[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 39 (Tuesday, March 2, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 12129-12132]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-03931]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2021-0054; Airspace Docket No. 20-AGL-34]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Establishment of Area Navigation (RNAV) Routes T-322, T-
392, T-403, and T-405; Central United States

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to establish area navigation (RNAV) 
routes T-322, T-392, T-403, and T-405 in the central United States. The 
proposed new RNAV routes would expand the availability of RNAV routing 
in support of transitioning the National Airspace System (NAS) from 
ground-based to satellite-based navigation. Additionally, a portion of 
the new RNAV routes would provide enroute structure where VHF 
Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airway segments were removed due to 
the Sioux City, IA; Park Rapids, MN; and Huron, SD, VORs 
decommissioning in support of the

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FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 16, 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-2021-0054; Airspace Docket No. 20-AGL-34 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: Jesse Acevedo, 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 expand the availability of RNAV in the central 
United States and improve the efficient flow of air traffic within the 
NAS by lessening the dependency on ground-based navigation.

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-2021-0054; Airspace Docket No. 20-AGL-34) 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-2021-0054; Airspace Docket No. 20-AGL-34.'' 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

    In 2003, Congress enacted the Vision 100--Century of Aviation 
Reauthorization Act (Pub. L. 108-176), which established a joint 
planning and development office in the FAA to manage the work related 
to the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen). Today, 
NextGen is an ongoing FAA-led modernization of the nation's air 
transportation system to make flying safer, more efficient, and more 
predictable.
    In support of NextGen efforts to improve the safety and efficiency 
of the NAS, as well as transition the NAS from a ground-based to a 
satellite-based Performance Based Navigation (PBN) system, the FAA is 
proposing to establish RNAV routes T-322, T-392, T-403, and T-405 to 
provide additional PBN enroute structure. This action would reduce air 
traffic control (ATC) sector workload and complexity, reduce pilot-to-
controller communication, assist ATC when non-radar procedures are 
required, and increase NAS capacity in the areas of the new RNAV T-
routes.
    Additionally, the proposed T-routes would compensate for the 
previously removed airway segments of VOR Federal airways due to the 
Sioux City, IA; Park Rapids, MN; and Huron, SD, VORs being 
decommissioned effective February 25, 2021. The new T-routes would also 
provide Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) pilots that are equipped for RNAV 
PBN additional ATS route options for navigating around areas of heavy 
aviation activity and in areas of limited or no radar coverage. Visual 
Flight Rules (VFR) pilots, equipped with RNAV PBN, who elect to 
navigate via ATS routes, could also take advantage of the proposed RNAV 
T-routes.
    The new routes will also assist in reducing workload and sector 
complexity for air traffic controllers, facilitate reduction of air to 
ground communications, and assist in

[[Page 12131]]

increasing the efficiency and capacity of the NAS.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to Title 14 Code of Federal 
Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 to establish RNAV routes T-322, T-392, T-
403, and T-405. The proposed new T-routes are described below.
    T-322: T-322 is a new RNAV route that extends between the Rapid 
City, SD, VOR/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) and the Redwood Falls, 
MN, VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME). This T-route provides 
enroute routing over VOR Federal airway V-26.
    T-392: T-392 is a new RNAV route that would extend between the 
MZEEE, IA, waypoint (WP) located near the Sioux City, IA, VORTAC and 
the GRSIS, MN, WP located near the Fairmont, MN, DME.
    T-403: T-403 is a new RNAV route that would extend between the 
GENEO, MN, WP located near the Darwin, MN, VORTAC and the BLUOX, MN, 
fix located 40 NM North of the Park Rapids, MN, DME. This T-route would 
provide enroute routing adjacent to VOR Federal airway V-171 between 
the Darwin, MN, VORTAC and the Alexandria, MN, VOR/DME; and overlapping 
VOR Federal airway V-175 between the Alexandria, MN, VOR/DME and the 
BLUOX, MN, fix.
    T-405: T-405 is a new RNAV route that would extend between the 
FIITS, SD, WP located near the Yankton, SD, VOR/DME and the GICHI, ND, 
WP located near the Devils Lake, ND, VOR/DME. This T-route would 
provide enroute routing adjacent to VOR Federal airway V-159 between 
the Yankton, SD, VOR/DME and the Huron, SD, DME; enroute routing 
adjacent to VOR Federal airway V-15 between the Huron, SD, DME and the 
Aberdeen, SD, VOR/DME; and enroute routing adjacent to VOR Federal 
airway V-170 between the Aberdeen, SD, VOR/DME and the Devils Lake, ND, 
VOR/DME.
    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 RNAV 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 6011 United States Area Navigation Routes.

