[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 140 (Friday, July 22, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 43755-43757]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-15618]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2022-0901; Airspace Docket No. 21-ANE-5]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Amendment and Revocation of VOR Federal Airways; 
Northeast United States

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 airways V-1, V-16, and V-290, and remove airways V-93 and V-
229. This action is necessary to support the FAA's VOR Minimum 
Operational Network (MON) program.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before September 6, 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: 
(800) 647-5527 or (202) 366-9826. You must identify FAA Docket No. FAA-
2022-0901; Airspace Docket No. 21-ANE-5 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.

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-2022-0901; Airspace Docket No. 21-ANE-5) 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-2022-0901; Airspace Docket No. 21-ANE-5.'' The 
postcard will be date/time stamped and returned to the commenter.
    All communications received on or before the specified comment 
closing

[[Page 43756]]

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 amend VOR 
Federal airways V-1, V-16, and V-290, and remove airways V-93 and V-
229. This action is necessary to support the FAA's VOR Minimum 
Operational Network (MON) program. The proposed route changes are 
described below.
    V-1: V-1 extends from Craig, FL, to Boston, MA. The FAA proposes to 
remove the airway segments from Cofield, NC, to Boston, MA. As a 
result, V-1 would extend from Craig, FL, to Kinston, NC. The wording 
``The portions within R-5002A, R-5002C and R-5002D are excluded during 
their times of use. The airspace within R-4006 is excluded.'' would be 
removed from the route description because the amended route would no 
longer pass by those areas. United States Area Navigation (RNAV) route 
T-303 will be published as an overlay of V-1.
    V-16: V-16 consists of two parts: From Los Angeles, CA, to Holly 
Springs, MS; and From Shelbyville, TN, to Boston, MA. The FAA proposes 
to amend the second part of the route by removing the segments from the 
intersection of the Richmond, VA, 039[deg] and the Patuxent, MD, 
228[deg] radials, to Boston, MA. As amended, the second part of V-16 
would extend from Shelbyville, TN, to Richmond, VA. The first part of 
the route, from Los Angeles, CA, to Holly Springs, MS, would remain 
unchanged as currently charted. The wording ``The airspace within 
Restricted Areas R-5002A, R-5002C, and R-5002D is excluded. The 
airspace within Restricted Areas R-4005 and R-4006 is excluded.'' would 
be removed from the route description because the amended route would 
no longer pass by those areas. RNAV route T-224 would be extended as an 
overlay of V-16.
    V-93: V-93 consists of two parts: From Patuxent River, MD, to the 
intersection of the Wilkes-Barre, PA 037[deg] and the Sparta, NJ 
300[deg] radials; and From the intersection of the Sparta 018[deg] and 
the Kingston, NY 270[deg] radials, to Chester, MA. The FAA proposes to 
remove V-93 in its entirety. RNAV route T-295 currently overlays part 
of V-93, and T-324 is being extended as a partial overlay and 
replacement for V-93.
    V-229: V-229 extends from Patuxent, MD, to Hartford, CT. The FAA 
proposes to remove V-229 in its entirety. RNAV route T-315 is being 
extended as an overlay of V-229.
    V-290: V-290 consists of two parts: From Rainelle, WV, to Flat 
Rock, VA; and From Tar River, NC, to the intersection of the Tar River 
109[deg] and the New Bern, NC 042[deg] radials. The FAA proposes to 
remove the segments from Rainelle, WV, to Flat Rock, VA, due to the 
planned decommissioning of the Rainelle, WV, (RNL) VOR. As amended, V-
290 would extend from Tar River, NC, to the intersection of the Tar 
River 109[deg] radial and New Bern, NC 042[deg] radial. RNAV route T-
360 is being extended as a partial overlay and replacement for V-290.
    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 
and removed from 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 43757]]

V-1 [Amended]

    From Craig, FL, via INT Craig 020[deg] and Charleston, SC, 
214[deg] radials; Charleston; Grand Strand, SC; INT Grand Strand 
031[deg] and Kinston, NC, 214[deg] radials; to Kinston. Excluding 
the airspace below 2,700 feet MSL outside the United States between 
STARY INT and Charleston, SC.
* * * * *

V-16 [Amended]

    From Los Angeles, CA; Paradise, CA; Palm Springs, CA; Blythe, 
CA; Buckeye, AZ; Phoenix, AZ; INT Phoenix 155[deg] and Stanfield, 
AZ, 105[deg] radials; Tucson, AZ; San Simon, AZ; INT San Simon 
119[deg] and Columbus, NM, 277[deg] radials; Columbus; El Paso, TX; 
Salt Flat, TX; Wink, TX; INT Wink 066[deg] and Big Spring, TX, 
260[deg] radials; Big Spring; Abilene, TX; Bowie, TX; Bonham, TX; 
Paris, TX; Texarkana, AR; Pine Bluff, AR; Marvell, AR; to Holly 
Springs, MS. From Shelbyville, TN; Hinch Mountain, TN; Volunteer, 
TN; Holston Mountain, TN; Pulaski, VA; Roanoke, VA; Lynchburg, VA; 
Flat Rock, VA; to Richmond, VA. The airspace within Mexico and the 
airspace below 2,000 feet MSL outside the United States is excluded.
* * * * *

V-93 [Removed]

* * * * *

V-229 [Removed]

* * * * *

V-290 [Amended]

    From Tar River, NC; to INT Tar River 109[deg] radial and New 
Bern, NC, 042[deg] radial.
* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on July 18, 2022.
Scott M. Rosenbloom,
Manager, Airspace Rules and Regulations.
[FR Doc. 2022-15618 Filed 7-21-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P