[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 242 (Wednesday, December 16, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 81433-81436]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-27632]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2020-1100; Airspace Docket No. 20-AGL-1]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Amendment of V-9, V-63, V-100, V-158, V-171, and T-325; 
and Revocation of V-127 in the Vicinity of Rockford, IL

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-9, V-63, V-100, V-158, and V-171; amend Area 
Navigation (RNAV) route T-325; and remove VOR Federal airway V-127 in 
the vicinity of Rockford, IL. The air traffic service (ATS) route 
modifications are necessary due to the planned decommissioning of the 
VOR portion of the Rockford, IL, VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/
DME) navigation aid (NAVAID). Except for RNAV route T-325, the Rockford 
VOR/DME NAVAID provides navigation guidance for portions of the 
affected routes listed above. The Rockford VOR is being decommissioned 
as part of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 1, 2021.

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-2020-1100; Airspace Docket No. 20-AGL-1 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-2020-1100; Airspace Docket No. 20-AGL-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-2020-1100; Airspace Docket No. 20-AGL-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

[[Page 81434]]

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 Rockford, IL, VOR/DME in October 2021. The Rockford, IL, VOR is 
a candidate VOR 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 Rockford VOR/DME is planned for 
decommissioning, the co-located DME portion of the NAVAID is being 
retained.
    The existing ATS route dependencies to the Rockford, IL, VOR/DME 
NAVAID are VOR Federal airways V-9, V-63, V-100, V-127, V-158, and V-
171. With the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the 
Rockford VOR/DME, the remaining ground-based NAVAID coverage in the 
area is insufficient to enable the continuity of the affected airways. 
As such, proposed modifications to the affected airways would result in 
creating a gap in three of the airways (V-9, V-63, and V-100), 
expanding an existing gap in one of the airways (V-171), redefining an 
airway point to retain one of the airways as charted (V-158); and 
removing the remaining airway completely (V-127).
    To overcome the gaps created or expanded in four of the airways, 
and the loss of another airway, instrument flight rules (IFR) traffic 
could use adjacent ATS routes, including VOR Federal airways V-6, V-24, 
V-158, V-172, and V-216, or request 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.
    To retain V-158 as charted, the FAA is proposing to redefine the 
airway point defined by the intersection of the Polo, IL, VOR/DME 
122[deg] and Rockford, IL, VOR/DME 169[deg] radials (SHOOF fix) by 
using the existing Polo, IL, VOR/DME 122[deg] radial and replacing the 
Rockford, IL, VOR/DME radial with a new Davenport, IA, VOR/Tactical Air 
Navigation (VORTAC) 087[deg](T)/083[deg](M) radial. As a result, the V-
158 airway would remain unchanged and as currently charted.
    The FAA is also proposing to extend RNAV route T-325 from the Terre 
Haute, IN, area to the Oshkosh, WI, area to, in part, mitigate arrival/
departure route issues associated with the proposed loss of the V-9 and 
V-63 airway segments north of the Rockford VOR/DME. For approximately 
two weeks each summer, more than 10,000 aircraft converge on Oshkosh, 
WI, for the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Air Venture Fly-In 
held at the Aviation Museum located at the Wittman Regional Airport. 
Extending T-325 to the Oshkosh, WI, area would mitigate the Air Venture 
Fly-In arrival/departure route issues caused by the proposed V-9 and V-
63 modifications, provide airspace users with continued enroute ATS 
route structure north of the Rockford, IL, area, and support ongoing 
FAA NextGen efforts to modernize the NAS to performance-based 
navigation.
    Prior to this NPRM, the FAA published a rule for Docket No. FAA-
2020-0505 in the Federal Register (85 FR 67648; October 26, 2020), 
amending VOR Federal airway V-63 by removing the airway segment between 
the Bowie, TX, VORTAC and the Texoma, OK, VOR/DME. That airway 
amendment, effective December 31, 2020, is included in this NPRM.
    Also prior to this NPRM, the FAA published a rule for Docket No. 
FAA-2020-0667 in the Federal Register (85 FR 79422; December 10, 2020), 
amending VOR Federal airway V-100 by removing the airway segment 
overlying the Sioux City, IA, VORTAC between the O'Neill, NE, VORTAC 
and the Fort Dodge, IA, VORTAC. That airway amendment, effective 
February 25, 2021, is included in this NPRM, as well.

