[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 216 (Friday, November 12, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 62761-62763]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-24623]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2021-0972; Airspace Docket No. 21-AGL-27]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Amendment of VOR Federal Airways V-26, V-193, and V-285, 
and Revocation of White Cloud, MI, Domestic Low Altitude Reporting 
Point in the Vicinity of White Cloud, MI

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to amend the VHF Omnidirectional Range 
(VOR) Federal airways V-26, V-193, and V-285, and revoke the White 
Cloud, MI, domestic low altitude reporting point. The FAA is proposing 
this action due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of 
the White Cloud, MI, VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) 
navigational aid (NAVAID). The White Cloud VOR is being decommissioned 
in support of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 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: 1 
(800) 647-5527, or (202) 366-9826. You must identify FAA Docket No. 
FAA-2021-0972; Airspace Docket No. 21-AGL-27 at the beginning of your 
comments. You may also submit comments through the internet at https://www.regulations.gov.
    FAA Order JO 7400.11F, 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. FAA Order JO 7400.11F is also available for inspection at the 
National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on 
the availability of FAA Order JO 7400.11F 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 National Airspace System as necessary 
to preserve the safe and efficient flow of air traffic.

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

[[Page 62762]]

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-2021-0972; Airspace Docket No. 21-AGL-27) 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-2021-0972; Airspace Docket No. 21-AGL-27.'' 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 JO 7400.11F, Airspace 
Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 10, 2021, and effective 
September 15, 2021. FAA Order JO 7400.11F is publicly available as 
listed in the ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order JO 7400.11F 
lists Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service 
routes, and reporting points.

Background

    The FAA is planning to decommission the White Cloud, MI, VOR in 
September 2022. The White Cloud 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 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 White Cloud VOR/DME is planned for 
decommissioning, the co-located Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) is 
being retained to support current and future area navigation (RNAV) 
flight procedure requirements.
    The VOR Federal airways affected by the White Cloud VOR 
decommissioning are V-26, V-193, and V-285. With the planned 
decommissioning of the White Cloud VOR, the remaining ground-based 
NAVAID coverage in the area is insufficient to enable the continuity of 
the affected airways. As such, proposed modification to V-285 would 
result in a gap in the airway and proposed modifications to V-26 and V-
193 would result in the airways being shortened. To overcome the 
proposed modifications to the affected airways, instrument flight rules 
(IFR) traffic could use portions of adjacent VOR Federal airways, 
including V-133, V-233, V-274, V-320, and V-420, or receive air traffic 
control (ATC) radar vectors to fly around or through the affected area. 
IFR pilots equipped with RNAV capabilities could also navigate point to 
point using the existing fixes that would remain in place to support 
continued operations through the affected area. Visual flight rules 
(VFR) pilots who elect to navigate via the affected ATS routes could 
also take advantage of the adjacent ATS routes or ATC services listed 
previously.
    The White Cloud, MI, domestic low altitude reporting point is also 
affected by the planned decommissioning of the White Cloud VOR. As a 
result, the White Cloud reporting point would be revoked due to the 
White Cloud VOR being decommissioned and the reporting point no longer 
being required by ATC.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 to amend VOR 
Federal airways V-26, V-193, and V-285, and revoke the White Cloud, MI, 
domestic low altitude reporting point due to the planned 
decommissioning of the White Cloud, MI, VOR. The proposed VOR Federal 
airway and domestic low altitude reporting point actions are described 
below.
    V-26: V-26 currently extends between the Blue Mesa, CO, VOR/DME and 
the Pierre, SD, VOR/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC); and between the 
Redwood Falls, MN, VOR/DME and the White Cloud, MI, VOR/DME. The FAA 
proposes to remove the airway segment between the Green Bay, WI, VORTAC 
and White Cloud, MI, VOR/DME. The unaffected portions of the existing 
airway would remain as charted.
    V-193: V-193 currently extends between the intersection of the 
Pullman, MI, VOR/DME 243[deg] and Gipper, MI, VORTAC 310[deg] radials 
(MUSKY fix) and the Sault Ste Marie, MI, VOR/DME. The FAA proposes to 
remove the airway segment between the intersection of the Pullman, MI, 
VOR/DME 243[deg] and Gipper, MI, VORTAC 310[deg] radials (MUSKY fix) 
and Traverse City, MI, VOR/DME. The unaffected portions of the existing 
airway would remain as charted.
    V-285: V-285 currently extends between the Brickyard, IN, VORTAC 
and the White Cloud, MI, VOR/DME. The FAA proposes to remove the airway 
segment between the Victory, MI, VOR/DME and Manistee, IN, VOR/DME. 
Additional changes to other portions of the airway have been proposed 
in a separate NPRM. The unaffected portions of the existing airway 
would remain as charted.
    White Cloud, MI: The FAA proposes to remove the White Cloud, MI, 
domestic low altitude reporting point.
    All NAVAID radials listed in the VOR Federal airway V-285 
description below are unchanged and stated in True degrees.
    VOR Federal airways are published in paragraph 6010(a) and Domestic 
Low Altitude Reporting Points are published in paragraph 7001 of FAA 
Order JO

[[Page 62763]]

7400.11F, dated August 10, 2021, and effective September 15, 2021, 
which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The VOR Federal 
airways listed in this document would be published subsequently in FAA 
Order JO 7400.11.
    FAA Order JO 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 JO 
7400.11F, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 10, 
2021, and effective September 15, 2021, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6010(a) Domestic VOR Federal Airways.

* * * * *

V-26 [Amended]

    From Blue Mesa, CO; Montrose, CO; 13 miles 112 MSL, 131 MSL, 
Grand Junction, CO; Meeker, CO; Cherokee, WY; Muddy Mountain, WY; 14 
miles, 37 miles 75 MSL, 84 miles 90 MSL, Rapid City, SD; Philip, SD; 
to Pierre, SD. From Redwood Falls, MN; Farmington, MN; Eau Claire, 
WI; Wausau, WI; to Green Bay, WI.
* * * * *

V-193 [Amended]

    From Traverse City, MI; Pellston, MI; to Sault Ste Marie, MI.
* * * * *

V-285 [Amended]

    From Brickyard, IN; Kokomo, IN; Goshen, IN; INT Goshen 038[deg] 
and Kalamazoo, MI, 191[deg] radials; Kalamazoo; INT Kalamazoo 
014[deg] and Victory, MI, 167[deg] radials; to Victory. From 
Manistee, MI; to Traverse City, MI.
* * * * *

Paragraph 7001 Domestic Low Altitude Reporting Points.

* * * * *

White Cloud, MI [Removed]

* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on November 3, 2021.
Michael R. Beckles,
Acting Manager, Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2021-24623 Filed 11-10-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P