[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 184 (Friday, September 23, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 58041-58043]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-20660]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2022-1115; Airspace Docket No. 22-AGL-10]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Amendment of V-181 and T-400, and Revocation of V-250 
and the Yankton, SD, Low Altitude Reporting Point in the Vicinity of 
Yankton, SD

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 airway V-181 and Area Navigation (RNAV) route T-400 and revoke 
VOR Federal airway V-250 and the Yankton, SD, Low Altitude Reporting 
Point. The FAA is proposing this action due to the planned 
decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Yankton, SD, VOR/Distance 
Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) navigational aid (NAVAID). The Yankton 
VOR is being decommissioned in support of the FAA's VOR Minimum 
Operational Network (MON) program.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before November 7, 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-2022-1115; Airspace Docket No. 22-AGL-10 at the beginning of your 
comments. You may also submit comments through the internet at 
www.regulations.gov.
    FAA Order JO 7400.11G, 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: 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 modify the National Airspace System (NAS) as 
necessary to preserve the safe and 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-2022-1115 Airspace; Docket No. 22-AGL-10) 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-2022-1115; Airspace Docket No. 22-AGL-10.'' 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 Operations Support Group, Central 
Service Center, Federal Aviation Administration, 10101 Hillwood 
Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177.

Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference

    This document proposes to amend FAA Order JO 7400.11G, Airspace 
Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 19, 2022, and effective 
September 15, 2022. FAA Order JO 7400.11G is publicly available as 
listed in the ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order JO 7400.11G 
lists Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service 
routes, and reporting points.

Background

    The FAA is planning to decommission the Yankton, SD, VOR in April 
2023. The Yankton VOR was one of the candidate VORs identified for 
discontinuance by the FAA's VOR MON program and listed in the Final 
policy statement notice, ``Provision of Navigation Services for the 
Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) Transition to 
Performance-Based Navigation (PBN) (Plan for Establishing a VOR Minimum 
Operational Network),'' published in the

[[Page 58042]]

Federal Register of July 26, 2016 (81 FR 48694), Docket No. FAA-2011-
1082.
    Although the VOR portion of the Yankton, SD, VOR/DME is planned for 
decommissioning, the co-located DME portion of the NAVAID is being 
retained to support NextGen PBN flight procedure requirements.
    The air traffic service (ATS) routes effected by the Yankton VOR 
decommissioning are VOR Federal airways V-181 and V-250, and RNAV route 
T-400. With the planned decommissioning of the Yankton VOR, the 
remaining ground-based NAVAID coverage in the area is insufficient to 
enable the continuity of the affected ATS routes. As such, the proposed 
modifications to V-181 would result in a gap being created in the 
airway and to T-400 would result in a minor adjustment of the route 
with one route point being changed. Additionally, the proposed 
modifications to V-250 and to the Yankton low altitude reporting point 
would result in the airway and the low altitude reporting point being 
revoked.
    To overcome the proposed modifications and revocations to the 
affected ATS routes and low altitude reporting point, instrument flight 
rules (IFR) traffic could use portions of adjacent VOR Federal airways, 
including V-80, V-120, V-148, and V-462, or receive air traffic control 
(ATC) radar vectors to fly around or through the affected area. Pilots 
equipped with RNAV capabilities could also navigate using RNAV routes 
T-302, T-348, T-400, and T-405, or point to point using the existing 
NAVAIDs and fixes that would remain in place to support continued 
operations though the affected area. Visual flight rules (VFR) pilots 
who elect to navigate via the affected ATS routes could also take 
advantage of the adjacent ATS routes or ATC services listed previously.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing to amend 14 CFR part 71 by modifying VOR 
Federal airway V-181 and RNAV route T-400, and revoking V-250 and the 
Yankton, SD, low altitude reporting point. The ATS route and low 
altitude reporting point modifications and revocations are due to the 
planned decommissioning of the Yankton, SD, VOR. The proposed ATS route 
and low altitude reporting point actions are described below.
    V-181: V-181 currently extends between the Kirksville, MO, VOR/
Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) and the Grand Forks, ND, VOR/DME. The 
FAA proposes to remove the airway segment overlying the Yankton VOR/DME 
between the Norfolk, NE, VOR/DME and the Sioux Falls, SD, VORTAC. 
Additional changes to other portions of the airway have been proposed 
in a separate NPRM. The unaffected portions of the existing airway 
would remain as charted.
    V-250: V-250 currently extends between the O'Neill, NE, VORTAC and 
the Yankton, SD, VOR/DME. The FAA proposes to remove the airway in its 
entirety.
    T-400: T-400 currently extends between the LLUKY, NE, waypoint (WP) 
and the ZOSAG, MN, WP. The FAA proposes to replace the IMUPP, SD, WP 
with the FIITS, SD, WP to define the route crossing point between T-400 
and T-405. The unaffected portions of the existing route would remain 
as charted. The full RNAV T-route description is listed in ``The 
Proposed Amendment'' section, below.
    Yankton, SD: The FAA proposes to remove the Yankton, SD, low 
altitude reporting point as it would no longer be required by ATC due 
to the Yankton VOR being decommissioned.
    VOR Federal airways are published in paragraph 6010(a), United 
States Area Navigation Routes (T-routes) are published in paragraph 
6011, and Domestic Low Altitude Reporting Points are published in 
paragraph 7001 of FAA Order JO 7400.11G, dated August 19, 2022, and 
effective September 15, 2022, which is incorporated by reference in 14 
CFR 71.1. The ATS routes and low altitude reporting point 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 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 
7400.11G, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 19, 
2022, and effective September 15, 2022, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6010(a). Domestic VOR Federal Airways.

* * * * *

V-181 [Amended]

    From Kirksville, MO; Lamoni, IA; Omaha, IA; to Norfolk, NE. From 
Sioux Falls, SD; Watertown, SD; 34 miles, 24 miles, 34 MSL, Fargo, 
ND; to Grand Forks, ND.
* * * * *

V-250 [Removed]

* * * * *

Paragraph 6011 United States Area Navigation Routes.

* * * * *

T-400 LLUKY, NE to ZOSAG, MN [Amended]
 
LLUKY, NE              WP                    (Lat. 42[deg]29'20.26'' N, long. 098[deg]38'11.44'' W).
FIITS, SD              WP                    (Lat. 42[deg]55'06.67'' N, long. 097[deg]23'06.12'' W).
DURWN, MN              WP                    (Lat. 43[deg]38'48.91'' N, long. 095[deg]34'55.87'' W).

[[Page 58043]]

 
MEMCO, MN              WP                    (Lat. 44[deg]13'11.42'' N, long. 093[deg]54'45.23'' W).
ZOSAG, MN              WP                    (Lat. 44[deg]49'30.74'' N, long. 093[deg]26'34.08'' W).
 

* * * * *

Paragraph 7001 Domestic Low Altitude Reporting Points.

* * * * *
Yankton, SD [Removed]
* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on September 20, 2022.
Eric S. Jennings,
Manager, Airspace Rules and Regulations.
[FR Doc. 2022-20660 Filed 9-22-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P