[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 199 (Wednesday, October 14, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 64998-65000]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-22582]



[[Page 64998]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2020-0868; Airspace Docket No. 20-AAL-26]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Amendment to Alaskan VOR Federal Airway V-319, United 
States Air Navigation (RNAV) Routes, T-219 and T-269, and Revocation of 
Federal Colored Airway R-50; Alaska

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to remove Colored Federal airway, R-50, 
and amend Alaskan VOR Federal airway, V-319, and United States Air 
Navigation (RNAV) Routes T-219 and T-269 in Alaska. The modifications 
are necessary due to the planned decommissioning of the Nanwak Non-
Directional Beacon (NDB) and Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) in 
Mekoryuk, AK, which provides navigation guidance for portions of the 
affected routes. The Nanwak NDB/DME (AIX) is to be decommissioned 
effective June 17, 2021 due to the high cost of maintenance.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before November 30, 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-2020-0868; Airspace Docket No. 20-AAL-26 at the beginning of your 
comments. You may also submit comments through the internet at https://www.regulations.gov.
    FAA Order 7400.11E, 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 7400.11E at NARA, email: 
[email protected] or go to https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher McMullin, 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 route structure as necessary to 
preserve the safe and efficient flow of air traffic within the National 
Airspace System.

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-2020-0868; Airspace Docket No. 20-AAL-26) 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-2020-0868; Airspace Docket No. 20-AAL-26.'' 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 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 7400.11E, Airspace 
Designations and Reporting Points, dated July 21, 2020, and effective 
September 15, 2020. FAA Order 7400.11E is publicly available as listed 
in the ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order 7400.11E lists 
Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and 
reporting points.

Background

    The Nanwak (AIX) NDB/DME has been out of service for more than six 
years. Due to the high cost of maintenance, the FAA has determined it 
necessary to decommission the Navigational Aid (NAVAID) and establish a 
new waypoint (WP), the MKLUK, AK, WP, in its place. The upcoming 
decommissioning of the AIX NDB/DME will require removal of Federal 
Colored airway R-50, and amendment of Alaskan VOR Federal Airway V-319 
and RNAV routes T-219 and T-269 to remove and add associated airway 
segments.

[[Page 64999]]

    Due to the pending decommissioning of AIX and Oscarville NDB (OSE), 
the NAVAIDS that support R-50 will be nullified. The segment of R-50 to 
be revoked from AIX to OSE will be mitigated by an extension of T-269 
from the Bethel VHF Omnidirectional Radar and Tactical Air Navigation 
System (VORTAC) to a newly established waypoint, the MKLUK, AK, WP. The 
additional segment of the route being deleted from OSE to the Anvik, 
AK, NDB can be mitigated by utilizing V-453 and V-510.
    Alaskan VOR Federal airway V-319 will require an amendment deleting 
the segment from the Hooper Bay VOR/DME to AIX. The loss of this 
segment will be mitigated by an extension of T-219.
    RNAV route T-219 will be amended to extend the airway from its 
current termination point at Nanwak NDB to Hooper Bay via the MKLUK, 
AK, WP to mitigate the loss of V-319 in this area. T-219 will also have 
two additional turn points added to the legal description between the 
Dillingham, AK, VOR/DME and the RUFVY, AK, WP. The FAA JO 7400.2M 
section 20-5-3 requires that points where a route changes direction be 
included in the legal description. The waypoints NACIP and ACATE are 
established reporting points, therefore, in order to comply with the 
published guidance, they will be included in the proposed amended legal 
description. Finally, the 7400.2M section 20-1-5 specifies that odd 
routes in the description be oriented south to north. The current legal 
description does not follow that guidance and requires correction.
    RNAV route T-269 will be amended to extend its current termination 
point at the Bethel, AK, VORTAC to the MKLUK, AK, WP. This change would 
mitigate the loss of the R-50 segment from Nanwak NDB to Bethel VORTAC. 
Additionally, there are several waypoints and fixes that are missing 
from the current legal description. As stated earlier, FAA JO 7400.2M 
requires that any turn point be included in the legal description. 
There are eight waypoints (WP) and fixes along this route that meet 
that criteria. The points include: TURTY, AK, WP, and FLIPS, AK, FIX 
between Annette Island, AK (ANN) and Biorka Island, AK (BKA); HAPIT, 
AK, WP, and CENTA, AK, WP between BKA and Yakutat, AK (YAK); KATAT, AK, 
WP between YAK and Johnstone Point, AK (JOH); YONEK, AK, WP, VEILL, AK, 
WP between Anchorage, AK (TED) and Sparrevohn, AK (SQA); VIDDA, AK 
between SQA and Bethel, AK (BET). The Part 71 legal description 
requires amendment to include these points.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to Title 14 Code of Federal 
Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 to remove Colored Federal airway R-50, 
amend Alaskan VOR Federal Airway V-319, and amend RNAV routes T-219 and 
T-269. The proposed actions are described below.
    R-50: R-50 currently extends between the Nanwak, AK, NDB and the 
Anvik, AK, NDB. The FAA proposes to remove the entire route.
    V-319: V-319 currently extends between the Yakutat, AK and the 
Nanwak, AK, NDB. The FAA proposes to remove the segment from the Hooper 
Bay, AK, VOR/DME to the Nanwak, AK, NDB.
    T-219: T-219 currently extends between the Nanwak, AK, NDB and the 
Dillingham, AK, VOR/DME. The FAA proposes to extend the airway from the 
MKLUK, AK, WP to the Hooper Bay, AK, VOR/DME. Additionally, the 
proposal would correct the legal description, to include the NACIP, AK, 
WP and the ACATE, AK WP. Finally, the proposal would correct the legal 
description so that it denotes south to north track as it states in the 
FAA JO 7400.2M paragraph 20-1-5 e2.
    T-269: T-269 currently extends between the Annette Island, AK, VOR/
DME and the Bethel, AK, VORTAC. The FAA proposes to extend the airway 
from the Bethel, AK, VORTAC to the MKLUK, AK, WP. Additionally, the FAA 
proposes to incorporate eight additional waypoints and fixes that were 
not included in the legal description. These reporting points include 
TURTY, AK, WP; FLIPS, AK, FIX; HAPIT, AK, FIX; CENTRA, AK, WP; KATAT, 
AK, WP; YONEK, AK, WP; VEILL, AK, WP, and VIDDA, AK, WP that contain a 
turn and are required to be included in the legal description as per 
the FAA JO 7400.2M paragraph 20-1-5 h2.
    Colored Federal airways are published in paragraph 6009, Alaskan 
VOR Federal Airways are published in paragraph 6010 (b), and United 
States Area Navigation Routes are published in paragraph 6011 of FAA 
Order 7400.11E dated July 21, 2020, and effective September 15, 2020, 
which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR part 71.1. The Colored 
Federal Airways listed in this document will 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 7400.11E, 
Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated July 21, 2020 and 
effective September 15, 2020, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6009--Colored Federal Airways.

