[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 58 (Thursday, March 27, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13977-13978]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-05167]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
[Docket No. FAA-2025-0558]
Notice of Intent To Decommission Flight Service Remote
Communications Outlets (RCOs)
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
ACTION: Request for public comment.
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SUMMARY: The FAA requests public comment on the agency's intent to
decommission the Flight Service network of communication frequencies
for advisory services throughout the contiguous United States (CONUS),
excluding those in Alaska.
DATES: Written comments should be submitted by May 27, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Please send written comments:
By Electronic Docket: www.regulations.gov (Enter docket number into
search field).
By mail: 800 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20591, ATTN:
Manager, Flight Service, Safety & Operations, AJR-B1.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher Henne, Manger, Safety &
Operations, (202) 267-6500 or by email at: [email protected],
Subject: CONUS RCOs.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background: Flight Service provides inflight advisory services over
a radio network of 936 frequencies throughout the CONUS, including
Hawaii and Puerto Rico. This infrastructure was developed over 40 years
ago, with little or no modifications since.
Flight Service has experienced reduction in the volume of requests
for advisory services, and a resulting consolidation in Flight Service
stations. In the mid-1980s, Flight Service received 22,000 service
requests per day across this network, while today they receive fewer
than 300 per day. In turn, from over 350 Flight Service stations with
over 3,000 employees 40 years ago, there are now only two (2)
facilities with fewer than 200 specialists. This 99% reduction in the
volume of requests is not representative of a reduction in flights.
Rather, it is a result of a move to new technology with no safety
impacts. Technology (e.g., mobile technology) has made it possible for
users today to receive the information and services that Flight Service
provides without the need for radio communications.
The remaining infrastructure and staffing for this outdated method
costs taxpayers millions of dollars annually to support the small
number of pilots that have not converted to mobile technology. In
January 2016, a MITRE study found that a vast majority of the
frequencies were duplicate, overlapping and seldom used. In April 2016,
the FAA published a Notice of Proposed Policy for FAA's proposed plan
to decommission a number of RCOs and frequencies.\1\ The FAA received
13 comments, made minor revisions to the decommission list, and
published the final policy on August 30, 2017.\2\ In 2017, the FAA
decommissioned 641 frequencies, including 404 RCOs and 237 VOR outlets
for a cost savings estimated at $2.5 million annually in maintenance
costs, with additional savings realized once leases and voice switch
infrastructure were decreased.
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\1\ 81 FR 25484 (April 28, 2016).
\2\ 82 FR 41304 (August 30, 2017).
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It is the FAA's intent to decommission all remaining 936 RCOs in
CONUS after a final rule is published. The remaining list of 936
frequencies is available on the FAA website \3\ and can be divided into
two groups:
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\3\ https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ato/service_units/systemops/fs.
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(1) RCOs that aircraft can use to contact a flight service station
by transmitting and receiving on a common or discrete frequency, for
example, 122.2, 122.5, etc. There are 764 RCOs in the CONUS.
(2) Frequencies that are co-located with navigational aids, known
as VORs, in which aircraft can contact flight service by transmitting
on a frequency (usually 122.1) and receiving on the appropriate VOR
frequency. There are 172 VOR frequencies in the CONUS.
After decommissioning these RCOs, Flight Service will no longer
provide inflight advisory services in CONUS. All emergency frequencies
will continue to be monitored through Air Traffic Control Facilities.
Safety Analysis: A Safety Risk Management Panel will be convened to
analyze potential risk to the National Airspace System as a result of
this change.
Public Comments Invited: The FAA is interested in comments
concerning the move to decommission the remaining 936 Remote
Communications Outlets in CONUS. Users are welcome to include comments
concerning any other aspect of your experience with Flight Service.
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 action. Before acting on this notice,
[[Page 13978]]
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 agency may change this notice in light of the
comments it receives.
Issued in Washington, DC.
Kevin J. Hanson,
Director of Flight Service, AJR-B, Air Traffic Organization.
[FR Doc. 2025-05167 Filed 3-26-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P