[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 173 (Thursday, September 8, 2022)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 54884-54885]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-19290]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2022-0824; Airspace Docket No. 21-ASO-33]
RIN 2120-AA66


Amendment and Revocation of Area Navigation (RNAV) Routes; 
Southeastern and Northeastern United States

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action amends Area Navigation (RNAV) route Q-81 to 
realign a portion of the route to improve traffic flows, and to remove 
Canadian RNAV route Q-947 at the request of NavCanada. These changes 
support the Northeast Corridor Atlantic Coast Route Project.

DATES: Effective date 0901 UTC, November 3, 2022. The Director of the 
Federal Register approves this incorporation by reference action under 
1 CFR part 51, subject to the annual revision of FAA Order JO 7400.11 
and publication of conforming amendments.

ADDRESSES: 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.

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 modifies the route structure as necessary to preserve 
the safe and efficient flow of air traffic within the National Airspace 
System.

History

    The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking for Docket No. 
FAA-2022-0824, in the Federal Register (87 FR 41632; July 13, 2022), 
amending RNAV route Q-81 and removing Q-947. Interested parties were 
invited to participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting written 
comments on the proposal. No comments were received.
    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 RNAV routes listed in this document will be subsequently published 
in and removed from FAA Order JO 7400.11.

Difference From the NPRM

    In the regulatory text for Q-81, the ZEILR point was identified as 
a ``waypoint (WP).'' This is corrected to reflect ZEILR as a ``Fix.''

Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference

    This document amends 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.

The Rule

    This action amends 14 CFR part 71 by amending Q-81 in the 
southeastern United States, and removing Canadian route Q-947 in the 
northeastern United States.
    Q-81: Q-81 extends from the TUNSL, FL, WP, to the HONID, GA, WP. 
This action amends the current route segments between the FIPES, OG, WP 
and the FARLU, FL, WP by removing the THMPR, FL, WP and the LEEHI, FL, 
WP and inserting the ZEILR, FL, Fix, and the PIKKR, OG, WP. The effect 
of this change realigns the track of Q-81 by between 1 nautical mile 
(NM) and 10.5 NM to the west of its current path. This change assists 
with traffic flow, conflict avoidance, and prevents excessive 
coordination for air traffic controllers. In addition, the FAA is 
removing the following WPs from the legal description of Q-81: MGNTY, 
FL; BITNY, OG; SNAPY, FL; and IPOKE, GA. Because they do not denote a 
route turn point, these WPs are not required to be included in the Q-81 
legal description. However, these points will continue to be depicted 
on the IFR En Route charts because they are used for air traffic 
control purposes. The full description of Q-81 is listed in the 
amendments to part 71 set forth below.
    Q-947: Q-947 is a Canadian RNAV route that is being removed at the 
request of NavCanada.
    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 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

[[Page 54885]]

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 only affects 
air traffic procedures and air navigation, it is certified that this 
rule, when promulgated, does not have a significant economic impact on 
a substantial number of small entities under the criteria of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act.

Environmental Review

    The FAA has determined that this action of amending RNAV route Q-81 
and removing Q-947 qualifies for categorical exclusion under the 
National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and its 
implementing regulations at 40 CFR part 1500, and in accordance with 
FAA Order 1050.1F, Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures, 
paragraph 5-6.5a, which categorically excludes from further 
environmental impact review rulemaking actions that designate or modify 
classes of airspace areas, airways, routes, and reporting points (see 
14 CFR part 71, Designation of Class A, B, C, D, and E Airspace Areas; 
Air Traffic Service Routes; and Reporting Points); and paragraph 5-
6.5b, which categorically excludes from further environmental impact 
review ``Actions regarding establishment of jet routes and Federal 
airways (see 14 CFR 71.15, Designation of jet routes and VOR Federal 
airways) . . .''. As such, this action is not expected to result in any 
potentially significant environmental impacts. In accordance with FAA 
Order 1050.1F, paragraph 5-2 regarding Extraordinary Circumstances, the 
FAA has reviewed this action for factors and circumstances in which a 
normally categorically excluded action may have a significant 
environmental impact requiring further analysis. Accordingly, the FAA 
has determined that no extraordinary circumstances exist that warrant 
preparation of an environmental assessment or environmental impact 
study.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71

    Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).

The Amendment

    In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation 
Administration amends 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 2006 United States Area Navigation Routes.

* * * * *

Q-81 TUNSL, FL to HONID, GA [Amended]
 
TUNSL, FL              WP                    (Lat. 24[deg]54'02.43'' N, long. 081[deg]31'02.80'' W)
KARTR, FL              FIX                   (Lat. 25[deg]29'45.76'' N, long. 081[deg]30'46.24'' W)
FIPES, OG              WP                    (Lat. 25[deg]41'30.15'' N, long. 081[deg]37'13.79'' W)
ZEILR, FL              FIX                   (Lat. 26[deg]38'13.17'' N, long. 082[deg]22'27.71'' W)
PIKKR, OG              WP                    (Lat. 26[deg]56'24.43'' N, long. 082[deg]41'25.28'' W)
FARLU, FL              WP                    (Lat. 27[deg]45'32.56'' N, long. 082[deg]50'43.77'' W)
ENDEW, FL              WP                    (Lat. 28[deg]18'01.73'' N, long. 082[deg]55'56.70'' W)
NICKI, FL              WP                    (Lat. 29[deg]15'20.19'' N, long. 083[deg]20'31.80'' W)
BULZI, FL              WP                    (Lat. 30[deg]22'24.93'' N, long. 084[deg]04'34.47'' W)
HONID, GA              WP                    (Lat. 31[deg]38'50.31'' N, long. 084[deg]23'42.60'' W)
 

* * * * *

Paragraph 2007 Canadian Area Navigation Routes.

* * * * *

Q-947 [Removed]

* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on August 31, 2022.
Scott M. Rosenbloom,
Manager, Airspace Rules and Regulations.
[FR Doc. 2022-19290 Filed 9-7-22; 8:45 am]
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