[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 191 (Wednesday, October 4, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 68514-68516]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-21897]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2023-1830; Airspace Docket No. 23-ASW-06]
RIN 2120-AA66


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

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to amend two United States Area 
Navigation (RNAV) Q-routes in the eastern United States. This action 
supports the Little Rock, AR (LIT), Very High Frequency Omnidirectional 
Range/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) Relocation Project, and NextGen 
which provides a modern RNAV route structure to improve the efficiency 
of the National Airspace System (NAS).

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

ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by FAA Docket No. FAA-2023-1830 and 
Airspace Docket No. 23-ASW-06 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.
    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 7400.11H, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, 
and subsequent amendments can be viewed online at www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/. You may also contact the Rules and 
Regulations Group, Office of Policy, Federal Aviation Administration, 
800 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267-
8783.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian Vidis, 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 amends the route structure to maintain the efficient 
flow of air traffic within the 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.
    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.

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, phone number, and 
hours of

[[Page 68515]]

operations). 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 Avenue, College Park, 
GA 30337.

Incorporation by Reference

    United States Area Navigation routes are published in paragraph 
2006 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 7400.11H, dated August 11, 2023, and effective 
September 15, 2023. 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 7400.11H lists Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, 
air traffic service routes, and reporting points.

Background

    This action is proposed due to the Little Rock, AR (LIT), VORTAC 
relocation project. The Little Rock VORTAC is planned to be relocated 
approximately nine miles north of its current location. The LITTR, AR, 
Waypoint (WP) is an already established waypoint located approximately 
60.3 feet northeast of the Little Rock VORTAC's current location. 
Replacing Little Rock VORTAC with the LITTR, WP on Q-33 and Q-66 would 
allow for greater connectivity to the existing RNAV route structure 
that already merges at the LITTR, WP.
    Houston Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) requested Q-33 
extend south from DHART, AR, Fix to the Humble, TX (IAH), VORTAC. This 
route segment would overlay a portion of J-180. This proposed amended 
route segment would allow for greater connectivity to the existing RNAV 
route structure and procedures in the Houston, TX area.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 to amend RNAV 
routes Q-33, and Q-66 to support the Little Rock, AR (LIT), VORTAC 
Relocation Project, the FAA's NextGen program, which provides a modern 
RNAV route structure to improve the efficiency of the NAS, and to 
remove route points that are not required in the route descriptions.
    Q-33: Q-33 currently extends between the DHART, AR, Fix to the 
PROWL, MO, WP. This action proposes to extend the route to the south to 
overlay a portion of jet route J-180 from the DHART, AR, Fix to the 
Humble, TX (IAH), VORTAC. This action also proposes to replace the 
Little Rock, AR (LIT), VORTAC with the LITTR, AR, WP which located 60.3 
feet northeast of Little Rock VORTAC's current location.
    Q-66: Q-66 currently extends between the Little Rock, AR (LIT), 
VORTAC and the ALEAN, VA, WP. This action proposes to replace the 
Little Rock VORTAC with the LITTR, AR, WP which is located 60.3 feet 
northeast of Little Rock VORTAC's current location. This action also 
proposes to remove route points from the route description which 
constitute a turn of one degree or less. The FAA proposes to remove the 
following route points: CIVKI, AR, WP; RICKX, AR, WP; TROVE, TN, WP; 
BAZOO, TN, WP; and MXEEN, TN, WP

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 
7400.11H, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 11, 
2023, and effective September 15, 2023, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 2006 United States Area Navigation Routes.

* * * * *

Q-33 Humble, TX (IAH) to PROWL, MO [Amended]
 
Humble, TX (IAH)                                VORTAC                         (Lat. 29[deg]57'24.90'' N, long. 095[deg]20'44.59'' W)
Daisetta, TX (DAS)                              VORTAC                         (Lat. 30[deg]11'22.96'' N, long. 094[deg]38'41.94'' W)
Sawmill, LA (SWB)                               VOR/DME                        (Lat. 31[deg]58'23.50'' N, long. 092[deg]40'37.52'' W)
LITTR, AR                                       WP                             (Lat. 34[deg]40'39.90'' N, long. 092[deg]10'49.26'' W)
PROWL, MO                                       WP                             (Lat. 37[deg]02'00.00'' N, long. 091[deg]15'00.00'' W)
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
Q-66 LITTR, AR to ALEAN, VA [Amended]
 
LITTR, AR                                       WP                             (Lat. 34[deg]40'39.90'' N, long. 092[deg]10'49.26'' W)
METWO, TN                                       WP                             (Lat. 36[deg]04'22.44'' N, long. 085[deg]18'38.04'' W)
ALEAN, VA                                       WP                             (Lat. 36[deg]43'54.67'' N, long. 081[deg]37'26.18'' W)
 


[[Page 68516]]

* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on September 28, 2023.
Karen L. Chiodini,
Acting Manager, Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2023-21897 Filed 10-3-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P