[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 96 (Tuesday, May 20, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 21408-21410]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-09002]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2024-2512; Airspace Docket No. 24-AEA-9]
RIN 2120-AA66
Amendment of Domestic Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range
(VOR) Federal Airways V-1, V-29, V-38, V-139, and V-286; Eastern United
States
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This action amends domestic Very High Frequency
Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal Airways V-1, V-29, V-38, V-139, and
V-286 in the eastern United States. The FAA is taking this action due
to the planned decommissioning of the Salisbury, MD (SBY), VOR/Tactical
Air Navigation (VORTAC) and the Snow Hill, MD (SWL), VORTAC. This
action is in support of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON)
Program.
DATES: Effective date 0901 UTC, August 7, 2025. The Director of the
Federal Register approves this incorporation by reference action under
1 CFR part 51, subject to the annual revision of FAA Order JO 7400.11
and publication of conforming amendments.
ADDRESSES: A copy of the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), all
comments received, this final rule, and all background material may be
viewed online at www.regulations.gov using the FAA Docket number.
Electronic retrieval help and guidelines are available on the website.
It is available 24 hours each day, 365 days each year.
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, Policy Directorate, Federal Aviation Administration,
600 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20597; telephone: (202) 267-
8783.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian Vidis, Rules and Regulations
Group, Policy Directorate, 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, 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 modifies the Air Traffic Service (ATS) route structure
as necessary to preserve the safe and efficient flow of air traffic
within the National Airspace System (NAS).
History
The FAA published a NPRM for Docket No. FAA 2024-2512 in the
Federal Register (89 FR 93233; November 26, 2024), proposing to amend
domestic VOR Federal Airways V-1, V-29, V-38, V-139, and V-286 in the
eastern United States. Interested parties were invited to participate
in this rulemaking effort by submitting written comments on the
proposal to the FAA. No comments were received. The FAA acknowledges it
has another airspace action that used the same airspace docket number
(Airspace Docket No. 24-AEA-9); however, each airspace action had a
separately identifiable Docket No. allowing the FAA to attribute
comments to the appropriate airspace action. The FAA did not receive
comments for either airspace action.
Differences From the NPRM
Subsequent the NPRM, the FAA made minor editorial corrections to
the airway description of VOR Federal Airway V-1 and V-139 to comply
with ATS route formatting requirements.
Incorporation by Reference
Domestic 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 amends the current version of that order, FAA Order JO
7400.11J, dated July 31, 2024, and effective September 15, 2024. These
amendments will be published in the next update to FAA Order JO
7400.11. FAA Order JO 7400.11J 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.
[[Page 21409]]
The Rule
This action amends 14 CFR part 71 by amending VOR Federal Airways
V-1, V-29, V-38, V-139, and V-286 to support the planned
decommissioning of the Salisbury, MD (SBY), VORTAC and the Snow Hill,
MD (SWL), VORTAC. This action is in support of the FAA's VOR MON
Program. The ATS route changes are described below.
V-1: Prior to this final rule, V-1 extended between the Craig, FL
(CRG), VORTAC and the Boston, MA (BOS), VOR/Distance Measuring
Equipment (VOR/DME). The FAA removes the airway segments between the
Norfolk, VA (ORF), VORTAC and the Waterloo, DE (ATR), VOR/DME due to
the scheduled decommissioning of the Salisbury, MD (SBY), VORTAC.
Additionally, the FAA adds language to the route description that the
airway excludes restricted area R-5002F as it is adjacent to VOR
Federal Airway V-1 and removes language that the airway excludes
restricted area R-4006 as it would no longer be adjacent to VOR Federal
Airway V-1.
As amended, the route extends between the Craig VORTAC and the
Norfolk VORTAC; and between the Waterloo VOR/DME and the Boston VOR/
DME. The portions within R-5002A, R-5002C, R-5002D and R-5002F are
excluded during their times of designation.
V-29: Prior to this final rule, V-29 extended between the Snow
Hill, MD (SWL), VORTAC and the Syracuse, NY (SYR), VORTAC. The FAA
removes the airway segments between the Snow Hill VORTAC and the
Smyrna, DE (ENO), VORTAC due to the scheduled decommissioning of the
Snow Hill VORTAC. As amended, the route extends between the Smyrna
VORTAC and the Syracuse VORTAC.
