[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 10 (Friday, January 15, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 3889-3891]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-00146]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2020-1155; Airspace Docket No. 20-ASO-28]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Amendment of Area Navigation (RNAV) Route Q-34; 
Northeastern United States

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to amend Area Navigation (RNAV) route Q-
34 in the northeastern United States in support of the Northeast 
Corridor Atlantic Coast Route Project (NEC ACR) for improve efficiency 
of the National Airspace System (NAS) while reducing the dependency on 
ground based navigational systems.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 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: 
1(800) 647-5527, or (202) 366-9826. You must identify FAA Docket No. 
FAA-2020-1155; Airspace Docket No. 20-ASO-28 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: Sean Hook, 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

[[Page 3890]]

expand the availability of RNAV routes in the NAS, increase airspace 
capacity, and reduce complexity in high air traffic volume areas.

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-2020-1155 and Airspace Docket No. 20-ASO-28) 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-2020-1155 and Airspace Docket No. 20-ASO-28.'' 
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. A report summarizing each substantive public contact 
with FAA personnel concerned with this rulemaking will be filed in the 
docket.

Availability of NPRM's

    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 Eastern Service Center, Federal 
Aviation Administration, Room 210, 1701 Columbia Ave., College Park, 
GA, 30337.

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 Northeast Corridor Atlantic Coast Route (NEC ACR) project 
developed Performance Based Navigation (PBN) routes involving the 
Washington, Boston, New York, and Jacksonville Air Route Traffic 
Control Centers (ARTCC). The proposed route would enable aircraft to 
travel from most locations along the east coast of the United States 
mainland between Maine and Charleston, SC. The proposed NEC ACR route 
would also tie-in to the existing high altitude RNAV route structure 
enabling more efficient direct routings between the U.S. east coast and 
Caribbean area locations.
    Additionally, the proposed Q-route would support the strategy to 
transition the NAS from a ground-based navigation aid, and radar-based 
system, to a satellite-based PBN system.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to Title 14, Code of Federal 
Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 to amend RNAV route Q-34, in the 
northeastern United States to support the Northeast Corridor Atlantic 
Coast Route Project.
    Q-34: Q-34 currently extends between the Texarkana, AR (TXK), 
VORTAC to the SWAPP, TN, Fix. The FAA is proposing to extend Q-34 to 
the northeast from the SWAPP, TN, Fix to the Robbinsville, NJ (RBV), 
VORTAC. The portion from the Gordonsville, VA (GVE), VORTAC to the 
Robbinsville, NJ (RBV), VORTAC would replace the proposed route of Q-
115 in Airspace Docket No. 18-AEA-16 (85 FR 16572; March 24, 2020). 
Note, 18-AEA-16 proposed multiple routes but never published a final 
rule ultimately implementing them. Since the Q-34 effectively can cover 
the same geographic area, the decision was made to extend Q-34, saving 
an additional Q-route identifier for future use since there is limited 
quantity. Additionally, the LOOSE, AR, WP is added after the Texarkana, 
AR (TXK), VORTAC and the MEMFS, TN, WP is added in lieu of the Memphis, 
TN, VORTAC. Finally, the following points are added to the route from 
the SWAPP, TN, Fix to the Robbinsville, NJ (RBV), VORTAC: GHATS, KY, 
Fix; FOUNT, KY, Fix; TONIO, KY, Fix; KONGO, KY, Fix; NEALS, WV, Fix; 
SITTR, WV, WP; ASBUR, WV, Fix; DENNY, VA, Fix; MAULS, VA, WP; 
Gordonsville, VA (GVE); BOOYA, VA, WP; DUALY, MD, WP; BIGRG, MD, WP; 
PNGWN, NJ, WP; HULKK, NJ, WP.
    United States area navigation routes are published in paragraph 
2006 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 area navigation 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

[[Page 3891]]

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 2006 United States Area Navigation Routes.

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Q-34 Texarkana, AR (TXK) to Robbinsville, NJ (RBV) [Amend]
Texarkana, AR (TXK)........................  VORTAC                         (Lat. 33[deg]30'49.97'' N, long. 094[deg]04'23.67'' W)
LOOSE, AR..................................  WP                             (Lat. 33[deg]53' 46.88'' N, long. 093[deg]05' 08.38'' W)
MATIE, AR..................................  FIX                            (Lat. 34[deg]05' 41.96'' N, long. 092[deg]33' 02.35'' W)
MEMFS, TN..................................  WP                             (Lat. 35[deg]00' 54.62'' N, long. 089[deg]58' 58.87'' W)
SWAPP, TN..................................  FIX                            (Lat. 36[deg]36' 49.78'' N, long. 085[deg]10' 56.04'' W)
GHATS, KY..................................  FIX                            (Lat. 36[deg]48' 06.75'' N, long. 084[deg]34' 02.44'' W)
FOUNT, KY..................................  FIX                            (Lat. 36[deg]57' 24.34'' N, long. 084[deg]03' 01.92'' W)
TONIO, KY..................................  FIX                            (Lat. 37[deg]15' 15.20'' N, long. 083[deg]01' 47.53'' W)
KONGO, KY..................................  FIX                            (Lat. 37[deg]30' 19.46'' N, long. 082[deg]08' 12.56'' W)
NEALS, WV..................................  FIX                            (Lat. 37[deg]35' 45.99'' N, long. 081[deg]48' 24.62'' W)
SITTR, WV..................................  WP                             (Lat. 37[deg]46' 49.13'' N, long. 081[deg]07' 23.70'' W)
ASBUR, WV..................................  FIX                            (Lat. 37[deg]49' 24.41'' N, long. 080[deg]27' 51.44'' W)
DENNY, VA..................................  FIX                            (Lat. 37[deg]52' 00.15'' N, long. 079[deg]44' 13.75'' W)
MAULS, VA..................................  WP                             (Lat. 37[deg]52' 49.36'' N, long. 079[deg]19' 49.19'' W)
Gordonsville, VA...........................  (GVE) VORTAC                   (Lat. 38[deg]00' 48.96'' N, long. 078[deg]09' 10.90'' W)
BOOYA, VA..................................  WP                             (Lat. 38[deg]24' 20.50'' N, long. 077[deg]21' 46.36'' W)
DUALY, MD..................................  WP                             (Lat. 38[deg]45' 53.59'' N, long. 076[deg]50' 33.76'' W)
BIGRG, MD..................................  WP                             (Lat. 39[deg]15' 13.92'' N, long. 076[deg]07' 13.77'' W)
PNGWN, NJ..................................  WP                             (Lat. 39[deg]39' 27.07'' N, long. 075[deg]30' 41.79'' W)
HULKK, NJ..................................  WP                             (Lat. 39[deg]59' 53.04'' N, long. 074[deg]58' 52.52'' W)
Robbinsville, NJ (RBV).....................  VORTAC                         (Lat. 40[deg]12' 08.65'' N, long. 074[deg]29' 42.09'' W)
 

* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on January 5, 2021.
George Gonzalez,
Acting Manager, Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2021-00146 Filed 1-14-21; 8:45 am]
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