[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 125 (Friday, July 2, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 35233-35235]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-14092]
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Proposed Rules
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 125 / Friday, July 2, 2021 / Proposed
Rules
[[Page 35233]]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2021-0479; Airspace Docket No. 21-AGL-5]
RIN 2120-AA66
Proposed Amendment of VOR Federal Airways V-170, V-175 and V-250;
Establishment of Area Navigation (RNAV) Route T-400; in the Vicinity of
Worthington, MN
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to amend three VHF Omnidirectional Range
(VOR) Federal airways and establish a new RNAV T-route, in the vicinity
of Worthington, Minnesota. This action is necessary due to the planned
decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Worthington, MN, VOR/Distance
Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME), which provides navigation guidance to
portions of the affected Air Traffic Service (ATS) routes. The
Worthington VOR is being decommissioned as part of the FAA's VOR
Minimum Operational Network (VOR MON) program.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before August 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-2021-0479; Airspace Docket No. 21-AGL-5 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 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-2021-0479; Airspace Docket No. 21-AGL-5) 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-2021-0479; Airspace Docket No. 21-AGL-5.'' 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
[[Page 35234]]
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 Worthington, MN, VOR/DME with a planned date of March 24, 2022.
The Worthington VOR was one of the candidate VORs identified for
discontinuance by the FAA's VOR MON program and listed in the Final
policy statement notice, ``Provision of Navigation Services for the
NextGen Transition to Performance-Based Navigation (PBN) (Plan for
Establishing a VOR MON),'' published in the Federal Register of July
26, 2016 (81 FR 48694), Docket No. FAA-2011-1082. Although the VOR
portion of the Worthington VOR/DME is planned for decommissioning, the
co-located DME portion of the navigational aid is being retained in
support of current and future RNAV procedures.
The airways affected by the Worthington VOR are V-170, V-175, and
V-250. With the planned decommissioning of the Worthington VOR, the
remaining ground-based navigational aid coverage in the area is
insufficient to enable the continuity of these affected routes. As
such, the proposed modifications would result in the removal of airway
segments. To overcome the impacts from the loss of portions of the
airways, instrument flight rules (IFR) traffic may use adjacent
airways, including V-24, V-80, V-120, V-148, V-398, and V-456, to
navigate through or around the affected areas. IFR traffic could
receive air traffic control radar vectors through the areas. Aircraft
equipped with RNAV capabilities may also file point to point through
the affected area using the fixes that will remain in place, or use the
proposed new RNAV T-400 (in lieu of V-250). Visual flight rules (VFR)
pilots may utilize the ATC services previously listed.
The proposed new RNAV T-route, T-400, would mitigate the proposed
removal of the airway segment of V-250 between the Yankton, SD, VOR/DME
and Mankato, MN, VOR/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC). Additionally, it
would provide navigational options in areas of limited or no radar
coverage to pilots whose aircraft are RNAV equipped. Finally, it would
support the FAA's efforts to transition the NAS from ground-based to
satellite-based navigation.
The FAA proposes to retain all airspace fixes on the deleted
segments of the VOR Federal airways either as fixes or waypoints.
The Proposal
The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 to amend three
VOR Federal airways and establish one RNAV T-route. The proposed ATS
route actions are described below.
V-170: V-170 extends between the Devils Lake, ND, VOR/DME and the
Worthington, MN, VOR/DME; between the Rochester, MN, VOR/DME and the
Salem, MI, VORTAC; and between the Slate Run, PA, VORTAC and the
intersection of the Andrews, MD, VORTAC 060[deg] radial and the
Baltimore, MD, VORTAC 165[deg] radial. The airspace within R-5802 is
excluded when active. The FAA proposes to remove the airway segment
between the Sioux Falls, SD, VORTAC and the Worthington, MN, VOR/DME.
This would result in the first segment of the route extending between
the Devils Lake, ND, VOR/DME and the Sioux Falls, SD, VORTAC. The
second and third segments of the airway would remain unchanged.
V-175: V-175 extends between the Malden, MO, VORTAC and the Des
Moines, IA, VORTAC; and between the Worthington, MN, VOR/DME and the
Alexandria, MN, VOR/DME. The FAA proposes to remove the airway segment
between the Worthington, MN, VOR/DME and the Redwood Falls, MN, VOR/
DME. This would result in the last segment of the airway extending
between the Redwood Falls VOR/DME and the Alexandria VOR/DME. The first
segment of the airway would remain unchanged. Concurrent changes to
other segments of V-175 have been proposed in a separate rulemaking
proposal.
V-250: V-250 extends between the O'Neill, NE, VORTAC and the
Mankato, MN, VOR/DME. The FAA proposes to remove the airway segment
from the Yankton, SD, VOR/DME and the Mankato, MN, VOR/DME. The
resulting airway would extend between the O'Neill, NE, VORTAC and the
Yankton, SD, VOR/DME.
T-400: T-400 would be a new RNAV route that extends between the
LLUKY, NE, waypoint (WP), located near the O'Neill, NE, VORTAC and the
ZOSAG, MN, WP, which is a new WP being established near the Flying
Cloud, MN, VOR/DME as part of this proposal.
All of the navigational aid radials in the airway descriptions
below are stated in True degrees.
Domestic VOR Federal airways and RNAV T-routes are published in
paragraphs 6010(a) and 6011, respectively, of FAA Order 7400.11E, dated
July 21, 2020, and effective September 15, 2020, which are incorporated
by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The ATS routes listed in this document
would be published subsequently 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:
[[Page 35235]]
Paragraph 6010(a) Domestic VOR Federal Airways.
* * * * *
V-170 [Amended]
From Devils Lake, ND; INT Devils Lake 187[deg] and Jamestown,
ND, 337[deg] radials; Jamestown; Aberdeen, SD; to Sioux Falls, SD.
From Rochester, MN; Nodine, MN; Dells, WI; INT Dells 097[deg] and
Badger, WI, 304[deg] radials; Badger; INT Badger 121[deg] and
Pullman, MI, 282[deg] radials; Pullman; to Salem, MI. From Slate
Run, PA; Selinsgrove, PA; Ravine, PA; INT Ravine 125[deg] and
Modena, PA, 318[deg] radials; Modena; Dupont, DE; INT Dupont
223[deg] and Andrews, MD, 060[deg] radials; to INT Andrews 060[deg]
and Baltimore, MD, 165[deg] radials. The airspace within R-5802 is
excluded when active.
* * * * *
V-175 [Amended]
From Malden, MO; Vichy, MO; Hallsville, MO; Macon, MO;
Kirksville, MO; to Des Moines, IA. From Redwood Falls, MN; to
Alexandria, MN.
* * * * *
V-250 [Amended]
From O'Neill, NE; to Yankton, SD.
* * * * *
Paragraph 6011 United States Area Navigation Routes.
* * * * *
T400 LLUKY, NE to ZOSAG, MN [New]
LLUKY, NE WP (Lat. 42[deg]29'20.26'' N, long. 098[deg]38'11.44'' W)
IMUPP, SD WP (Lat. 42[deg]55'06.44'' N, long. 097[deg]23'05.22'' W)
DURWN, MN WP (Lat. 43[deg]38'48.91'' N, long. 095[deg]34'55.87'' W)
MEMCO, MN WP (Lat. 44[deg]13'11.42'' N, long. 093[deg]54'45.23'' W)
ZOSAG, MN WP (Lat. 44[deg]49'30.74'' N, long. 093[deg]26'34.08'' W)
Issued in Washington, DC.
George Gonzalez,
Acting Manager, Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2021-14092 Filed 7-1-21; 8:45 am]
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