[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 10 (Friday, January 14, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 2375-2376]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-00459]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2021-1189; Airspace Docket No. 21-AGL-40]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Establishment of Area Navigation (RNAV) Route T-768; 
Northcentral United States

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to establish area navigation (RNAV) route 
T-768 in the northcentral United States (U.S.). The new T-768 would 
compensate for the removal of VOR Federal airway V-242 due to the 
decommissioning of the Atikokan, Ontario (ON), Canada, Non-Directional 
Beacon (NDB) navigational aid (NAVAID) as part of NAV CANADA's Airspace 
Modernization Program. The new T-768 in U.S. airspace would also 
connect to NAV CANADA's existing T-768 RNAV route to support cross 
border connectivity. Additionally, the new route would expand the 
availability of RNAV routing in support of transitioning the National 
Airspace System (NAS) from ground-based to satellite-based navigation.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 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-2021-1189; Airspace Docket No. 21-AGL-40 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 expand the availability of RNAV in the 
northcentral United States and improve the efficient flow of air 
traffic within the NAS by lessening the dependency on ground-based 
navigation.

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-2021-1189; Airspace Docket No. 21-AGL-40) 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-2021-1189; Airspace Docket No. 21-AGL-40.'' 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.

[[Page 2376]]

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

    In August, 2021, the FAA revoked VOR Federal airway V-242 within 
the U.S. to mirror similar action taken by NAV CANADA within Canadian 
airspace due to the decommissioning of the Atikokan, ON, Canada, NDB in 
support of Canada's Airspace Modernization Program. Upon revocation of 
V-242, NAV CANADA initiated action to replace V-242 with an RNAV route 
designated T-768. T-768 has been established within Canadian airspace; 
however, the route is currently charted as T-786 and being corrected to 
reflect T-768.
    The FAA is proposing this action to provide routing across the 
U.S./Canada border by connecting to NAV CANADA's T-768 at the border. 
The proposed T-768 within U.S. airspace would extend between the 
International Falls, MN, VOR/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) NAVAID 
and the U.S./Canada border located approximately 16 nautical miles 
northeast of International Falls, MN.
    Additionally, the proposed T-768 would support FAA NextGen efforts 
to transition the NAS from a ground-based navigation system to a 
satellite-based navigation system. The proposed route would provide 
positive course guidance into and out of Canadian airspace; support 
enroute structure in an area of limited or no radar coverage; reduce 
air traffic control sector workload and complexity; reduce pilot and 
controller communications; and increase NAS efficiency and capacity in 
the International Falls, MN, area.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 to establish 
RNAV route T-768. The proposed new T-route is described below.
    T-768: T-768 is a new RNAV route proposed to extend between the 
International Falls, MN, VORTAC and the ARBBY, MN, waypoint (WP). This 
proposed T-route would provide routing between the International Falls 
VORTAC and the U.S./Canada border; connecting to NAV CANADA's existing 
T-768 within Canadian airspace.
    Canadian RNAV T-routes are published in paragraph 6013 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 RNAV T-route 
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 6013 Canadian Area Navigation Routes.

* * * * *

T-768 International Falls, MN (INL) to ARBBY, MN [New]

International Falls, MN, (INL) VORTAC
    (Lat. 48[deg]33'56.87'' N, long. 093[deg]24'20.44'' W)
ARBBY, MN WP
    (Lat. 48[deg]37'29.35'' N, long. 093[deg]00'31.59'' W)
* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on January 6, 2022.
Michael R. Beckles,
Manager, Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2022-00459 Filed 1-13-22; 8:45 am]
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