[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 43 (Monday, March 6, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 13742-13744]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-04371]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2023-0456; Airspace Docket No. 23-ASW-3]
RIN 2120-AA66


Establishment of Area Navigation (RNAV) Routes T-469 and T-472; 
Southwest United States

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to establish Area Navigation (RNAV) 
routes T-469 and T-472 in the southwest United States. The new RNAV 
routes would expand the availability of the enroute structure and 
provide additional RNAV routing within the National Airspace System 
(NAS) in support of transitioning it from ground-based to satellite-
based navigation.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 20, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by FAA Docket No. FAA-2023-0456 and 
Airspace Docket No. 23-ASW-3 using any of the following methods:
    * Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov and follow 
the online instructions for sending your comments electronically.
    * Mail: Send comments to Docket Operations, M-30; U.S. Department 
of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Room W12-140, West 
Building Ground Floor, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
    * Hand Delivery or Courier: Take comments to Docket Operations in 
Room W12-140 of the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey 
Avenue SE, Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays.
    * Fax: Fax comments to Docket Operations at (202) 493-2251.
    Privacy: In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits comments 
from the public to better inform its rulemaking process. DOT posts 
these comments, without edit, including any personal information the 
commenter provides, to www.regulations.gov, as described in the system 
of records notice (DOT/ALL-14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at 
www.dot.gov/privacy.
    Docket: Background documents or comments received may be read at 
www.regulations.gov at any time. Follow the online instructions for 
accessing the docket or go to the Docket Operations in Room W12-140 of 
the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, 
Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays.
    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 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 enroute structure as necessary to 
preserve the safe and efficient flow of air traffic within the National 
Airspace System (NAS).

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites interested persons to participate in this 
rulemaking by submitting written comments, data, or views. Comments are 
specifically invited on the overall regulatory, aeronautical, economic, 
environmental, and energy-related aspects of the proposal. The most 
helpful comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain 
the reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. To 
ensure the docket does not contain duplicate comments, commenters 
should submit only one time if comments are filed electronically, or 
commenters should send only one copy of written comments if comments 
are filed in writing.
    The FAA will file in the docket all comments it receives, as well 
as a report summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA 
personnel concerning this proposed rulemaking. Before acting on this 
proposal, the FAA will consider all comments it receives on or before 
the closing date for comments. The FAA will consider comments filed 
after the comment period has closed if it is possible to do so without 
incurring expense or delay. The FAA may change this proposal in light 
of the comments it receives.

Availability of Rulemaking Documents

    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 
Operations office (see ADDRESSES section for address,

[[Page 13743]]

phone number, and hours of operations). 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.

Incorporation by Reference

    United States Area Navigation Routes (T-routes) are published in 
paragraph 6011 of FAA Order JO 7400.11, Airspace Designations and 
Reporting Points, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 on 
an annual basis. This document proposes to amend the current version of 
that order, FAA Order JO 7400.11G, dated August 19, 2022, and effective 
September 15, 2022. These updates would be published in the next update 
to FAA Order JO 7400.11. That order 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

    In 2003, Congress enacted the Vision 100--Century of Aviation 
Reauthorization Act (Pub. L. 108-176), which established a joint 
planning and development office in the FAA to manage the work related 
to the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen). Today, 
NextGen is an ongoing FAA-led modernization of the nation's air 
transportation system to make flying safer, more efficient, and more 
predictable.
    In support of NextGen efforts to improve the safety and efficiency 
of the NAS as well as transition the NAS from a ground-based to a 
satellite-based Performance Based Navigation (PBN) system, the FAA is 
proposing to establish RNAV routes T-469 and T-472 to provide 
additional enroute structure within the NAS. This action would reduce 
air traffic control (ATC) sector workload and complexity, reduce pilot-
to-controller communications, and increase NAS capacity and efficiency 
in the areas of the new RNAV T-routes.
    Additionally, the proposed T-routes would provide Instrument Flight 
Rules (IFR) pilots that are equipped for RNAV additional Air Traffic 
Service (ATS) route options for navigating around areas of heavy 
aviation activity and limited or no radar coverage between the Paris, 
TX, area and the Page, OK, and the Hot Springs, AR, areas. Visual 
Flight Rules (VFR) pilots, equipped with RNAV capabilities, who elect 
to navigate via ATS routes, could also take advantage of the proposed 
T-469 and T-472.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 to establish 
RNAV routes T-469 and T-472. The proposed new RNAV routes are described 
below.
    T-469: T-469 is a new RNAV route that would extend between the 
TASEY, TX, waypoint (WP) located 60 feet west of the Paris, TX, Very 
High Frequency (VHF) Omnidirectional Range (VOR)/Distance Measuring 
Equipment (VOR/DME) navigational aid (NAVAID) and the Rich Mountain, 
OK, VOR/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) NAVAID. This new T-route would 
provide RNAV routing along the same route of flight as VOR Federal 
airway V-315 and enhance flight safety and NAS efficiency for aircraft 
transiting enroute along the eastern boundary of the Rivers Military 
Operations Area (MOA).
    T-472: T-472 is a new RNAV route that would extend between the 
TASEY, TX, WP located 60 feet west of the Paris, TX, VOR/DME NAVAID and 
the Hot Springs, AR, VOR/DME NAVAID. This new T-route would provide 
RNAV routing along the same route of flight as VOR Federal airway V-124 
and enhance flight safety and NAS efficiency for aircraft transiting 
enroute along the southern boundary of the Hog B MOA.

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 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 6011 United States Area Navigation Routes.

* * * * *

T-469 TASEY, TX to Rich Mountain, OK (PGO) [New]
 
TASEY, TX                                       WP                             (Lat. 33[deg]32'32.56'' N, long. 095[deg]26'54.55'' W)
Rich Mountain, OK (PGO)                         VORTAC                         (Lat. 34[deg]40'49.67'' N, long. 094[deg]36'32.41'' W)
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
T-472 TASEY, TX to Hot Springs, AR (HOT) [New]
 
TASEY, TX                                       WP                             (Lat. 33[deg]32'32.56'' N, long. 095[deg]26'54.55'' W)
Hot Springs, AR (HOT)                           VOR/DME                        (Lat. 34[deg]28'42.94'' N, long. 093[deg]05'26.20'' W)
 



[[Page 13744]]

    Issued in Washington, DC, on February 27, 2023.
Brian Konie,
Manager, Airspace Rules and Regulations.
[FR Doc. 2023-04371 Filed 3-3-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P