[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 215 (Thursday, November 5, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 70532-70534]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-24489]



[[Page 70532]]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2020-0944; Airspace Docket No. 20-AGL-26]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Amendment of V-67, V-190, and V-429; Establishment of T-
312; and Revocation of V-125 and V-335 in the Vicinity of Marion, IL

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This action proposes to amend VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) 
Federal airways V-67, V-190, and V-429; establish Area Navigation 
(RNAV) route T-312; and remove VOR Federal airways V-125 and V-335 in 
the vicinity of Marion, IL. The Air Traffic Service (ATS) route 
modifications are necessary due to the planned decommissioning of the 
VOR portion of the Marion, IL, VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/
DME) navigation aid (NAVAID). With the exception of the RNAV route T-
312 proposed to be established, the Marion VOR/DME NAVAID provides 
navigation guidance for portions of the affected air traffic service 
(ATS) routes. The VOR is being decommissioned as part of the FAA's VOR 
Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 21, 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: 
(800) 647-5527, or (202) 366-9826. You must identify FAA Docket No. 
FAA-2020-0944; Airspace Docket No. 20-AGL-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: 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 route structure as necessary to 
preserve the safe and efficient flow of air traffic within the National 
Airspace System (NAS).

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-2020-0944; Airspace Docket No. 20-AGL-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-2020-0944; Airspace Docket No. 20-AGL-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 Operations Support Group, Central 
Service Center, Federal Aviation Administration, 10101 Hillwood 
Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177.

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 FAA is planning decommissioning activities for the VOR portion 
of the Marion, IL, VOR/DME in June 2021. The VOR portion of the Marion, 
IL, VOR/DME is a candidate VOR identified for discontinuance by the 
FAA's VOR MON program and listed in the final policy statement, 
``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

[[Page 70533]]

Federal Register of July 26, 2016 (81 FR 48694), Docket No. FAA-2011-
1082.
    Although the VOR portion of the Marion VOR/DME is planned for 
decommissioning, the co-located DME portion of the NAVAID is being 
retained.
    The existing ATS route dependencies to the Marion, IL, VOR/DME 
NAVAID are VOR Federal airways V-67, V-125, V-190, V-335, and V-429.
    With the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Marion, 
IL, VOR/DME, the remaining ground-based NAVAID coverage in the area is 
insufficient to enable the continuity of the affected VOR Federal 
airways. As such, proposed modifications to the affected VOR Federal 
airways would result in an increased gap in one of the airways (V-67), 
the removal of the affected airway segment at the end of an airway and 
at the beginning of an airway (V-190 and V-429, respectively), and the 
removal of the remaining airways (V-125 and V-335).
    To overcome the loss of an ATS route, the increased gap in another 
route, and the loss of route segments at the beginning and end of the 
other ATS routes, instrument flight rules (IFR) traffic could use 
adjacent ATS routes, including VOR Federal airways V-4, V-11, V-47, V-
72, V-305, and V-540, or receive air traffic control (ATC) radar 
vectors to fly through or circumnavigate the affected area. 
Additionally, IFR pilots equipped with RNAV PBN capabilities 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 adjacent VOR Federal 
airways or ATC services listed previously.
    Further, the FAA proposes to establish RNAV route T-312 between the 
Hill City, KS, VORTAC and the Pocket City, IN, VORTAC to, in part, 
mitigate the proposed removal of the V-190 airway segment affected by 
the planned decommissioning of the Marion VOR. Additionally, 
establishing T-312 would provide RNAV routing capability from the Hill 
City, KS, area eastward to the Pocket City, IN, area; as well as, 
support ongoing FAA NextGen efforts to transition the NAS to 
performance-based navigation.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to Title 14 Code of Federal 
Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 by modifying VOR Federal airways V-67, V-
190, and V-429; establishing RNAV route T-312; and removing VOR Federal 
airways V-125 and V-335. The planned decommissioning of the VOR portion 
of the Marion, IL, VOR/DME has made this action necessary.
    The proposed VOR Federal airway changes are outlined below.
    V-67: V-67 currently extends between the Choo Choo, TN, VOR/
Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) and the Shelbyville, TN, VOR/DME; and 
between the Cunningham, KY, VOR/DME and the Rochester, MN, VOR/DME. The 
FAA proposes to remove the airway segment overlying the Marion, IL, 
VOR/DME between the Cunningham, KY, VOR/DME and the Centralia, IL, 
VORTAC due to the Marion VOR being decommissioned; and between the 
Centralia, IL, VORTAC and the intersection of the Centralia, IL, VORTAC 
010[deg] and Vandalia, IL, VOR/DME 162[deg] radials (CORKI fix) due to 
V-313 overlaying the same airway segment. The unaffected portions of 
the existing airway would remain as charted.
    V-125: V-125 currently extends between the intersection of the 
Farmington, MO, VORTAC 046[deg] and Marion, IL, VOR/DME 282[deg] 
radials (NIKEL fix) and the St. Louis, MO, VORTAC. The FAA proposes to 
remove the airway in its entirety.
    V-190: V-190 currently extends between the Phoenix, AZ, VORTAC and 
the Pocket City, IN, VORTAC. The FAA proposes to remove the airway 
segment overlying the Marion, IL, VOR/DME between the Farmington, MO, 
VORTAC and the Pocket City, IN, VORTAC. The unaffected portions of the 
existing airway would remain as charted.
    V-335: V-335 currently extends between the St. Louis, MO, VORTAC 
and the Marion, IL, VOR/DME. The FAA proposes to remove the airway in 
its entirety.
    V-429: V-429 currently extends between the Marion, IL, VOR/DME and 
the Bible Grove, IL, VORTAC; and between the Champaign, IL, VORTAC and 
the Joliet, IL, VOR/DME. The FAA proposes to remove the airway segment 
overlying the Marion, IL, VOR/DME between the Marion, IL, VOR/DME and 
the Bible Grove, IL, VORTAC. The unaffected portions of the existing 
airway would remain as charted.
    The proposed new RNAV T-route is outlined below.
    T-312: T-312 is a proposed new route that would extend between the 
Hill City, KS, VORTAC and the Pocket City, IN, VORTAC. This RNAV route 
would mitigate the proposed loss of the V-190 airway segment proposed 
to be removed between the Farmington, MO, VORTAC and the Pocket City, 
IN, VORTAC and provide RNAV routing capability from the Hill City, KS, 
area eastward to the Pocket City, IN, area.
    All NAVAID radials in the VOR Federal airway descriptions below are 
unchanged and stated in True degrees.
    VOR Federal airways are published in paragraph 6010(a) and United 
States RNAV T-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 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:

