Proposed Rule2021-11422
Proposed Revocation of Colored Federal Airway Red-4 (R-4) in Central Alaska
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
June 2, 2021
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
This action proposes to revoke Colored Federal airway R-4 in central Alaska due to the scheduled decommissioning of the Bear Creek (BCC) Non-Directional Beacon (NDB) on December 2, 2021.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 104 (Wednesday, June 2, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 104 (Wednesday, June 2, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 29531-29533]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-11422]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2021-0414; Airspace Docket No. 21-AAL-25]
RIN 2120-AA66
Proposed Revocation of Colored Federal Airway Red-4 (R-4) in
Central Alaska
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: This action proposes to revoke Colored Federal airway R-4 in
central Alaska due to the scheduled decommissioning of the Bear Creek
(BCC) Non-Directional Beacon (NDB) on December 2, 2021.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 19, 2021.
ADDRESSES: Send comments on this proposal to the U.S. Department of
Transportation, Docket Operations, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West
Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590; telephone:
(800) 647-5527, or (202) 366-9826. You must identify FAA Docket No.
FAA-2021-0414; Airspace Docket No. 21-AAL-25 at the beginning of your
comments. You may also submit comments through the internet at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>.
FAA Order 7400.11E, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, and
subsequent amendments can be viewed online at <a href="https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/">https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/</a>. For further information, you can contact the
Rules and Regulations Group, Federal Aviation Administration, 800
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267-
8783. The Order is also available for inspection at the National
Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the
availability of FAA Order 7400.11E at NARA, email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#86e0e3e2f4e3e1a8eae3e1e7eac6e8e7f4e7a8e1e9f0"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="afc9cacbddcac881c3cac8cec3efc1ceddce81c8c0d9">[email protected]</span></a> or go to <a href="https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html">https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher McMullin, 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 (U.S.C.). 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 route structure as necessary to
preserve the safe and efficient flow of air traffic within the National
Airspace System (NAS).
Comments Invited
Interested parties are invited to participate in this proposed
rulemaking by submitting such written data, views, or arguments, as
they may desire.
[[Page 29532]]
Comments that provide the factual basis supporting the views and
suggestions presented are particularly helpful in developing reasoned
regulatory decisions on the proposal. Comments are specifically invited
on the overall regulatory, aeronautical, economic, environmental, and
energy-related aspects of the proposal.
Communications should identify both docket numbers (FAA Docket No.
FAA-2021-0414; Airspace Docket No. 21-AAL-25) and be submitted in
triplicate to the Docket Management Facility (see ``ADDRESSES'' section
for address and phone number). You may also submit comments through the
internet at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>.
Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments
on this action must submit with those comments a self-addressed,
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments
to FAA Docket No. FAA-2021-0414; Airspace Docket No. 21-AAL-25.'' The
postcard will be date/time stamped and returned to the commenter.
All communications received on or before the specified comment
closing date will be considered before taking action on the proposed
rule. The proposal contained in this action may be changed in light of
comments received. All comments submitted will be available for
examination in the public docket both before and after the comment
closing date. A report summarizing each substantive public contact with
FAA personnel concerned with this rulemaking will be filed in the
docket.
Availability of NPRM
An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded through the
internet at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. Recently published rulemaking
documents can also be accessed through the FAA's web page at <a href="https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/airspace_amendments/">https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/airspace_amendments/</a>.
You may review the public docket containing the proposal, any
comments received and any final disposition in person in the Dockets
Office (see ADDRESSES section for address and phone number) between
9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. An informal docket may also be examined during normal
business hours at the office of the Operations Support Group, Western
Service Center, Federal Aviation Administration, 2200 South 216th St.,
Des Moines, WA 98198.
Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference
This document proposes to amend FAA Order 7400.11E, Airspace
Designations and Reporting Points, dated July 21, 2020, and effective
September 15, 2020. FAA Order 7400.11E is publicly available as listed
in the ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order 7400.11E lists
Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and
reporting points.
Background
The FAA completed a study in February 2021 on a request to
decommission the BCC NDB in Tanana, AK. The FAA determined that the BCC
NDB decommissioning was warranted due to the increased cost and
difficulty in maintaining the equipment. The high costs stem from no
longer being supported by FAA logistics or the manufacturer.
Fabrication of parts for the equipment is time consuming and is not
cost effective.
The effects of decommissioning the BCC NDB would be minimal on
general aviation, since it does not support any instrument approaches.
BCC NDB does, however, support Federal Colored Airway R-4, which
navigates between Bear Creek and the Chena, AK NDB. Federal Colored
Airway R-4's route closely parallels VOR Federal Airways V-488 and V-
531, and United States Area Navigation routes T-225 and T-229, which
should provide pilots an acceptable alternative.
The Proposal
The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 to revoke
Colored Federal airway R-4, due to the decommissioning of BCC NDB. The
proposed change is outlined below.
R-4: R-4 currently navigates between the Chena, AK, NDB and the
Bear Creek, AK, NDB. The FAA proposes to revoke the route in its
entirety.
Colored Federal airways are published in paragraph 6009(b), of FAA
Order 7400.11E, dated July 21, 2020, and effective September 15, 2020,
which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Colored Federal
airway route listed in this document would be subsequently removed from
the Order.
FAA Order 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, is
published yearly and effective on September 15.
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 ``significant'' as defined in
Department of Transportation (DOT) Regulatory Policies and Procedures;
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 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 7400.11E,
Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated July 21, 2020, and
effective September 15, 2020, is amended as follows:
Paragraph 6009(b) Colored Federal Airways.
* * * * *
R-4 [Remove]
From Chena, AK, NDB; to Bear Creek, AK, NDB.
* * * * *
[[Page 29533]]
Issued in Washington, DC, on May 25, 2021.
George Gonzalez,
Acting Manager, Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2021-11422 Filed 6-1-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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