[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 236 (Monday, December 9, 2024)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 97569-97571]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-28726]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2024-2568; Airspace Docket No. 24-AGL-10]
RIN 2120-AA66
Amendment of Jet Routes J-60 and J-82, and VOR Federal Airways V-
8, V-55, and V-221; and Revocation of VOR Federal Airways V-92 and V-
126 in the Vicinity of Goshen, IN
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-60 and J-82, and
Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal Airways V-8, V-
55, and V-221; and revoke VOR Federal Airways V-92 and V-126. The FAA
is proposing this action due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR
portion of the Goshen, IN (GSH), VOR/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC)
navigational aid (NAVAID). The Goshen 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 23, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by FAA Docket No. FAA-2024-2568 and
Airspace Docket No. 24-AGL-10 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 7400.11J, 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,
600 Independence Avenue SW, Washington DC 20597; telephone: (202) 267-
8783.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Colby Abbott, Rules and Regulations
Group, Office of Policy, Federal Aviation Administration, 600
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20597; 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,
[[Page 97570]]
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 JO 7400.11J, dated July 31,
2024, and effective September 15, 2024. 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 7400.11J 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 Goshen,
IN, VORTAC in June 2025. The Goshen 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 Goshen VORTAC is planned for
decommissioning, the co-located Tactical Air Navigation (TACAN) portion
of the NAVAID is being retained. The TACAN would continue to provide
navigational service for military operations and Distance Measuring
Equipment (DME) service supporting current and future NextGen PBN
flight procedure requirements.
The Air Traffic Service (ATS) routes affected by the planned
decommissioning of the Goshen VOR are J-60, J-82, V-8, V-55, V-92, V-
126, and V-221. With the planned decommissioning of the Goshen 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-82 and V-221 would result in the ATS routes being
shortened; to J-60 would result in a gap in the route; to V-8 would
result in an existing gap being expanded; to V-55 would result in an
additional gap in the airway; and to V-92 and V-126 would result in the
airways being revoked.
To address the proposed amendments to the affected ATS routes,
instrument flight rules (IFR) traffic could use Jet Routes J-30, J-146,
and J-584 in the high-altitude stratum or use VOR Federal Airways V-10,
V-38, V-277, and V-526 in the low-altitude stratum to navigate around
the area affected by the planned decommissioning of the Goshen VOR.
Additionally, IFR pilots with Area Navigation (RNAV)-equipped aircraft
could navigate using RNAV Route Q-62 in the high-altitude stratum, RNAV
Routes T-215 and T-265 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 have the option to request and
receive radar vectors from air traffic control to transit the affected
area as well.
The Proposal
The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 by amending Jet
Routes J-60 and J-82, and VOR Federal Airways V-8, V-55, and V-221; and
revoking VOR Federal Airways V-92 and V-126. The FAA is proposing this
action due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the
Goshen, IN, VORTAC NAVAID. The proposed ATS route actions are described
below.
J-60: J-60 currently extends between the Los Angeles, CA, VORTAC
and the Sparta, NJ, VORTAC. The FAA proposes to remove the route
segment between the Joliet, IL, VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/
DME) and the Dryer, OH, VOR/DME. As amended, the route would be changed
to extend between the Los Angeles VORTAC and the Joliet VOR/DME, and
between the Dryer VOR/DME and the Sparta VORTAC.
J-82: J-82 currently extends between the Battle Ground, WA, VORTAC
and the Sioux Falls, SD, VORTAC; and between the Dubuque, IA, VORTAC
and the Goshen, IN, VORTAC. The FAA proposes to remove the route
segment between the Joliet, IL, VOR/DME and the Goshen VORTAC. As
amended, the route would be changed to extend
[[Page 97571]]
between the Battle Ground VORTAC and the Sioux Falls VORTAC, and
between the Dubuque VORTAC and the Joliet VOR/DME.
V-8: V-8 currently extends between the intersection of the Seal
Beach, CA, VORTAC 266[deg] and Ventura, CA, VOR/DME 144[deg] radials
(DOYLE Fix) and the Flag City, OH, VORTAC; and between the Martinsburg,
WV, VORTAC and the Washington, DC, VOR/DME. The portion of the airway
outside the United States has no upper limit. The FAA proposes to
remove the airway segment between the Chicago Heights, IL, VORTAC and
the Flag City VORTAC. As amended, the airway would be changed to extend
between the intersection of the Seal Beach VORTAC 266[deg] and Ventura
VOR/DME 144[deg] radials (DOYLE Fix) and the Chicago Heights VORTAC,
and between the Martinsburg VORTAC and the Washington VOR/DME.
