[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 224 (Tuesday, November 22, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 71266-71269]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-25418]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2022-1395 Airspace Docket No. 22-ACE-10]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Amendment of Multiple Air Traffic Service (ATS) Routes 
and Revocation of a VOR Federal Airway in the Vicinity of Wolbach, NE

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to amend Jet Routes J-10, J-84, J-100, J-
128, J-144, and J-197, VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airways 
V-172 and V-380, and Area Navigation (RNAV) route T-288; and revoke VOR 
Federal airway V-219. The FAA is proposing this action due to the 
planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Wolbach, NE (OBH), 
VOR/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) navigational aid (NAVAID). The 
Wolbach VOR is being decommissioned in support of the FAA's VOR Minimum 
Operational Network (MON) program.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before January 6, 2023.

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-2022-1395 Airspace Docket No. 22-ACE-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.

[[Page 71267]]


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

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-2022-1395 Airspace Docket No. 22-ACE-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-2022-1395 Airspace Docket No. 22-ACE-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 Wolbach, NE, VOR in June 
2023. The Wolbach 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 Federal Register of July 26, 
2016 (81 FR 48694), Docket No. FAA-2011-1082.
    Although the VOR portion of the Wolbach VORTAC is planned for 
decommissioning, the co-located Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) 
portion of the NAVAID is being retained to support NextGen PBN flight 
procedure requirements.
    The Air Traffic Service (ATS) routes effected by the Wolbach VOR 
decommissioning are Jet Routes J-10, J-84, J-100, J-128, J-144, and J-
197; VOR Federal airways V-172, V-219, and V-380; and RNAV route T-288. 
With the planned decommissioning of the Wolbach VOR, the remaining 
ground-based NAVAID coverage in the area is insufficient to enable the 
continuity of the affected ATS routes. As such, proposed modifications 
to J-10, J-84, J-100, and J-128 would result in a gap being created in 
the ATS routes; to J-144, J-197, V-172, and V-380 would result in the 
ATS routes being shortened; to T-288 would result in the Wolbach VOR/
DME end point being changed; and to V-219 would result in the airway 
being revoked.
    To overcome the proposed modifications to the affected ATS routes, 
instrument flight rules (IFR) traffic in the high altitude enroute 
structure could use portions of Jet Routes J-44, J-60, J-94, J-114, J-
146, J-148, and J-151 for conventional navigation or RNAV routes Q-92, 
Q-114, Q-122, and Q-136 for Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) 
navigation for properly equipped aircraft. IFR traffic in the low 
altitude enroute structure could use portions of VOR Federal airways V-
6, V-8, V-71, V-80, and V-148 for conventional navigation or RNAV 
routes T-286, T-288, T-302, and T-413 for GPS navigation for properly 
equipped aircraft. Additionally, pilots equipped with RNAV capabilities 
could also navigate 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. Lastly, IFR and VFR 
aircraft may request and receive air traffic control (ATC) radar 
vectors to fly around or through the affected area.
    Further, RNAV route T-288 would be amended to change the Wolbach 
VORTAC route end point to a new route end point located near the 
Wolbach VORTAC. This T-288 amendment action would be aimed at retaining 
the safety and efficiency of the route while minimizing impact to the 
RNAV route's structure.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 to amend Jet 
Routes J-10, J-84, J-100, J-128, J-144, and J-

[[Page 71268]]

197, VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airways V-172 and V-380, 
and Area Navigation (RNAV) route T-288; and revoke VOR Federal airway 
V-219 due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the 
Wolbach, NE, VORTAC. The proposed ATS route actions are described 
below.
    J-10: J-10 currently extends between the Los Angeles, CA, VORTAC 
and the Iowa City, IA, VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME). The 
FAA proposes to remove the route segment overlying the Wolbach VORTAC 
between the North Platte, NE, VOR/DME and the Des Moines, IA, VORTAC. 
As amended, the route would extend between the Los Angeles VORTAC and 
the North Platte VOR/DME, and between the Des Moines VORTAC and the 
Iowa City VOR/DME.
    J-84: J-84 currently extends between the Oakland, CA, VOR/DME and 
the Danville, IL, VORTAC. The FAA proposes to remove the route segment 
overlying the Wolbach VORTAC between the Sidney, NE, VOR/DME and the 
Dubuque, IA, VORTAC. As amended, the route would extend between the 
Oakland VOR/DME and the Sidney VOR/DME, and between the Dubuque VORTAC 
and the Danville VORTAC.
    J-100: J-100 currently extends between the Los Angeles, CA, VORTAC 
and the Northbrook, IL, VORTAC. The FAA proposes to remove the route 
segment overlying the Wolbach VORTAC between the Sidney, NE, VOR/DME 
and the Dubuque, IA, VORTAC. As amended, the route would extend between 
the Los Angeles VORTAC and the Sidney VOR/DME, and between the Dubuque 
VORTAC and the Northbrook VORTAC.
    J-128: J-128 currently extends between the Los Angeles, CA, VORTAC 
and the Northbrook, IL, VORTAC. The FAA proposes to remove the route 
segment overlying the Wolbach VORTAC between the Hayes Center, NE, 
VORTAC and the Dubuque, IA, VORTAC. As amended, the route would extend 
between the Los Angeles VORTAC and the Hayes Center VORTAC, and between 
the Dubuque VORTAC and the Northbrook VORTAC.
    J-144: J-144 currently extends between the Wolbach, NE, VORTAC and 
the Dubuque, IA, VORTAC. The FAA proposes to remove the route segment 
overlying the Wolbach VORTAC between the Wolbach VORTAC and the Des 
Moines, IA, VORTAC. As amended, the route would extend between the Des 
Moines VORTAC and the Dubuque VORTAC.
    J-197: J-197 currently extends between the Dove Creek, CO, VORTAC 
and the Sioux Falls, SD, VORTAC. The FAA proposes to remove the route 
segment overlying the Wolbach VORTAC between the Goodland, KS, VORTAC 
and Sioux Falls, SD, VORTAC. As amended, the route would extend between 
the Dove Creek VORTAC and the Goodland VORTAC.
    V-172: V-172 currently extends between the North Platte, NE, VOR/
DME and the DuPage, IL, VOR/DME. The FAA proposes to remove the airway 
segment overlying the Wolbach VORTAC between the North Platte, NE, VOR/
DME and the Columbus, NE, VOR/DME. As amended, the airway would extend 
between the Columbus VOR/DME and the DuPage VOR/DME.
    V-219: V-219 currently extends between the Hayes Center, NE, VORTAC 
and the Norfolk, NE, VOR/DME. The FAA proposes to remove the airway in 
its entirety.
    V-380: V-380 currently extends between the O'Neill, NE, VORTAC and 
the Mankato, KS, VORTAC. The airspace within the O'Neill Military 
Operations Area (MOA) is excluded when the MOA is activated by Notice 
to Air Missions (NOTAM). The FAA proposes to remove the airway segment 
overlying the Wolback VORTAC between the O'Neill, NE, VORTAC and the 
Grand Island, NE, VOR/DME, and the airway exclusion. As amended, the 
airway would extend between the Grand Island VOR/DME and the Mankato 
VORTAC.
    T-288: T-288 currently extends between the Gillette, WY, VOR/DME 
and the Wolbach, NE, VORTAC. The FAA proposes to replace the Wolbach 
VORTAC route point with the ISTIQ, NE, waypoint (WP) that is located 3 
nautical miles northeast of the Wolbach VORTAC on RNAV route T-413. 
Additionally, the Rapid City, SD, VORTAC latitude/longitude geographic 
coordinates are updated the match the FAA's National Airspace System 
Resource database information. As amended, the route would extend 
between the Gillette VOR/DME and the ISTIQ WP.
    All NAVAID radials listed in the ATS route descriptions below are 
unchanged and stated in True degrees.
    Jet Routes are published in paragraph 2004, VOR Federal airways are 
published in paragraph 6010(a), and United States Area Navigation 
Routes (T-routes) are published in paragraph 6011 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 
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 2004 Jet Routes.

