1.'' 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 https://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 is planning to decommission the VOR portion of the Buffalo, 
NY (BUF), VOR/DME in December 2020. The Buffalo VOR was 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. Although the VOR portion of the Buffalo VOR/DME NAVAID is planned 
for decommissioning, the DME portion of the NAVAID is being retained to 
support Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen)

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Performance Based Navigation (PBN) flight procedure requirements. The 
ATS routes affected by the Buffalo VOR decommissioning are VOR Federal 
airways V-2, V-14, V-31, V-33, V-36, V-84, V-164, V-252, and V-510.
    With the planned decommissioning of the Buffalo VOR, the remaining 
ground-based NAVAID coverage in the area is insufficient to enable the 
continuity of the V-2, V-14, V-33, V-36, V-84, V-164, and V-510 airways 
within the affected area. As a result, the proposed amendments to V-2, 
V-14, V-36, and V-84 would result in the existing gaps in the airways 
being expanded. The proposed amendments to V-33 and V-164 would result 
in the airways ending (for V-33) and starting (for V-164) at the 
previous or next NAVAID in the airways, respectively, and the proposed 
amendment to V-510 would result in the airway segment located east of 
the existing gap in the airway being removed. The remaining ground-
based NAVAID coverage in the area is sufficient to retain the 
continuity of the V-31 and V-252 airways and the proposed amendments to 
those airways would result in them remaining available for use as 
charted.
    To overcome the proposed removal of the V-2, V-14, V-33, V-36, V-
84, V-164, and V-510 airway segments, instrument flight rules (IFR) 
pilots could use adjacent VOR Federal airways, including V-31, V-119, 
V-252, and V-270, or could request air traffic control (ATC) radar 
vectors to fly through or circumnavigate the affected area. IFR pilots 
equipped with area navigation (RNAV) PBN could also navigate point to 
point using the existing fixes that will remain in place to support 
continued operations though the affected area. 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.
    Additionally, to overcome the loss of the Buffalo VOR component 
radial in defining the last airway point (AIRCO fix) in V-31 and the 
first airway point (AIRCO fix) in V-252, due to the planned 
decommissioning of the Buffalo VOR, that radial is being changed while 
the existing intersecting radials that make up the AIRCO fix in each 
airway are being retained. The Buffalo VOR radial in the intersection 
definition of the AIRCO fix in the V-31 and V-252 airway descriptions 
is being amended to reflect the Jamestown, NY, VOR/DME 024[deg](T)/
032[deg](M) radial. IFR and VFR pilots who elect to navigate via the 
airways will be able to continue using V-31 and V-252, as charted, in 
the affected area.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to Title 14 Code of Federal 
Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 to modify VOR Federal airways V-2, V-14, 
V-31, V-33, V-36, V-84, V-164, V-252, and V-510 due to the planned 
decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Buffalo, NY (BUF), VOR/DME. 
The proposed VOR Federal airway actions are described below.
    V-2: V-2 currently extends between the Seattle, WA, VORTAC and the 
intersection of the Nodine, MN, VORTAC 122[deg] and Waukon, IA, VOR/DME 
053[deg] radials (WEBYE fix); and between the Buffalo, NY, VOR/DME and 
the Gardner, MA, VOR/DME. The FAA proposes to remove the airway segment 
between the Buffalo, NY, VOR/DME and the Rochester, NY, VOR/DME. 
Additional changes to other portions of the airway have been proposed 
in a separate NPRM. The unaffected portions of the existing airway 
would remain as charted.
    V-14: V-14 currently extends between the Chisum, NM, VORTAC and the 