V-55: V-55 currently extends between the Dayton, OH, VOR/DME and
the Pullman, MI, VOR/DME; and between the Grand Forks, ND, VOR/DME and
the Bismarck, ND, VOR/DME. The FAA proposes to remove the airway
segment between the Fort Wayne, IN, VORTAC and the Gipper, MI, VORTAC.
As amended, the airway would be changed to extend between the Dayton
VOR/DME and the Fort Wayne VORTAC, between the Gipper VORTAC and the
Pullman VOR/DME, and between the Grand Forks VOR/DME and the Bismarck
VOR/DME.
V-92: V-92 currently extends between the Chicago Heights, IL,
VORTAC and the Goshen, IN, VORTAC. The FAA proposes to remove the
airway in its entirety.
V-126: V-126 currently extends between the Goshen, IN, VORTAC and
the intersection of the Goshen VORTAC 092[deg] and Fort Wayne, IN,
VORTAC 016[deg] radials (ILTON Fix). The FAA proposes to remove the
airway in its entirety.
V-221: V-221 currently extends between the Bible Grove, IL, VORTAC
and the intersection of the Fort Wayne, IN, VORTAC 016[deg] and Goshen,
IN, VORTAC 092[deg] radials (ILTON Fix). The FAA proposes to remove the
airway segment between the Fort Wayne VORTAC and the intersection of
the Fort Wayne VORTAC 016[deg] and Goshen VORTAC 092[deg] radials
(ILTON Fix). As amended, the airway would be changed to extend between
the Bible Grove VORTAC and the Fort Wayne VORTAC.
All NAVAID radials listed in the ATS route descriptions in the
regulatory text of this notice of proposed rulemaking 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); 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
7400.11J, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated July 31,
2024, and effective September 15, 2024, is amended as follows:
Paragraph 2004 Jet Routes.
* * * * *
J-60 [Amended]
From Los Angeles, CA; Paradise, CA; Hector, CA; Boulder City,
NV; Bryce Canyon, UT; Hanksville, UT; Red Table, CO; Mile High, CO;
Hayes Center, NE; Lincoln, NE; Iowa City, IA; to Joliet, IL. From
Dryer, OH; Philipsburg, PA; INT Philipsburg 100[deg] and Sparta, NJ,
253[deg] radials; to Sparta.
* * * * *
J-82 [Amended]
From Battle Ground, WA; Donnelly, ID; Dubois, ID; Crazy Woman,
WY; Rapid City, SD; to Sioux Falls, SD. From Dubuque, IA; INT
Dubuque 095[deg] and Joliet, IL, 317[deg] radials; to Joliet.
* * * * *
Paragraph 6010(a) Domestic VOR Federal Airways.
* * * * *
V-8 [Amended]
From INT Seal Beach, CA, 266[deg] and Ventura, CA, 144[deg]
radials; Seal Beach; Paradise, CA; 35 miles, 7 miles wide (3 miles
SE and 4 miles NW of centerline) Hector, CA; Goffs, CA; INT Goffs
033[deg] and Morman Mesa, NV, 196[deg] radials; Morman Mesa; Bryce
Canyon, UT; Hanksville, UT; Grand Junction, CO; Rifle, CO;
Kremmling, CO; Mile High, CO; Akron, CO; Hayes Center, NE; Grand
Island, NE; Omaha, IA; Des Moines, IA; Iowa City, IA; Moline, IL;
Joliet, IL; to Chicago Heights, IL. From Martinsburg, WV; to
Washington, DC. The portion outside the United States has no upper
limit.
* * * * *
V-55 [Amended]
From Dayton, OH; to Fort Wayne, IN. From Gipper, MI; Keeler, MI;
to Pullman, MI. From Grand Forks, ND; INT Grand Forks 239[deg] and
Bismarck, ND, 067[deg] radials; to Bismarck.
* * * * *
V-92 [Removed]
* * * * *
V-126 [Removed]
* * * * *
V-221 [Amended]
From Bible Grove, IL; Hoosier, IN; Shelbyville, IN; Muncie, IN;
to Fort Wayne, IN.
* * * * *
Issued in Washington, DC, on December 3, 2024.
Richard Lee Parks,
Manager (A), Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2024-28726 Filed 12-6-24; 8:45 am]
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