[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 36 (Tuesday, February 24, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 8729-8730]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2026-03649]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2025-2023; Airspace Docket No. 25-ANM-137]
RIN 2120-AA66
Establishment of United States Area Navigation (RNAV) Route Q-151
and Revocation of Jet Route J-517 in the Northern United States
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This action establishes United States Area Navigation (RNAV)
Route Q-151 and revokes Jet Route J-517 in the northern United States.
The FAA is taking these actions due to the lack of navigational signal
coverage, restricting usage of J-517.
DATES: Effective date 0901 UTC, May 19, 2026. 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. An electronic
copy of this document may also be downloaded from
www.federalregister.gov.
FAA Order JO 7400.11K, 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: Steven Roff, 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, 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.
History
The FAA published an NPRM for Docket No. FAA-2025-2023 in the
Federal Register (90 FR 34777; July 24, 2025), proposing to establish
United States Area Navigation (RNAV) Route Q-151 and revoke Jet Route
J-517 in the northern 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.
[[Page 8730]]
Incorporation by Reference
United States Area Navigation Routes are published in paragraph
2006 and Jet Routes are published in paragraph 2004 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
7400.11K, dated August 4, 2025, and effective September 15, 2025. These
amendments will be published in the next update to FAA Order JO
7400.11. FAA Order JO 7400.11K, which lists Class A, B, C, D, and E
airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and reporting points, is
publicly available as listed in the ADDRESSES section of this document.
The Rule
This action amends 14 CFR part 71 by establishing RNAV Route Q-151
and revoking J-517 in its entirety. The FAA is taking these actions due
to the lack of navigational signal coverage restricting usage of J-157.
J-517: Prior to this final rule, Jet Route J-517 extended between
the Boise, ID, Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR)/Tactical
Air Navigation (VORTAC) and the Cranbrook, BC, Canada, VOR/Distance
Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME), excluding the airspace with Canada. J-
517 is unavailable to aircraft between the Boise and Spokane VORTACs
unless they are equipped with a RNAV system with GPS as annotated in
Notice to Airmen FDC 5/7559 and FDC 5/7557. The FAA is revoking J-517
in its entirety and establishing RNAV Route Q-151 as a replacement.
Q-151: The FAA is establishing RNAV Route Q-151 as a replacement
for the loss of Jet Route J-517. As established, Q-151 extends between
the WINEN, UT, WP and the EDGES, ID, Fix.
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 establishing RNAV route
Q 151 and revoking J-517 qualifies for categorical exclusion under the
National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq.) and in
accordance with FAA Order 1050.1G, FAA National Environmental Policy
Act Implementing Procedures, paragraph B-2.5(a) 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 B-2.5(i), which categorically excludes from
further environmental impact review the establishment of new or revised
air traffic control procedures conducted at 3,000 feet or more AGL;
procedures conducted below 3,000 feet AGL that do not cause traffic to
be routinely routed over noise sensitive areas; modifications to
currently approved procedures conducted below 3,000 feet AGL that do
not significantly increase noise over noise sensitive areas; and
increases in minimum altitudes and landing minima.. As such, this
action is not expected to result in any potentially significant
environmental impacts. The FAA has determined that no extraordinary
circumstances exist that warrant preparation of an environmental
assessment or environmental impact study.
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
7400.11K, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 4,
2025, and effective September 15, 2025, is amended as follows:
Paragraph 2006 United States Area Navigation Routes.
* * * * *
Q-151 WINEN, UT to EDGES, ID [New]
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WINEN, UT WP (Lat. 37[deg]56'00.00'' N, long. 113[deg]30'00.00'' W)
PICHO, UT WP (Lat. 39[deg]58'00.00'' N, long. 112[deg]35'00.00'' W)
PATIO, UT WP (Lat. 41[deg]16'00.00'' N, long. 112[deg]32'00.00'' W)
BROPH, ID WP (Lat. 42[deg]43'15.71'' N, long. 114[deg]52'31.80'' W)
Boise, ID (BOI) VORTAC (Lat. 43[deg]33'10.12'' N, long. 116[deg]11'31.65'' W)
HILIE, ID FIX (Lat. 47[deg]31'05.33'' N, long. 116[deg]41'22.93'' W)
EDGES, ID FIX (Lat. 49[deg]00'00.00'' N, long. 116[deg]31'51.36'' W)
* * * * *
Paragraph 2004 Jet Routes.
* * * * *
J-517 [Revoked]
* * * * *
Issued in Washington, DC, on February 20, 2026.
Alex W. Nelson,
Manager, Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2026-03649 Filed 2-23-26; 8:45 am]
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