Flag City, OH, VORTAC; and between the Buffalo, NY, VOR/DME and the 
Norwich, CT, VOR/DME. The FAA proposes to remove the airway segment 
between the Buffalo, NY, VOR/DME and the Geneseo, NY, VOR/DME. The 
unaffected portions of the existing airway would remain as charted.
    V-31: V-31 currently extends between the Patuxent, MD, VORTAC and 
the Nottingham, MD, VORTAC; and between the Baltimore, MD, VORTAC and 
the intersection of the Rochester, NY, VOR/DME 279[deg] and Buffalo, 
NY, VOR/DME 023[deg] radials (AIRCO fix). The FAA proposes to amend the 
AIRCO fix in the airway description to describe it as the intersection 
of the existing Rochester VOR/DME 279[deg] radial and the Jamestown, 
NY, VOR/DME 024[deg](T)/032[deg](M) radial. Additionally, the Patuxent, 
MD, VORTAC airway point references would be corrected from ``Patuxent 
River'' to ``Patuxent.'' The unaffected portions of the existing airway 
would remain as charted.
    V-33: V-33 currently extends between the Harcum, VA, VORTAC and the 
Nottingham, MD, VORTAC; and between the Baltimore, MD, VORTAC and the 
Buffalo, NY, VOR/DME. The airspace within R-4007A and R-4007B is 
excluded. The FAA proposes to remove the airway segment between the 
Bradford, PA, VOR/DME and the Buffalo, NY, VOR/DME. Additional changes 
to other portions of the airway have been proposed in separate NPRMs 
for Docket No. FAA-2017-0932 published in the Federal Register (82 FR 
48011, October 16, 2017) and Docket No. FAA-2020-0049 published in the 
Federal Register (85 FR 6115, February 4, 2020). The unaffected 
portions of the existing airway would remain as charted.
    V-36: V-36 currently extends between the Thunder Bay, ON, Canada, 
VOR/DME and the intersection of the Wiarton, ON, Canada, VOR/DME 
150[deg] and Toronto, ON, Canada, VOR/DME 304[deg] radials; and between 
the Buffalo, NY, VOR/DME and the intersection of the LaGuardia, NY, 
VOR/DME 310[deg] and Stillwater, NJ, VOR/DME 043[deg] radials. The 
airspace within Canada is excluded. The FAA proposes to remove the 
airway segment between the Buffalo, NY, VOR/DME and the Elmira, NY, 
VOR/DME. The unaffected portions of the existing airway would remain as 
charted.
    V-84: V-84 currently extends between the Northbrook, IL, VOR/DME 
and the Pullman, MI, VOR/DME; and between the Buffalo, NY, VOR/DME and 
the Syracuse, NY, VORTAC. The FAA proposes to remove the airway segment 
between the Buffalo, NY, VOR/DME and the Geneseo, NY, VOR/DME. The 
unaffected portions of the existing airway would remain as charted.
    V-164: V-164 currently extends between the Buffalo, NY, VOR/DME and 
the East Texas, PA, VOR/DME. The FAA proposes to remove the airway 
segment between the Buffalo, NY, VOR/DME and the Wellsville, NY, 
VORTAC. Additional changes to other portions of the airway have been 
proposed in a separate NPRM for Docket No. FAA-2020-0049 published in 
the Federal Register (85 FR 6115, February 4, 2020). The unaffected 
portions of the existing airway would remain as charted.
    V-252: V-252 currently extends between the intersection of the 
Buffalo, NY, VOR/DME 023[deg] and Geneseo, NY, VOR/DME 305[deg] radials 
(AIRCO fix) and the Dupont, DE, VORTAC. The FAA proposes to amend the 
AIRCO fix in the airway description to describe it as the intersection 
of the Jamestown, NY, VOR/DME 024[deg](T)/032[deg](M) radial and the 
existing Geneseo, NY, VOR/DME 305[deg] radial. The unaffected portions 
of the existing airway would remain as charted.
    V-510: V-510 currently extends between the Dickinson, ND, VORTAC 
and the Dells, WI, VORTAC; and between the Buffalo, NY, VOR/DME and the 
Rochester, NY, VOR/DME. The FAA proposes to remove the airway segment 
between the Buffalo, NY, VOR/DME and the Rochester, NY, VOR/DME. The 
unaffected portions of the existing airway would remain as charted.
    All radials contained in the VOR Federal airway descriptions below 
that are unchanged are stated in True