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R-50 [Removed]

* * * * *

Paragraph 6010(b)--Alaskan VOR Federal airways

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[[Page 65000]]

V-319 [Amended]

    From Yakutat, AK, via Johnstone Point, AK, INT Johnstone Point 
291[deg] and Anchorage, AK, 125[deg] radials; Anchorage, AK; 
Sparrevohn, AK; Bethel, AK; Hooper Bay, AK.
* * * * *

Paragraph 6011--United States Area Navigation Routes

 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
T-219 DLG to HPB [Amended]
 
DILLINGHAM, AK (DLG)                            VOR/DME                        (Lat. 58[deg]59'39.24'' N, long. 158[deg]33'07.99'' W)
NACIP, AK                                       WP                             (Lat. 59[deg]23'17.51'' N, long. 160[deg]38'06.01'' W)
ACATE, AK                                       WP                             (Lat. 59[deg]42'50.93'' N, long. 162[deg]33'09.70'' W)
RUFVY, AK                                       WP                             (Lat. 59[deg]56'34.16'' N, long. 164[deg]02'03.72'' W)
MKLUK, AK                                       WP                             (Lat. 60[deg]26'40.04'' N, long. 165[deg]55'17.28'' W)
HOOPER BAY, AK (HPB)                            VOR/DME                        (Lat. 61[deg]30'51.65'' N, long. 166[deg]08'04.13'' W)
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
T-269 ANN to MKLUK [Amended]
 
ANNETTE ISLAND, AK (ANN)                        VOR/DME                        (Lat. 55[deg]03'37.47'' N, long. 131[deg]34'42.24'' W)
TURTY, AK                                       WP                             (Lat. 55[deg]48'26.84'' N, long. 133[deg]08'58.14'' W)
FLIPS, AK                                       FIX                            (Lat. 56[deg]34'32.58'' N, long. 134[deg]52'46.97'' W)
BIORKA ISLAND, AK (BKA)                         VORTAC                         (Lat. 56[deg]51'33.87'' N, long. 135[deg]33'04.72'' W)
HAPIT, AK                                       WP                             (Lat. 58[deg]11'57.57'' N, long. 137[deg]31'12.45'' W)
CENTA, AK                                       WP                             (Lat. 59[deg]00'21.35'' N, long. 138[deg]48'10.27'' W)
YAKUTAT, AK (YAK)                               VOR/DME                        (Lat. 59[deg]30'38.99'' N, long. 139[deg]38'53.26'' W)
KATAT, AK                                       WP                             (Lat. 60[deg]15'29.17'' N, long. 144[deg]42'18.77'' W)
JOHNSTONE POINT, AK (JOH)                       VOR/DME                        (Lat. 60[deg]28'51.43'' N, long. 146[deg]35'57.61'' W)
ANCHORAGE, AK (TED)                             VOR/DME                        (Lat. 61[deg]10'04.32'' N, long. 149[deg]57'36.51'' W)
YONEK, AK                                       WP                             (Lat. 61[deg]10'22.97'' N, long. 151[deg]14'08.30'' W)
VEILL, AK                                       WP                             (Lat. 61[deg]08'13.91'' N, long. 154[deg]15'45.68'' W)
SPARREVOH N, AK (SQA)                           VOR/DME                        (Lat. 61[deg]05'54.89'' N, long. 155[deg]38'04.49'' W)
VIDDA, AK                                       WP                             (Lat. 60[deg]52'41.05'' N, long. 160[deg]28'33.09'' W)
BETHEL, AK (BET)                                VORTAC                         (Lat. 60[deg]47'05.41'' N, long. 161[deg]49'27.59'' W)
MKLUK, AK                                       WP                             (Lat. 60[deg]26'40.04'' N, long. 165[deg]55'17.28'' W)
 

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    Issued in Washington, DC, on October 7, 2020.
Scott M. Rosenbloom,
Acting Manager, Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2020-22582 Filed 10-13-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P