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-9, V-
63, V-100, V-158, and V-171; modifying RNAV route T-325; and removing 
VOR Federal airway V-127. The planned decommissioning of the VOR 
portion of the Rockford, IL, VOR/DME has made this action necessary.
    The proposed VOR Federal airway changes are outlined below.
    V-9: V-9 currently extends between the Leeville, LA, VORTAC and the 
Houghton, MI, VOR/DME. The FAA proposes to remove the airway segment 
overlying the Rockford, IL, VOR/DME between the Pontiac, IL, VOR/DME 
and the Janesville, WI, VOR/DME. The unaffected portions of the 
existing airway would remain as charted.
    V-63: V-63 currently extends between the Razorback, AR, VORTAC and 
the Oshkosh, WI, VORTAC; and between the Wausau, WI, VOR/DME and the 
Houghton, MI, VOR/DME. That airspace at and above 10,000 feet MSL from 
5 NM north to 46 NM north of Quincy, IL, when the Howard West MOA is 
active is excluded. The FAA proposes to remove the airway segment 
overlying the Rockford, IL, VOR/DME between the Davenport, IA, VORTAC 
and the Janesville, WI, VOR/DME. The unaffected portions of the 
existing airway would remain as charted and the exclusion language 
would remain unchanged.
    V-100: V-100 currently extends between the Medicine Bow, WY, VOR/
DME and the O'Neill, NE, VORTAC; and between the Fort Dodge, IA, VORTAC

[[Page 81435]]

and the Litchfield, MI, VOR/DME. The FAA proposes to remove the airway 
segment overlying the Rockford, IL, VOR/DME between the Dubuque, IA, 
VORTAC and the Northbrook, IL, VOR/DME. The unaffected portions of the 
existing airway would remain as charted.
    V-127: V-127 currently extends between the Bradford, IL, VORTAC and 
the Rockford, IL, VOR/DME. The FAA proposes to remove the airway in its 
entirety.
    V-158: V-158 currently extends between the Mason City, IA, VORTAC 
and the intersection of the Polo, IL, VOR/DME 122[deg] and the 
Rockford, IL, VOR/DME 169[deg] radials (SHOOF fix). The airspace within 
R-3302 is excluded. The FAA proposes to retain the airway and redefine 
the SHOOF fix as the intersection of the existing Polo, IL, VOR/DME 
122[deg] radial and the new Davenport, IA, VORTAC, 087[deg](T)/
083[deg](M) radial. The existing airway would remain as charted and the 
exclusion language would remain unchanged.
    V-171: V-171 currently extends between the Lexington, KY, VOR/DME 
and the Rockford, IL, VOR/DME; and between the Nodine, MN, VORTAC and 
the Roseau, MN, VOR/DME. The FAA proposes to remove the airway segment 
between the Joliet, IL, VOR/DME and the Rockford, IL, VOR/DME. The 
unaffected portions of the existing airway would remain as charted.
    The proposed RNAV T-route changes are outlined below.
    T-325: T-325 currently extends between the Bowling Green, KY, DME 
navigation aid and the Terre Haute, IN, VORTAC. The proposed change 
would remove the Terre Haute VORTAC and replace it with the JIBKA, IN, 
waypoint (WP) located near the Terre Haute VORTAC, and extend the route 
northward from the JIBKA, IN, WP to the Oshkosh, WI, VORTAC. The 
following points would be added between the JIBKA WP and the Oshkosh 
VORTAC: CAPPY, IL, WP; SMARS, IL, WP; TRENM, IL, WP; START, IL, WP; 
GRIFT, IL, WP; DEBOW, WI, WP; LUNGS, WI, WP; and the HOMNY, WI, WP. The 
unaffected segments of the existing route would remain as charted.
    All radials in the VOR Federal airway 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) 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:

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-9 [Amended]

    From Leeville, LA; McComb, MS; INT McComb 004[deg] and Magnolia, 
MS, 194[deg] radials; Magnolia; Sidon, MS; Marvell, AR; Gilmore, AR; 
Malden, MO; Farmington, MO; St. Louis, MO; Spinner, IL; to Pontiac, 
IL. From Janesville, WI; Madison, WI; Oshkosh, WI; Green Bay, WI; 
Iron Mountain, MI; to Houghton, MI.
* * * * *