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degrees. Radials that are stated in True (T) and Magnetic (M) degrees 
are new computations based on available NAVAIDs.
    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-2 [Amended]

    From Seattle, WA; Ellensburg, WA; Moses Lake, WA; Spokane, WA; 
Mullan Pass, ID; Missoula, MT; Helena, MT; INT Helena 119[deg] and 
Livingston, MT, 322[deg] radials; Livingston; Billings, MT; Miles 
City, MT; 24 miles, 90 miles 55 MSL, Dickinson, ND; 10 miles, 60 
miles 38 MSL, Bismarck, ND; 14 miles, 62 miles 34 MSL, Jamestown, 
ND; Fargo, ND; Alexandria, MN; Gopher, MN; Nodine, MN; to INT Nodine 
122[deg] and Waukon, IA, 053[deg] radials. From Rochester, NY; 
Syracuse, NY; Utica, NY; Albany, NY; INT Albany 084[deg] and 
Gardner, MA, 284[deg] radials; to Gardner.
* * * * *

V-14 [Amended]

    From Chisum, NM; Lubbock, TX; Childress, TX; Hobart, OK; Will 
Rogers, OK; INT Will Rogers 052[deg] and Tulsa, OK, 246[deg] 
radials; Tulsa; Neosho, MO; Springfield, MO; Vichy, MO; INT Vichy 
067[deg] and St. Louis, MO, 225[deg] radials; St. Louis; Vandalia, 
IL; Terre Haute, IN; Brickyard, IN; Muncie, IN; to Flag City, OH. 
From Geneseo, NY; Georgetown, NY; INT Georgetown 093[deg] and 
Albany, NY, 270[deg] radials; Albany; INT Albany 084[deg] and 
Gardner, MA, 284[deg] radials; Gardner; to Norwich, CT.
* * * * *

V-31 [Amended]

    From Patuxent, MD; INT Patuxent 338[deg] and Nottingham, MD, 
128[deg] radials; to Nottingham. From Baltimore, MD; INT Baltimore 
004[deg] and Harrisburg, PA, 147[deg] radials; Harrisburg; 
Selinsgrove, PA; Williamsport, PA; Elmira, NY; INT Elmira 002[deg] 
and Rochester, NY, 120[deg] radials; Rochester; to INT Rochester 
279[deg] and Jamestown, NY, 024[deg](T)/032[deg](M) radials.
* * * * *

V-33 [Amended]

    From Harcum, VA; INT Harcum 003[deg] and Nottingham, MD, 
174[deg] radials; to Nottingham. From Baltimore, MD; INT Baltimore 
004[deg] and Harrisburg, PA, 147[deg] radials; Harrisburg; 
Philipsburg, PA; Keating, PA; to Bradford, PA. The airspace within 
R-4007A and R-4007B is excluded.
* * * * *

V-36 [Amended]

    From Thunder Bay, ON, Canada; Wawa, ON, Canada; Sault Ste Marie, 
MI; Elliot Lake, ON, Canada; Wiarton, ON, Canada; to INT Wiarton 
150[deg] and Toronto, ON, Canada, 304[deg] radials. From Elmira, NY; 
INT Elmira 110[deg] and LaGuardia, NY, 310[deg] radials; to INT 
LaGuardia 310[deg] and Stillwater, NJ, 043[deg] radials. The 
airspace within Canada is excluded.
* * * * *

V-84 [Amended]

    From Northbrook, IL; to Pullman, MI. From Geneseo, NY; INT 
Geneseo 091[deg] and Syracuse, NY, 240[deg] radials; to Syracuse.
* * * * *

V-164 [Amended]

    From Wellsville, NY; Stonyfork, PA; Williamsport, PA; INT 
Williamsport 129[deg] and East Texas, PA, 315[deg] radials; to East 
Texas.
* * * * *

V-252 [Amended]

    From INT Jamestown, NY, 024[deg](T)/032[deg](M) and Geneseo, NY, 
305[deg] radials; Geneseo; Binghamton, NY; Huguenot, NY; INT 
Huguenot 196[deg] and Robbinsville, NJ, 351[deg] radials; 
Robbinsville; to Dupont, DE.
* * * * *

V-510 [Amended]

    From Dickinson, ND; INT Dickinson 078[deg] and Bismarck, ND, 
290[deg] radials; 28 miles 38 MSL, Bismarck; INT Bismarck 067[deg] 
and Jamestown, ND, 279[deg] radials; 14 miles, 65 miles 34 MSL, 
Jamestown; Fargo, ND; INT Fargo 110[deg] and Alexandria, MN, 
321[deg] radials; Alexandria; INT Alexandria 110[deg] and Gopher, 
MN, 321[deg] radials; Gopher; INT Gopher 109[deg] and Nodine, MN, 
328[deg] radials; Nodine; to Dells, WI.
* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC.
Scott M. Rosenbloom,
Acting Manager, Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2020-11861 Filed 6-2-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P