* * * * *

[[Page 71269]]

J-10 [Amended]

    From Los Angeles, CA; INT Los Angeles 083[deg] and Twentynine 
Palms, CA, 269[deg] radials; Twentynine Palms; INT Twentynine Palms 
075[deg] and Flagstaff, AZ, 251[deg] radials; Flagstaff; 
Rattlesnake, NM; Blue Mesa, CO; Falcon, CO; to North Platte, NE. 
From Des Moines, IA; to Iowa City, IA.
* * * * *

J-84 [Amended]

    From Oakland, CA; Linden, CA; Mina, NV; Delta, UT; Meeker, CO; 
to Sidney, NE. From Dubuque, IA; Northbrook, IL; to Danville, IL.
* * * * *

J-100 [Amended]

    From Los Angeles, CA; Daggett, CA; Las Vegas, NV; INT of Las 
Vegas 046[deg] and Bryce Canyon, UT, 240[deg] radials; Bryce Canyon; 
Meeker, CO; to Sidney, NE. From Dubuque, IA; to Northbrook, IL.
* * * * *

J-128 [Amended]

    From Los Angeles, CA; INT Los Angeles 083[deg] and Peach 
Springs, AZ, 244[deg] radials; Peach Springs; Tuba City, AZ; Blue 
Mesa, CO; Falcon, CO; to Hayes Center, NE. From Dubuque, IA; to 
Northbrook, IL.
* * * * *

J-144 [Amended]

    From Des Moines, IA; to Dubuque, IA.
* * * * *

J-197 [Amended]

    From Dove Creek, CO; Hugo, CO; to Goodland, KS.
* * * * *

Paragraph 6010(a) Domestic VOR Federal Airways.

* * * * *

V-172 [Amended]

    From Columbus, NE; Omaha, IA; INT Omaha 066[deg] and Newton, IA, 
262[deg] radials; Newton; Cedar Rapids, IA; Polo, IL; INT Polo 
088[deg] and DuPage, IL, 293[deg] radials; to DuPage.
* * * * *

V-219 [Removed]

* * * * *

V-380 [Amended]

    From Grand Island, NE; Hastings, NE; to Mankato, KS.
* * * * *

Paragraph 6011 United States Area Navigation Routes.

* * * * *

T-288 Gillette, WY (GCC) to ISTIQ, NE [Amended]
 
Gillette, WY (GCC)            VOR/DME          (Lat. 44[deg]20'51.98'' N, long. 105[deg]32'36.55'' W)
KARAS, WY                     FIX              (Lat. 44[deg]16'22.88'' N, long. 104[deg]18'49.64'' W)
Rapid City, SD (RAP)          VORTAC           (Lat. 43[deg]58'33.74'' N, long. 103[deg]00'44.38'' W)
WNDED, SD                     WP               (Lat. 43[deg]19'14.00'' N, long. 101[deg]32'19.00'' W)
Valentine, NE (VTN)           NDB              (Lat. 42[deg]51'41.85'' N, long. 100[deg]32'58.73'' W)
Ainsworth, NE (ANW)           VOR/DME          (Lat. 42[deg]34'08.81'' N, long. 099[deg]59'22.78'' W)
FESNT, NE                     WP               (Lat. 42[deg]03'57.00'' N, long. 099[deg]17'18.00'' W)
ISTIQ, NE                     WP               (Lat. 41[deg]24'52.04'' N, long. 098[deg]24'18.89'' W)
 

* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on November 16, 2022.
Scott M. Rosenbloom,
Manager, Airspace Rules and Regulations.
[FR Doc. 2022-25418 Filed 11-21-22; 8:45 am]
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