V-38: Prior to this final rule, V-38 extended between the Moline,
IL (MZV), VOR/DME and the intersection of the Fort Wayne, IN (FWA),
VORTAC 091[deg] and the Rosewood, OH (ROD), VORTAC 334[deg] radials
(WINES Fix); and between the Appleton, OH (APE), VORTAC and the Cape
Charles, VA (CCV), VORTAC. The FAA removes the Cape Charles VORTAC and
replaces it with the LNSKY, VA, Fix due to a need for VOR Federal
Airway V-38 to connect to the redesigned VOR Federal Airway V-139 in
this docket. The LNSKY Fix is defined as the intersection of the
Harcum, VA (HCM), VORTAC 100[deg] True (T)/107[deg] Magnetic (M) and
the Norfolk, VA (ORF), VORTAC 026[deg] T/033[deg] M radials, and would
be charted on VOR Federal Airway V-139. As amended, the route extends
between the Moline VOR/DME and the WINES Fix; and between the Appleton
VORTAC and the LNSKY Fix.
V-139: Prior to this final rule, V-139 extended between the
Florence, SC (FLO), VORTAC and the Kennebunk, ME (ENE), VOR/DME. The
FAA removes the Cape Charles, VA (CCV), VORTAC and the Snow Hill, MD
(SWL), VORTAC from the route and replaces them with a route segment
directly between the Norfolk, VA (ORF), VORTAC and the Sea Isle, NJ
(SIE), VORTAC due to the scheduled decommissioning of the Snow Hill
VORTAC.
The FAA also adds the SUWHT, VA, Fix and the WINAL, NC, Fix to the
route between the intersection of the New Bern, NC (EWN), VOR/DME
006[deg] and Norfolk VORTAC 209[deg] radials (PEARS Fix) and the
Norfolk VORTAC due to a need to align this portion of the airway to the
commonly assigned routing between the PEARS Fix; SUWHT Fix; WINAL Fix;
and Norfolk VORTAC. The SUWHT, VA, Fix is defined as the intersection
of the Norfolk, VORTAC 209[deg] T/216[deg] M and Elizabeth City, NC
(ECG), VOR/DME 243[deg] T/250[deg] M radials; and the WINAL, NC, Fix is
defined as the intersection of the Elizabeth City VOR/DME 243[deg] T/
250[deg] M and Norfolk VORTAC 194[deg] T/201[deg] M radials.
Additionally, the FAA adds language to the route description that
the airway excludes restricted area R-5301, R-5302, R-5303, R-5304, and
R-5306 as they are adjacent to VOR Federal Airway V-139; and removes
language that the airway excludes restricted area R-5202 as it is not
adjacent to VOR Federal Airway V-139. As amended, the airway continues
to extend between the Florence VORTAC and the Kennebunk VOR/DME. The
airspace below 2,000 feet mean sea level (MSL) outside the United
States, the airspace below 3,000 feet MSL between the Kennedy, NY,
087[deg] and 141[deg] radials, and the portions within R-5301, R-5302,
R-5303, R-5304, R-5306 and R-6604 are excluded during their times of
designation.
V-286: Prior to this final rule, V-286 extended between the Elkins,
WV (EKN), VORTAC and the Cape Charles, VA (CCV), VORTAC. The FAA
removes the airway segment between the Brooke, VA (BRV), VORTAC and the
Cape Charles VORTAC due to the Brooke VORTAC being out of service and
unable to provide navigational guidance for this airway segment. As
amended, the route extends between the Elkins VORTAC and the Brooke
VORTAC.
The navigational aid radials listed in the VOR Federal airway
description regulatory text of this final rule are stated in degrees
True north.