V-63 [Amended]

    From Razorback, AR; Springfield, MO; Hallsville, MO; Quincy, IL; 
Burlington, IA; Moline, IL; to Davenport, IA. From Janesville, WI; 
Badger, WI; to Oshkosh, WI. From Wausau, WI; Rhinelander, WI; to 
Houghton, MI. Excluding that airspace at and above 10,000 feet MSL 
from 5 NM north to 46 NM north of Quincy, IL, when the Howard West 
MOA is active.
* * * * *

V-100 [Amended]

    From Medicine Bow, WY; Scottsbluff, NE; Alliance, NE; Ainsworth, 
NE; to O'Neill, NE. From Fort Dodge, IA; Waterloo, IA; to Dubuque, 
IA. From Northbrook, IL; INT Northbrook 095[deg] and Keeler, MI, 
271[deg] radials; Keeler; to Litchfield, MI.
* * * * *

V-127 [Removed]

* * * * *

V-158 [Amended]

    From Mason City, IA; INT Mason City 106[deg] and Dubuque, IA, 
293[deg] radials; Dubuque; Polo, IL; to INT Polo 122[deg] and 
Davenport, IA, 087[deg](T)/083[deg](M) radials. The airspace within 
R-3302 is excluded.
* * * * *

V-171 [Amended]

    From Lexington, KY; INT Lexington 251[deg] and Louisville, KY, 
114[deg] radials; Louisville; Terre Haute, IN; Danville, IL; 
Peotone, IL; INT Peotone 281[deg] and Joliet, IL, 173[deg] radials; 
to Joliet. From Nodine, MN; INT Nodine 298[deg] and Farmington, MN, 
124[deg] radials; Farmington; Darwin, MN; Alexandria, MN; INT 
Alexandria 321[deg] and Grand Forks, ND, 152[deg] radials; Grand 
Forks; to Roseau, MN.
* * * * *

Paragraph 6011 United States Area Navigation Routes.

* * * * *

T-325 Bowling Green, KY (BWG) to Oshkosh, WI (OSH) [Amended]
Bowling Green, KY (BWG)          DME                (Lat. 36[deg]55'43.47'' N, long. 086[deg]26'36.36'' W).

[[Page 81436]]

 
RENRO, KY                        FIX                (Lat. 37[deg]28'50.53'' N, long. 086[deg]39'19.25'' W).
LOONE, KY                        WP                 (Lat. 37[deg]44'14.43'' N, long. 086[deg]45'18.02'' W).
APALO, IN                        FIX                (Lat. 38[deg]00'20.59'' N, long. 086[deg]51'35.27'' W).
BUNKA, IN                        FIX                (Lat. 39[deg]04'57.32'' N, long. 087[deg]09'06.58'' W).
JIBKA, IN                        WP                 (Lat. 39[deg]30'08.93'' N, long. 087[deg]16'26.74'' W).
CAPPY, IL                        WP                 (Lat. 40[deg]00'06.00'' N, long. 087[deg]44'31.22'' W).
SMARS, IL                        WP                 (Lat. 41[deg]07'38.18'' N, long. 088[deg]51'38.22'' W).
TRENM, IL                        WP                 (Lat. 41[deg]17'24.93'' N, long. 089[deg]00'27.53'' W).
START, IL                        WP                 (Lat. 41[deg]45'24.83'' N, long. 089[deg]00'21.81'' W).
GRIFT, IL                        WP                 (Lat. 42[deg]17'28.14'' N, long. 088[deg]53'41.42'' W).
DEBOW, WI                        WP                 (Lat. 42[deg]44'08.30'' N, long. 088[deg]50'48.92'' W).
LUNGS, WI                        WP                 (Lat. 43[deg]02'43.66'' N, long. 088[deg]56'54.86'' W).
HOMNY, WI                        WP                 (Lat. 43[deg]31'02.22'' N, long. 088[deg]39'40.15'' W).
Oshkosh, WI (OSH)                VORTAC             (Lat. 43[deg]59'25.56'' N, long. 088[deg]33'21.36'' W).
 

* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on December 11, 2020.
George Gonzalez,
Acting Manager, Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2020-27632 Filed 12-15-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P