[[Page 70534]]

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 6010(a) Domestic VOR Federal Airways.

* * * * *

V-67 [Amended]

    From Choo Choo, TN; to Shelbyville, TN. From INT Centralia 
010[deg] and Vandalia, IL, 162[deg] radials; Vandalia; Spinner, IL; 
Burlington, IA; Iowa City, IA; Cedar Rapids, IA; Waterloo, IA; to 
Rochester, MN.
* * * * *

V-125 [Removed]

* * * * *

V-190 [Amended]

    From Phoenix, AZ; St. Johns, AZ; Albuquerque, NM; Fort Union, 
NM, Dalhart, TX; Mitbee, OK; INT Mitbee 059[deg] and Pioneer, OK, 
280[deg] radials; Pioneer; INT Pioneer 094[deg] and Bartlesville, 
OK, 256[deg] radials; Bartlesville; INT Bartlesville 075[deg] and 
Oswego, KS, 233[deg] radials; Oswego; INT Oswego 085[deg] and 
Springfield, MO, 261[deg] radials; Springfield; Maples, MO; to 
Farmington, MO.
* * * * *

V-335 [Removed]

* * * * *

V-429 [Amended]

    From Champaign, IL; Roberts, IL; to Joliet, IL.
* * * * *

Paragraph 6011 United States Area Navigation Routes.

* * * * *

T-312 Hill City, KS (HLC) to Pocket City, IN (PXV) [New]
 
Hill City, KS (HLC)     VORTAC                 (Lat. 39[deg]15'31.49'' N, long. 100[deg]13'33.06'' W)
MOZEE, KS               WP                     (Lat. 38[deg]50'51.20'' N, long. 099[deg]16'35.85'' W)
Hutchinson, KS (HUT)    VOR/DME                (Lat. 37[deg]59'48.91'' N, long. 097[deg]56'02.94'' W)
DROOP, MO               FIX                    (Lat. 37[deg]06'09.12'' N, long. 094[deg]26'42.39'' W)
Dogwood, MO (DGD)       VORTAC                 (Lat. 37[deg]01'24.49'' N, long. 092[deg]52'36.92'' W)
REINS, MO               WP                     (Lat. 37[deg]33'35.84'' N, long. 090[deg]43'00.70'' W)
Farmington, MO (FAM)    VORTAC                 (Lat. 37[deg]40'24.46'' N, long. 090[deg]14'02.61'' W)
JEDPA, IL               WP                     (Lat. 37[deg]50'22.09'' N, long. 088[deg]41'05.55'' W)
Pocket City, IN (PXV)   VORTAC                 (Lat. 37[deg]55'41.95'' N, long. 087[deg]45'44.57'' W)
 

* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on October 30, 2020.
George Gonzalez,
Acting Manager, Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2020-24489 Filed 11-4-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P