[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 219 (Wednesday, November 15, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 78265-78267]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-25182]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[[Docket No. FAA-2023-2247; Airspace Docket No. 23-ACE-4]
RIN 2120-AA66
Amendment of VOR Federal Airway V-132 and Revocation of VOR
Federal Airways V-131, V-307, and V-350 in the Vicinity of Chanute, KS
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: This action proposes to amend Very High Frequency
Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airway V-132 and revoke VOR Federal
airways V-131, V-307, and V-350. The FAA is proposing this action due
to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Chanute, KS
(CNU), VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) navigational aid
(NAVAID). The Chanute 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 2, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by FAA Docket No. FAA-2023-2247 and
Airspace Docket No. 23-ACE-4 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
[[Page 78266]]
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: 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
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 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
VOR Federal airways are published in paragraph 6010(a) 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
The FAA is planning to decommission the VOR portion of the Chanute,
KS, VOR/DME in July 2024. The Chanute VOR is 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
on July 26, 2016 (81 FR 48694), Docket No. FAA-2011-1082.
Although the VOR portion of the Chanute VOR/DME is planned for
decommissioning, the co-located DME portion of the NAVAID is being
retained to support current and future NextGen PBN flight procedure
requirements.
The VOR Federal airways affected by the planned decommissioning of
the Chanute VOR are V-131, V-132, V-307, and V-350. With the planned
decommissioning of the Chanute VOR, the remaining ground-based NAVAID
coverage in the area is insufficient to enable the continuity of the
affected airways. As such, the FAA proposes modifications would result
in a gap in airway V-132 and in a revocation of airways V-131, V-307,
and V-350.
To address the affected VOR Federal airway proposed amendment and
revocations, instrument flight rules (IFR) traffic could use portions
of adjacent VOR Federal airways V-73 and V-88 between Wichita, KS, and
Springfield, MO; V-71 and V-234 between Hutchison, KS, and Springfield,
MO; and V-77 and V-532 between Okmulgee, OK, and Topeka, KS, for
conventional navigation or RNAV routes T-312 and T-413 for global
positioning system-equipped aircraft. Additionally, IFR pilots equipped
with RNAV capabilities could also navigate point-to-point using the
existing NAVAIDs, Fixes, and waypoints (WP) that would remain in place
to support continued operations through the affected area or receive
air traffic control (ATC) radar vectors to fly around or through the
affected area, upon request. Visual flight rules (VFR) pilots who elect
to navigate via the affected VOR Federal airways could also take
advantage of the adjacent airways or ATC services listed previously.
[[Page 78267]]
The Proposal
The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 to amend VOR
Federal airway V-132 and revoke VOR Federal airways V-131, V-307, and
V-350 due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the
Chanute, KS, VOR/DME NAVAID. The proposed airway actions are described
below.
V-131: V-131 currently extends between the Okmulgee, OK, VOR/DME
and the Topeka, KS, VOR/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC). The FAA
proposes to remove the airway segment between the Tulsa, OK, VORTAC and
the Topeka VORTAC due to the planned decommissioning of the Chanute
VOR. Additionally, the FAA proposes to remove the airway segment
between the Okmulgee VOR/DME and the Tulsa VORTAC also since that
airway segment overlaps V-161 which will remain charted and provide
navigational guidance between the two NAVAIDs. As a result, the airway
would be removed in its entirety.
V-132: V-132 currently extends between the Medicine Bow, WY, VOR/
DME and the intersection of the Forney, MO, VOR 086[deg] and Vichy, MO,
VOR/DME 156[deg] radials (LENOX Fix), excluding that portion within
restricted areas R-4501A, R-4501B, R-4501C, and R-4501D during their
time of activation. The FAA proposes to remove the airway segment
between the Hutchinson, KS, VOR/DME and the Springfield, MO, VORTAC.
Additionally, the FAA proposes to exclude the airway portion within
restricted areas R-4501E, R-4501F, and R-4501H during their times of
activation since those restricted areas also fall within 4 nautical
miles of the airway. As amended, the airway would be changed to extend
between the Medicine Bow VOR/DME and the Hutchinson VOR/DME and between
the Springfield VORTAC and the intersection of the Forney VOR 086[deg]
and Vichy VOR/DME 156[deg] radials (LENOX Fix), excluding the portion
within all 7 restricted areas of the R-4501 restricted area complex.
V-307: V-307 currently extends between the Chanute, KS, VOR/DME and
the Emporia, KS, VORTAC. The FAA proposes to remove the airway in its
entirety.
V-350: V-350 currently extends between the Wichita, KS, VORTAC and
the Chanute, KS, VOR/DME. The FAA proposes to remove the airway in its
entirety.
The NAVAID radials listed in the V-132 description in The Proposed
Amendment section are unchanged and stated in degrees True north.
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 6010(a) Domestic VOR Federal Airways.
* * * * *
V-131 [Removed]
* * * * *
V-132 [Amended]
From Medicine Bow, WY; INT Medicine Bow 106[deg] and Cheyenne,
WY, 330[deg] radials; Cheyenne; Akron, CO; 17 miles, 49 miles, 59
MSL, Goodland, KS; 50 miles, 97 miles, 65 MSL, to Hutchinson, KS.
From Springfield, MO; INT Springfield 058[deg] and Forney, MO,
266[deg] radials; Forney; to INT Forney 086[deg] and Vichy, MO,
156[deg] radials, excluding that portion within R-4501A, R-4501B, R-
4501C, R-4501D, R-4501E, R-4501F, and R-4501H during their time of
activation.
* * * * *
V-307 [Removed]
* * * * *
V-350 [Removed]
* * * * *
Issued in Washington, DC, on November 9, 2023.
Karen L. Chiodini,
Acting Manager, Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2023-25182 Filed 11-14-23; 8:45 am]
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