[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 81 (Thursday, April 25, 2024)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 31667-31669]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-08670]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2024-1048; Airspace Docket No. 24-AGL-1]
RIN 2120-AA66


Amendment of Jet Routes J-35 and J-101; Amendment VOR Federal 
Airways V-9, V-48, V-69, V-227, and V-313; and Revocation of VOR 
Federal Airway V-586 in the Vicinity of Pontiac, IL

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-35 and J-101; amend 
Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal Airways V-9, V-
48, V-69, V-227, and V-313; and revoke VOR Federal Airway V-586. The 
FAA is proposing this action due to the planned decommissioning of the 
VOR portion of the Pontiac, IL (PNT), VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment 
(VOR/DME) navigational aid (NAVAID). The Pontiac VOR is being 
decommissioned in support of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network 
(MON) program.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 10, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by FAA Docket No. FAA-2024-1048 and 
Airspace Docket No. 24-AGL-1 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: 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 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

    Jet Routes are published in paragraph 2004 and 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

[[Page 31668]]

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 Pontiac, 
IL, VOR/DME in December 2024. The Pontiac 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 Pontiac VOR/DME is planned for 
decommissioning, the co-located Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) is 
being retained to continue supporting current and future NextGen PBN 
flight procedure requirements.
    The Air Traffic Service (ATS) routes affected by the planned 
decommissioning of the Pontiac VOR are Jet Routes J-35 and J-101, and 
VOR Federal Airways V-9, V-48, V-69, V-227, V-313, and V-586. With the 
planned decommissioning of the Pontiac VOR, the remaining ground-based 
NAVAID coverage in the area is insufficient to enable the continuity of 
the affected routes. As such, proposed modifications to J-35, V-48, V-
69, V-227 and V-313 would result in the ATS routes being shortened; to 
J-101 would result in a gap in the route; to V-9 would result in an 
existing gap being widened; and to V-586 would result in the airway 
being revoked.
    To address the proposed amendments to the affected ATS routes, 
instrument flight rules (IFR) traffic could use adjacent Jet Routes J-
19, J-26, J-71, J-96, and J-181 in the high-altitude stratum or use VOR 
Federal Airways V-156, V-173, V-233, V-262, V-429, and V-434 in the 
low-altitude stratum to navigate around the area affected by the 
planned decommissioning of the Pontiac VOR. Additionally, IFR pilots 
equipped with area navigation (RNAV) capabilities could also navigate 
using RNAV route Q-42 in the high-altitude stratum; RNAV routes T-215, 
T-325, T-354, and T-478 in the low-altitude stratum; or point-to-point 
using the existing Fixes and waypoints (WP) that would remain in place 
to support continued operations though the affected area. Visual flight 
rules pilots who elect to navigate via the affected ATS routes could 
also take advantage of the adjacent conventional airways listed above, 
as well as the listed RNAV routes and point-to-point navigation, if 
properly equipped. Lastly, all aircraft also have the option to request 
and receive radar vectors from air traffic control to transit the 
affected area.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing to amend 14 CFR part 71 by amending Jet Routes 
J-35 and J-101; amending VOR Federal Airways V-9, V-48, V-69, V-227, 
and V-313; and revoking VOR Federal Airway V-586 due to the planned 
decommissioning of the Pontiac, IL, VOR. The proposed ATS route actions 
are described below.
    J-35: J-35 currently extends between the Leeville, LA, VOR/Tactical 
Air Navigation (VORTAC) and the Northbrook, IL, VOR/DME. The FAA 
proposes to remove the route segment between the Spinner, IL, VORTAC 
and the Joliet, IL, VOR/DME due to the planned decommissioning of the 
VOR portion of the Pontiac VOR/DME. Additionally, the FAA proposes to 
also remove the route segments between the Farmington, MO, VORTAC and 
the St. Louis, MO, VORTAC due to that route segment overlapping J-151; 
between the St. Louis VORTAC and the Spinner VORTAC due to that route 
segment overlapping J-101; and between the Joliet VOR/DME and the 
Northbrook VOR/DME due to that route segment overlapping J-87. The 
overlapped J-151, J-101, and J-87 route segments would remain charted 
and provide navigational guidance between the affected NAVAIDs. As 
amended, the route would be changed to extend between the Leeville 
VORTAC and the Farmington VORTAC.
    J-101: J-101 currently extends between the Humble, TX, VORTAC and 
the Sault Ste Marie, MI, VOR/DME. The FAA proposes to remove the route 
segment between the Spinner, IL, VORTAC and the Joliet, IL, VOR/DME due 
to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Pontiac VOR/
DME. Additionally, the FAA proposes to remove the route segment between 
the Joliet VOR/DME and the Northbrook, IL, VOR/DME due to that route 
segment overlapping J-87. As amended, the route would be changed to 
extend between the Humble VORTAC and the Spinner VORTAC, and between 
the Northbrook VOR/DME and the Sault Ste Marie VOR/DME. Additional 
route changes have been proposed in a separate NPRM action.
    V-9: V-9 currently extends between the Leeville, LA, VORTAC and the 
Pontiac, IL, VOR/DME; and between the Janesville, WI, VOR/DME and the 
Houghton, MI, VOR/DME. The FAA proposes to remove the airway segment 
between the Spinner, IL, VORTAC and the Pontiac VOR/DME. As amended, 
the airway would be changed to extend between the Leeville VORTAC and 
the Spinner VORTAC, and between the Janesville VOR/DME and the Houghton 
VOR/DME.
    V-48: V-48 currently extends between the Ottumwa, IA, VOR/DME and 
the Pontiac, IL, VOR/DME. The FAA proposes to remove the airway segment 
between the Peoria, IL, VORTAC and the Pontiac VOR/DME. As amended, the 
airway would be changed to extend between the Ottumwa VOR/DME and the 
Peoria VORTAC. Additional airway changes have been proposed in a 
separate NPRM action.
    V-69: V-69 currently extends between the El Dorado, AR, VOR/DME and 
the Joliet, IL, VOR/DME. The FAA proposes to remove the airway segment 
between the Spinner, IL, VORTAC and the Joliet VOR/DME. As amended, the 
airway would be changed to extend between the El Dorado VOR/DME and the 
Spinner VORTAC.
    V-227: V-227 currently extends between the Boiler, IN, VORTAC and 
the intersection of the Pontiac, IL, 006[deg] and Bradford, IL, 
058[deg] radials (PLANO Fix). The FAA proposes to remove the airway 
segment between the Roberts, IL, VOR/DME and the intersection of the 
Pontiac, IL, 006[deg] and Bradford, IL, 058[deg] radials (PLANO Fix). 
As amended, the airway would be changed to extend between the Boiler 
VORTAC and the Roberts VOR/DME.
    V-313: V-313 currently extends between the Centralia, IL, VORTAC 
and the Pontiac, IL, VOR/DME. The FAA proposes to remove the airway 
segment between the Adders, IL, VORTAC and the Pontiac VOR/DME. As 
amended, the airway would be changed to extend between the Centralia 
VORTAC and the Adders VORTAC.
    V-586: V-586 currently extends between the Peoria, IL, VORTAC and 
the Joliet, IL, VOR/DME via the Pontiac, IL, VOR/DME. The FAA proposes 
to remove the airway in its entirety.
    All NAVAID radials listed in the VOR Federal airway descriptions in 
the proposed regulatory text of this notice of proposed rulemaking are 
unchanged and stated in degrees True north.

