[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 217 (Monday, November 15, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 62962-62964]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-24696]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2021-0971; Airspace Docket No. 21-AGL-8]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Amendment of VOR Federal Airway V-44 and Revocation of 
VOR Federal Airway V-446 in the Vicinity of Samsville, IL

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to amend VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) 
Federal airway V-44 and revoke VOR Federal airway V-446. The FAA is 
proposing this action due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR 
portion of the Samsville, IL, VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/
DME) navigational aid (NAVAID). The Samsville 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 30, 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-2021-0971; Airspace Docket No. 21-AGL-8 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

[[Page 62963]]

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 (NAS) 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 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-2021-0971; Airspace Docket No. 21-AGL-8) 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-2021-0971; Airspace Docket No. 21-AGL-8.'' 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 Samsville, IL, VOR in 
September 2022. The Samsville 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 Samsville VOR/DME is planned for 
decommissioning, the co-located DME portion of the NAVAID is being 
retained to support current and future area navigation (RNAV) flight 
procedure requirements.
    The air traffic service (ATS) routes affected by the Samsville VOR 
decommissioning are VOR Federal airways V-44 and V-446. With the 
planned decommissioning of the Samsville VOR, the remaining ground-
based NAVAID coverage in the area is insufficient to enable the 
continuity of the affected ATS routes. As such, the proposed 
modification to V-44 would result in a larger gap in the existing 
airway and the proposed revocation of V-446 in its entirety.
    To overcome the proposed modification and revocation to the 
affected VOR Federal airways, instrument flight rules (IFR) traffic 
could use portions of adjacent VOR Federal airways, including V-4, V-7, 
V-52, V-72, and V-221, or receive air traffic control (ATC) radar 
vectors to fly around or through the affected area. Additionally, IFR 
pilots equipped with RNAV capabilities could also navigate point to 
point using the existing NAVAIDs and fixes that would remain in place 
to support continued operations though 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 Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 to amend VOR 
Federal airway V-44 and remove VOR Federal airway V-446 due to the 
planned decommissioning of the Samsville, IL, VOR. The proposed VOR 
Federal airway actions are described below.
    V-44: V-44 currently extends between the Columbia, MO, VOR/DME and 
the Samsville, IL, VOR/DME; and between the Falmouth, KY, VOR/DME and 
the Albany, NY, VOR/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC). The airspace 
within restricted areas R-4001B, R-5002A, R-5002B, and R-5002E are 
excluded when active; the airspace within V-139 and V-308 airways are 
excluded; and the airspace below 2,000 feet mean sea level (MSL) 
outside the United States is excluded. The FAA proposes to remove the 
airway segment between the Centralia, IL, VORTAC and the Samsville, IL, 
VOR/DME. In reviewing the existing airway, the FAA determined R-4001B, 
R-5002A, R-5002B, and R-5002E do not overlap the controlled airspace 
within 4 nautical miles of the V-44 centerline; therefore, the FAA is 
proposing to remove the exclusion regarding the airspace within R-
4001B, R-5002A, R-5002B, and R-5002E when active. Additionally, the FAA 
is proposing to remove the language excluding the airspace within the 
V-139 and V-308 airways as well. The unaffected portions of the 
existing airway would remain as charted.
    V-446: V-446 currently extends between the Troy, IL, VORTAC and the 
Samsville, IL, VOR/DME. The FAA proposes to remove the airway in its 
entirety.
    All NAVAID radials listed in the VOR Federal airway description 
below are unchanged and stated in True degrees.
    VOR Federal airways are published in paragraph 6010(a) of FAA Order 
JO 7400.11F, dated August 10, 2021, and effective September 15, 2021, 
which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The ATS routes 
listed in this document would be published subsequently in FAA Order JO 
7400.11.

[[Page 62964]]

    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-44 [Amended]

    From Columbia, MO; INT Columbia 131[deg] and Foristell, MO, 
262[deg] radials; Foristell; to Centralia, IL. From Falmouth, KY; 
York, KY; Parkersburg, WV; Morgantown, WV; Martinsburg, WV; INT 
Martinsburg 094[deg] and Baltimore, MD, 300[deg] radials; Baltimore; 
INT Baltimore 122[deg] and Sea Isle, NJ, 267[deg] radials; Sea Isle; 
INT Sea Isle 040[deg] and Deer Park, NY, 209[deg] radials; Deer 
Park; INT Deer Park 041[deg] and Bridgeport, CT, 133[deg] radials; 
Bridgeport; INT Bridgeport 324[deg] and Pawling, NY, 160[deg] 
radials; Pawling; INT Pawling 342[deg] and Albany, NY, 181[deg] 
radials; to Albany. The airspace below 2,000 feet MSL outside the 
United States is excluded.
* * * * *

V-446 [Removed]

* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on November 3, 2021.
Michael R. Beckles,
Acting Manager, Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2021-24696 Filed 11-12-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P