Regulatory Notices and Analyses
The FAA has determined that this 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
only affects air traffic procedures and air navigation, it is certified
that this rule, when promulgated, does not have a significant economic
impact on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria of
the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
Environmental Review
The FAA has determined that this action of amending domestic VOR
Federal Airways V-1, V-29, V-38, V-139, and V-286 in the eastern United
States, qualifies for categorical exclusion under the National
Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and in accordance
with FAA Order 1050.1F, ``Environmental Impacts: Policies and
Procedures,'' paragraph 5-6.5a, which categorically excludes from
further environmental impact review rulemaking actions that designate
or modify classes of airspace areas, airways, routes, and reporting
points (see 14 CFR part 71, Designation of Class A, B, C, D, and E
Airspace Areas; Air Traffic Service Routes; and Reporting Points); and
paragraph 5-6.5b, which categorically excludes from further
environmental impact review ``Actions regarding establishment of jet
routes and Federal airways (see 14 CFR 71.15, Designation of jet routes
and VOR Federal airways) . . .''. As such, this airspace action is not
expected to cause any potentially significant environmental impacts. In
accordance with FAA Order 1050.1F, paragraph 5-2 regarding
Extraordinary Circumstances, the FAA has reviewed this action for
factors and circumstances in which a normally categorically excluded
action may have a significant environmental impact requiring further
analysis. Accordingly, the FAA has determined that no extraordinary
circumstances exist that warrant preparation of an environmental
assessment or environmental impact statement.
[[Page 21410]]
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71
Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).
The Amendment
In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation
Administration amends 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
7400.11J, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated July 31,
2024, and effective September 15, 2024, is amended as follows:
Paragraph 6010(a) Domestic VOR Federal Airways.
* * * * *
V-1 [Amended]
From Craig, FL; INT Craig 020[deg] and Charleston, SC, 214[deg]
radials; Charleston; Grand Strand, SC; INT Grand Strand 031[deg] and
Kinston, NC, 214[deg] radials; Kinston; Cofield, NC; to Norfolk, VA.
From Waterloo, DE; INT Waterloo 024[deg] and Coyle, NJ, 216[deg]
radials; Coyle; INT Coyle 036[deg] and Kennedy, NY, 209[deg]
radials; Kennedy; Deer Park, NY; Madison, CT; Hartford, CT; INT
Hartford 040[deg] and Boston, MA, 252[deg] radials; to Boston, MA;
excluding the airspace below 2,700 feet MSL outside the United
States between STARY INT and Charleston, SC. The portions within R-
5002A, R-5002C, R-5002D and R-5002F are excluded during their times
of designation.
* * * * *
V-29 [Amended]
From Smyrna, DE; Dupont, DE; Modena, PA; Pottstown, PA; East
Texas, PA; Wilkes-Barre, PA; Binghamton, NY; INT Binghamton 005[deg]
and Syracuse, NY, 169[deg] radials; to Syracuse.
* * * * *
V-38 [Amended]
From Moline, IL; INT Moline 082[deg] and Peotone, IL, 281[deg]
radials; Peotone; Fort Wayne, IN; to INT Fort Wayne 091[deg] and
Rosewood, OH, 334[deg] radials. From Appleton, OH; Zanesville, OH;
Parkersburg, WV; Elkins, WV; Gordonsville, VA; Richmond, VA; Harcum,
VA; to INT Harcum 100[deg] and Norfolk, VA, 026[deg] radials.
* * * * *
V-139 [Amended]
From Florence, SC; Wilmington, NC; New Bern, NC; INT New Bern
006[deg] and Norfolk, VA, 209[deg] radials; INT Norfolk 209[deg] and
Elizabeth City, NC, 243[deg] radials; INT Elizabeth City 243[deg]
and Norfolk 194[deg] radials; Norfolk; Sea Isle, NJ; INT Sea Isle
050[deg] and Hampton, NY, 223[deg] radials; Hampton; Providence, RI;
INT Providence 079[deg] and Sandy Point, RI, 031[deg] radials; INT
Sandy Point 031[deg] and Kennebunk, ME, 180[deg] radials; to
Kennebunk. The airspace below 2,000 feet MSL outside the United
States, the airspace below 3,000 feet MSL between the Kennedy, NY,
087[deg] and 141[deg] radials, and the portions within R-5301, R-
5302, R-5303, R-5304, R-5306 and R-6604 are excluded during their
times of designation.
* * * * *
V-286 [Amended]
From Elkins, WV; Casanova, VA; INT Casanova 142[deg] and Brooke,
VA, 300[deg] radials; to Brooke.
* * * * *
Issued in Washington, DC, on May 15, 2025.
Brian Eric Konie,
Manager (A), Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2025-09002 Filed 5-19-25; 8:45 am]
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