[[Page 31669]]

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 2004 Jet Routes.

* * * * *

J-35 [Amended]

    From Leeville, LA; Mc Comb, MS; Sidon, MS; Memphis, TN; to 
Farmington, MO.
* * * * *

J-101 [Amended]

    From Humble, TX; Lufkin, TX; Little Rock, AR; St. Louis, MO; to 
Spinner, IL. From Northbrook, IL; Badger, WI; Green Bay, WI; to 
Sault Ste Marie, MI.
* * * * *

Paragraph 6010(a) Domestic VOR Federal Airways.

* * * * *

V-9 [Amended]

    From Leeville, LA; Mc Comb, MS; INT Mc Comb 004[deg] and 
Magnolia, MS, 194[deg] radials; Magnolia; Sidon, MS; Marvell, AR; 
INT Marvell 326[deg] and Walnut Ridge, AR, 187[deg] radials; Walnut 
Ridge; Farmington, MO; St. Louis, MO; to Spinner, IL. From 
Janesville, WI; Madison, WI; Oshkosh, WI; Green Bay, WI; Iron 
Mountain, MI; to Houghton, MI.
* * * * *

V-48 [Amended]

    From Ottumwa, IA; Burlington, IA; to Peoria, IL.
* * * * *

V-69 [Amended]

    From El Dorado, AR; Pine Bluff, AR; INT Pine Bluff 038[deg] and 
Walnut Ridge, AR, 187[deg] radials; Walnut Ridge; Farmington, MO; 
Troy, IL; to Spinner, IL.
* * * * *

V-227 [Amended]

    From Boiler, IN; to Roberts, IL.
* * * * *

V-313 [Amended]

    From Centralia, IL; to Adders, IL.
* * * * *

V-586 [Removed]

* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on April 18, 2024.
Frank Lias,
Manager, Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2024-08670 Filed 4-24-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P