[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 140 (Friday, July 22, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 43757-43759]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-15619]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2022-0902; Airspace Docket No. 21-ANE-6]
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-44, V-139 and V-268, and remove airways V-34, V-167, 
and V-308. This action supports 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-
2022-0902; Airspace Docket No. 21-ANE-6 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-2022-0902; Airspace Docket No. 21-ANE-6) 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-2022-0902; Airspace Docket No. 21-ANE-6.'' 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

[[Page 43758]]

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-44, V-139 and V-268; and remove airways V-34, V-167, 
and V-308. The proposed route changes are described below.
    V-34: V-34 extends from Rochester, NY, to Nantucket, MA. The FAA 
proposes to remove V-34 in its entirety. United States Area Navigation 
(RNAV) route T-318 will be published as a partial overlay and 
replacement for V-34.
    V-44: V-44 consists of two parts: From Columbia, MO, to Samsville, 
IL; and From Falmouth, KY, to Albany, NY. This notice proposes to amend 
the second part of the route by removing the segments from the 
intersection of the Martinsburg, WV 094[deg] and the Baltimore, MD 
300[deg] radials, to Deer Park, NY. Therefore, the second part of the 
route would extend From Falmouth, KY; York, KY; Parkersburg, WV; 
Morgantown, WV; to Martinsburg, WV. A third part of V-44 would extend 
from the intersection of the 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. As amended, V-44 would consist of three 
parts: From Columbia, MO, to Samsville, IL (as currently charted); From 
Falmouth, KY, to Martinsburg, WV; and From the intersection INT Deer 
Park 041[deg] and Bridgeport, CT, 133[deg] radials; to Albany, NY. RNAV 
route T-287 will be amended as a partial overlay and replacement for V-
44. The wording ``The airspace within R-4001B, R-5002A, R-5002B, and R-
5002E is excluded when active. The airspace within V-139 and V-308 
airways is excluded.'' is removed from the route description.
    V-139: V-139 extends from Florence, SC, to Kennebunk, ME. The FAA 
proposes to remove the route segments from Norfolk, VA, to Kennebunk, 
ME. As amended, V-139 would extend from Florence, SC, to the 
intersection of the New Bern, NC 006[deg] and Norfolk, VA, 209[deg] 
radials. The words ``The airspace below 2,000 feet MSL outside the 
United States, the airspace below 3,000 feet MSL between the Kennedy, 
NY, 087[deg] and 141[deg] radials, and the airspace within R-5202 and 
R-6604 are excluded.'' would be removed from the amended route because 
V-139 would no longer pass through that airspace. RNAV route T-287 will 
be amended as a partial overlay and replacement for V-139.
    V-167: V-167 extends from Hancock, NY, to Kennebunk, ME. The FAA 
proposes to remove the route in its entirety. RNAV route T-318 will be 
published as a partial overlay and replacement for V-167.
    V-268: V-268 extends from the intersection of the Morgantown, WV 
010[deg] and the Johnstown, PA 260[deg] radials to Augusta, ME. This 
proposal would remove the segments from Westminster, MD, to Augusta, 
ME. As amended, V-268 would extend from the intersection of the 
Morgantown, WV 010[deg] and the Johnstown, PA 260[deg] radials, to 
Hagerstown, MD. The words ``The airspace within R-4001B and the 
airspace below 2,000 feet MSL outside the United States is excluded'' 
would be removed from the description because the V-268 would no longer 
pass through that airspace. RNAV route T-358 will be published as a 
partial overlay and replacement for V-268.
    V-308: V-308 extends from Nottingham, MD, to Norwich, CT. The FAA 
proposes to remove the route in its entirety. RNAV route T-320 will be 
published as a partial overlay and replacement for V-308.
    The full descriptions of the above routes are listed in the 
amendments to part 71 set forth below.
    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 
or 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.

* * * * *

V-34 [Removed]

* * * * *

V-44 [Amended]

    From Columbia, MO; INT Columbia 131[deg] and Foristell, MO, 
262[deg] radials; Foristell; Centralia, IL; to Samsville, IL. From 
Falmouth, KY; York, KY; Parkersburg, WV; Morgantown, WV; to 
Martinsburg, WV. From: 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-139 [Amended]

    From Florence, SC, via Wilmington, NC; New Bern, NC; to INT New 
Bern 006[deg] and Norfolk, VA, 209[deg] radials.
* * * * *

V-167 [Removed]

* * * * *

[[Page 43759]]

V-268 [Amended]

    From INT Morgantown, WV, 010[deg] and Johnstown, PA, 260[deg] 
radials; Indian Head, PA; to Hagerstown, MD.
* * * * *

V-308 [Removed]

* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on July 18, 2022.
Scott M. Rosenbloom,
Manager, Airspace Rules and Regulations.
[FR Doc. 2022-15619 Filed 7-21-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P