[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 154 (Friday, August 13, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 44671-44674]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-16968]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2021-0632; Airspace Docket No. 21-ASW-11]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Amendment of J-8 and V-140, and Establishment of T-422 
in the Vicinity of Kingfisher, OK

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to amend Jet Route J-8 and VHF 
Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airway V-140, and establish Area 
Navigation (RNAV) route T-422 in the vicinity of Kingfisher, OK. The 
Air Traffic Service (ATS) route modifications are necessary due to the 
planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Kingfisher, OK, VOR/
Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) navigational aid (NAVAID) which 
provides navigational guidance for portions of J-8 and V-140. The VOR 
portion of the VORTAC is being decommissioned as part of the FAA's VOR 
Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before September 27, 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-2021-0632; Airspace Docket No. 21-ASW-11 at the beginning of your 
comments. You

[[Page 44672]]

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-2021-0632; Airspace Docket No. 21-ASW-11) 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-2021-0632; Airspace Docket No. 21-ASW-11.'' 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 Kingfisher, OK, VORTAC in May 2022. The VOR portion of the 
Kingfisher, OK, VORTAC 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 Kingfisher VORTAC is planned for 
decommissioning, the co-located DME portion of the NAVAID is being 
retained to support Performance Based Navigation (PBN) procedures.
    The existing ATS route dependencies to the Kingfisher, OK, VORTAC 
NAVAID are Jet Route J-8 and VOR Federal airway V-140. With the planned 
decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Kingfisher, OK, VORTAC, the 
remaining ground-based NAVAID coverage in the area is insufficient to 
enable the continuity of these affected ATS routes. As such, proposed 
modifications to the routes would result in the creation of a gap in J-
8 and the creation of two gaps in V-140.
    To overcome the proposed gaps in the routes, instrument flight 
rules (IFR) traffic could use adjacent ATS routes, including Jet Routes 
J-6, J-14, J-20, J-78, and J-98 in lieu of the affected J-8 segment and 
VOR Federal airways V-14, V-272, V-436, and V-440 in lieu of the 
affected V-140 segment or receive air traffic control (ATC) radar 
vectors to fly through or circumnavigate the affected area. 
Additionally, IFR pilots equipped with RNAV 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 an RNAV route T-422 between 
the Panhandle, TX, VORTAC and the Tulsa, OK, VORTAC to, in part, 
mitigate the proposed removal of the V-140 airway segment affected by 
the planned decommissioning of the Kingfisher VOR. Also, establishing 
T-422 would provide RNAV routing capability between the Amarillo, TX, 
area

[[Page 44673]]

eastward to the Tulsa, OK, area; as well as, support ongoing FAA 
NextGen efforts to transition the NAS to performance-based navigation.
    Prior to this NPRM, the FAA published a rule for Docket No. FAA-
2020-0654 in the Federal Register (85 FR 79425; December 10, 2020), 
amending VOR Federal airway V-140 by removing the airway segment 
between the London, KY, VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) and 
the Bluefield, WV, VOR/DME. That airway amendment, effective February 
25, 2021, is included in this NPRM.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 by modifying 
Jet Route J-8 and VOR Federal airway V-140, and establishing RNAV route 
T-422. The planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the 
Kingfisher, OK, VORTAC has made this action necessary.
    The proposed Jet route change is outlined below.
    J-8: J-8 currently extends between the Needles, CA, VORTAC and the 
Casanova, VA, VORTAC. The FAA proposes to remove the route segment 
overlying the Kingfisher, OK, VORTAC between the Borger, TX, VORTAC and 
the Springfield, MO, VORTAC. The unaffected portions of the existing 
route would remain as charted.
    The proposed VOR Federal airway change is outlined below.
    V-140: V-140 currently extends between the Panhandle, TX, VORTAC 
and the London, KY, VOR/DME; and between the Bluefield, WV, VOR/DME and 
the Casanova, VA, VORTAC. The FAA proposes to remove the airway segment 
overlying the Kingfisher, OK, VORTAC between the Burns Flat, OK, VORTAC 
and the Tulsa, OK, VORTAC. The unaffected portions of the existing 
airway would remain as charted.
    The proposed new RNAV T-route is outlined below.
    T-422: T-422 is a proposed new route that would extend between the 
Panhandle, TX, VORTAC and the Tulsa, OK, VORTAC. This RNAV route would 
mitigate the proposed loss of the V-140 airway segment proposed to be 
removed (above) between the Burns Flat, OK, VORTAC and the Tulsa, OK, 
VORTAC and provide RNAV routing capability between the Amarillo, TX, 
area and the Tulsa, OK, area.
    All of the NAVAID radials listed in the ATS route descriptions 
below are unchanged and stated in True degrees.
    Jet routes are published in paragraph 2004, 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 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:

Paragraph 2004 Jet Routes.

* * * * *

J-8 [Amended]

    From Needles, CA; Flagstaff, AZ; Gallup, NM; Fort Union, NM; to 
Borger, TX. From Springfield, MO; St Louis, MO; Louisville, KY; 
Charleston, WV; INT Charleston 092[deg] and Casanova, VA, 253[deg] 
radials; to Casanova.
* * * * *

Paragraph 6010(a) Domestic VOR Federal Airways.

* * * * *

V-140 [Amended]

    From Panhandle, TX; to Burns Flat, OK. From Tulsa, OK; 
Razorback, AR; Harrison, AR; Walnut Ridge, AR; Dyersburg, TN; 
Nashville, TN; Livingston, TN; to London, KY. From Bluefield, WV; 
INT Bluefield 071[deg] and Montebello, VA, 250[deg] radials; 
Montebello; to Casanova, VA.
* * * * *

Paragraph 6011 United States Area Navigation Routes.

* * * * *

T422 Panhandle, TX (PNH) to Tulsa, OK (TUL) [New]
 
Panhandle, TX (PNH)                          VORTAC                         (Lat. 35[deg]14'06.22'' N, long. 101[deg]41'56.51'' W)
Burns Flat, OK (BFV)                         VORTAC                         (Lat. 35[deg]14'13.00'' N, long. 099[deg]12'22.20'' W)
BISKT, OK                                    WP                             (Lat. 35[deg]48'18.66'' N, long. 098[deg]00'14.73'' W)

[[Page 44674]]

 
LASTS, OK                                    FIX                            (Lat. 35[deg]59'45.23'' N, long. 097[deg]16'24.76'' W)
GULLI, OK                                    FIX                            (Lat. 36[deg]00'43.02'' N, long. 097[deg]08'39.63'' W)
Tulsa, OK (TUL)                              VORTAC                         (Lat. 36[deg]11'46.51'' N, long. 095[deg]47'17.13'' W)
 


    Issued in Washington, DC, on August 4, 2021.
George Gonzalez,
Acting Manager, Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2021-16968 Filed 8-12-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P