[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 145 (Friday, July 29, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 45719-45721]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-16236]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2022-0858; Airspace Docket No. 22-AEA-5]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Establishment and Amendment of Area Navigation (RNAV) 
Routes; Eastern United States

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to establish Area Navigation (RNAV) route 
Q-141 and amend RNAV route Q-437 in support of the Northeast Corridor 
Atlantic Coast Route Project.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before September 12, 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-
2022-0858; Airspace Docket No. 22-AEA-5 at the beginning of your 
comments. You may also submit comments through the internet at 
www.regulations.gov.
    FAA Order JO 7400.11F, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, 
and subsequent amendments can be viewed online at 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.

Authority for This Rulemaking

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  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

[[Page 45720]]

safety of aircraft and the efficient use of airspace. This regulation 
is within the scope of that authority as it expands the availability of 
RNAV routes in the National Airspace System, increases airspace 
capacity, and reduces complexity in high air traffic volume areas.

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-2022-0858; Airspace Docket No. 22-AEA-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 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-2022-0858; Airspace Docket No. 22-AEA-5.'' 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 www.regulations.gov. Recently published rulemaking 
documents can also be accessed through the FAA's web page at 
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, issued 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 establish 
RNAV route Q-141, and amend RNAV route Q-437 in the eastern United 
States in support of the Northeast Corridor Atlantic Coast Route 
project.
    Q-141: Q-141 is a proposed new route that would extend from the 
HOUKY, VA waypoint (WP) (located in the vicinity of the Hopewell, VA 
(HPW), VOR and Tactical Air Navigational System (VORTAC)) to the NALES, 
DE, WP. Q-141 would expand the availability of RNAV routing in the 
area.
    Q-437: Q-437 extends from the VILLS, NJ, Fix, (located northwest of 
the Sea Isle, NJ (SIE), VORTAC to the SLANG, VT, WP (located northeast 
of the Cambridge, NY (CAM), VHF Omnidirectional Range/Distance 
Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME)). The FAA proposes to terminate the route 
at the LLUND, NY, Fix (located north of the Kennedy, NY (JFK), VOR/
DME). All points north of the LLUND Fix (i.e., BINGS, WARUV, and SLANG) 
would be removed from the route. This is based on low demand for those 
segments and would better fit traffic flows in the area. Additionally, 
the LUIGI, NJ, Fix would be removed from the route description because 
it does not mark a turn point.
    The proposed full route descriptions of Q-141 and Q-437 are listed 
in the amendments to part 71 set forth below.
    United States Area Navigation Routes are published in paragraph 
2006 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 routes 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 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 part 71 of FAA Order JO 
7400.11F, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 10, 
2021 and effective September 15, 2021, is amended as follows:

[[Page 45721]]

Paragraph 2006 United States Area Navigation Routes.

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Q-141 HOUKY, VA to NALES, DE [New]
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HOUKY, VA                     WP                  (Lat. 37[deg]19'55.98'' N, long. 077[deg]07'57.63'' W)
TAPPA, VA                     FIX                 (Lat. 37[deg]58'12.66'' N, long. 076[deg]50'40.62'' W)
HYTRA, MD                     WP                  (Lat. 38[deg]17'31.91'' N, long. 076[deg]24'49.80'' W)
BLNTN, MD                     WP                  (Lat. 38[deg]44'10.33'' N, long. 075[deg]59'02.69'' W)
NALES, DE                     FIX                 (Lat. 38[deg]53'35.20'' N, long. 075[deg]38'11.13'' W)
 
                                                    * * * * *
Q-437 VILLS, NJ to LLUND, NY [Amended]
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VILLS, NJ                     FIX                 (Lat. 39[deg]18'03.87'' N, long. 075[deg]06'37.90'' W)
DITCH, NJ                     FIX                 (Lat. 39[deg]47'37.86'' N, long. 074[deg]42'59.88'' W)
HNNAH, NJ                     WP                  (Lat. 40[deg]28'12.73'' N, long. 074[deg]02'36.62'' W)
LLUND, NY                     FIX                 (Lat. 40[deg]51'45.04'' N, long. 073[deg]46'57.30'' W)
 

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    Issued in Washington, DC, on July 22, 2022.
Scott M. Rosenbloom,
Manager, Airspace Rules and Regulations.
[FR Doc. 2022-16236 Filed 7-28-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P