* * * * *

T-322 Rapid City, SD (RAP) to Redwood Falls, MN (RWD)
 
Rapid City, SD (RAP)                              VORTAC                        (Lat. 43[deg]58'33.74'' N, long. 103[deg]00'44.38'' W)
Philip, SD (PHP)                                  VOR/DME                       (Lat. 44[deg]03'29.66'' N, long. 101[deg]39'51.10'' W)
Pierre, SD (PIR)                                  VORTAC                        (Lat. 44[deg]23'40.40'' N, long. 100[deg]09'46.11'' W)
DAKPE, SD                                         WP                            (Lat. 44[deg]25'58.37'' N, long. 098[deg]42'23.05'' W)
Redwood Falls, MN (RWD)                           VOR/DME                       (Lat. 44[deg]28'02.19'' N, long. 095[deg]07'41.63'' W)
 
                                                                     * * * * * * *
T392 MZEEE, IA to GRSIS, MN
 
MZEEE, IA                                         WP                            (Lat. 42[deg]20'40.66'' N, long. 096[deg]19'24.54'' W)
KAATO, IA                                         WP                            (Lat. 42[deg]35'06.89'' N, long. 095[deg]58'53.08'' W)
BERRG, IA                                         WP                            (Lat. 43[deg]08'17.21'' N, long. 095[deg]10'46.46'' W)
GRSIS, MN                                         WP                            (Lat. 43[deg]38'45.54'' N, long. 094[deg]25'21.17'' W)
 
T-403 GENEO, MN to BLUOX, MN
 
GENEO, MN                                         WP                            (Lat. 45[deg]05'15.37'' N, long. 094[deg]27'14.30'' W)
Alexandria, MN (AXN)                              VOR/DME                       (Lat. 45[deg]57'30.20'' N, long. 095[deg]13'57.48'' W)
Park Rapids, MN (PKD)                             DME                           (Lat. 46[deg]53'53.34'' N, long. 095[deg]04'15.21'' W)
BLUOX, MN                                         WP                            (Lat. 47[deg]34'33.13'' N, long. 095[deg]01'29.11'' W)
 
T-405 FIITS, SD TO GICHI, ND
 
FIITS, SD                                         WP                            (Lat. 42[deg]55'06.67'' N, long. 097[deg]23'06.31'' W)
Mitchell, SD (MHE)                                VOR/DME                       (Lat. 43[deg]46'37.28'' N, long. 098[deg]02'15.28'' W)
DIDDL, SD                                         WP                            (Lat. 44[deg]26'24.32'' N, long. 098[deg]18'39.06'' W)
Aberdeen, SD (ABR)                                VOR/DME                       (Lat. 45[deg]25'02.48'' N, long. 098[deg]22'07.39'' W)
Jamestown, ND (JMS)                               VOR/DME                       (Lat. 46[deg]55'58.34'' N, long. 098[deg]40'43.57'' W)
FARRM, ND                                         FIX                           (Lat. 47[deg]29'14.17'' N, long. 099[deg]01'34.50'' W)
GICHI, ND                                         WP                            (Lat. 48[deg]06'54.20'' N, long. 098[deg]54'45.14'' W)
 



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    Issued in Washington, DC, on February 22, 2021.
George Gonzalez,
Acting Manager, Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2021-03931 Filed 3-1-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P