[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 237 (Tuesday, December 14, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 70992-70994]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-26978]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2021-1048; Airspace Docket No. 21-ASO-13]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Amendment of VOR Federal Airways V-7, V-9, and V-11; 
Eastern United States

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to modify VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) 
Federal airways V-7, V-9, and V-11. This action is necessary due to the 
planned decommissioning of the Dyersburg, TN, (DYR); Malden, MO, (MAW); 
and the Muscle Shoals, AL, (MSL), VOR and Tactical Air Navigation 
(VORTAC) facilities, under the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network 
(MON) program, which provide navigation guidance for segments of the 
routes.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before January 28, 2022.

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-
2021-1048; Airspace Docket No. 21-ASO-13 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: Paul Gallant, 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 VOR Federal airway route structure in the eastern 
United States to maintain the 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-2021-1048; Airspace Docket No. 21-ASO-13) and be submitted in 
triplicate to the Docket Management Facility (see ADDRESSES section for 
address and phone number). You may also submit

[[Page 70993]]

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-2021-1048; Airspace Docket No. 21-ASO-13.'' 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. A report summarizing each substantive public contact 
with FAA personnel concerned with this rulemaking will be filed in the 
docket.

Availability of NPRM's

    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 Eastern Service Center, Federal 
Aviation Administration, Room 210, 1701 Columbia Ave., College Park, GA 
30337.

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 proposed rule. FAA Order JO 
7400.11F lists Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic 
service routes, and reporting points.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 to modify VOR 
Federal airways V-7, V-9, and V-11 in the eastern United States due to 
the planned decommissioning of the Dyersburg, TN, (DYR); Malden, MO, 
(MAW); and the Muscle Shoals, AL, (MSL) VORTACs as part of the FAA VOR 
MON program. The proposed route changes are described below.
    V-7: V-7 currently consists of three separate parts: From Dolphin, 
FL, to Muscle Shoals, AL; From Pocket City, IN, to the intersection of 
radials from the Chicago Heights, IL, and Badger, WI, navigation aids; 
and From Green Bay, WI, to Sawyer, MI. The FAA proposes to amend the 
first part of the route by removing the segment between Vulcan, AL, and 
Muscle Shoals, AL. As amended, the first part of V-7 would extend 
between Dolphin, FL, and Montgomery, AL. Parts two and three of the 
route would remain unchanged. Additionally, the current legal 
description of V-7 contains the following statements: ``The airspace 
below 2,000 feet MSL outside the United States is excluded. The portion 
outside the United States has no upper limit.'' A review of 
aeronautical charts revealed that no part of V-7 extends outside of 
United States airspace. Therefore, the FAA intends to remove the 
statements from the legal description. Other changes to V-7 are being 
proposed in a separate docket action.
    V-9: V-9 currently consists of two separate parts: From Leeville, 
LA, to Pontiac, IL; and from Janesville, WI, to Houghton, MI. The FAA 
proposes to remove the airway segments between Sidon, MS, and Malden, 
MO, from the first part of the route. As a result, the first part of 
the route would extend between Leeville, LA, and Magnolia, MS. This 
proposal would move the start point for the second part of the route 
from Janesville, WI, to Farmington, MO. The second part of the route 
would extend from Farmington to Pontiac, IL. V-9 would then consist of 
a third part from Janesville, WI, to Houghton, MI.
    V-11: V-11 currently extends between Magnolia, MS. and the 
intersection of the Fort Wayne, IN, 038[deg], and the Flag City, OH, 
308[deg] radials. The FAA proposes to remove the segments between 
Magnolia, MS, and Dyersburg, TN. As amended, V-11 would extend between 
Cunningham, KY and the intersection of the Fort Wayne, IN, 038[deg], 
and the Flag City, OH, 308[deg] radials, as currently charted.
    Domestic 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 VOR 
Federal airways listed in this document would be subsequently published 
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 14 CFR 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.

* * * * *

[[Page 70994]]

V-7 [Amended]

    From Dolphin, FL; INT Dolphin 299[deg] and Lee County, FL, 
120[deg] radials; Lee County; Lakeland, FL; Cross City, FL; 
Seminole, FL; Wiregrass, AL; INT Wiregrass 333[deg] and Montgomery, 
AL, 129[deg] radials; Montgomery. From Pocket City, IN; INT Pocket 
City 016[deg] and Terre Haute, IN, 191[deg] radials; Terre Haute; 
Boiler, IN; Chicago Heights, IL; to INT Chicago Heights 358[deg] and 
Badger, WI, 117[deg] radials. From Green Bay, WI; Menominee, MI; to 
Sawyer, MI.
* * * * *

V-9 [Amended]

    From Leeville, LA; McComb, MS; INT McComb 004[deg] and Magnolia, 
MS 194[deg] radials; to Magnolia. From Farmington, MO; St. Louis, 
MO; Spinner, IL; to Pontiac, IL. From Janesville, WI; Madison, WI; 
Oshkosh, WI; Green Bay, WI; Iron Mountain, MI; to Houghton, MI.
* * * * *

V-11 [Amended]

    From Cunningham, KY; Pocket City, IN; Brickyard, IN; Marion, IN; 
Fort Wayne, IN; to INT Fort Wayne 038[deg] and Flag City, OH, 
308[deg] radials.
* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on December 7, 2021.
Margaret C. Flategraff,
Acting Manager, Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2021-26978 Filed 12-13-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P