Proposed Rule2022-06311
Proposed Amendment of VOR Federal Airways V-24, V-78, V-181, and V-398; and Establishment of Area Navigation (RNAV) Route T-462; in the Vicinity of Watertown, SD
Primary source
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Published
March 25, 2022
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
The FAA proposes to amend four VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airways and establish a new RNAV T-route in the vicinity of Watertown, South Dakota. This action is necessary due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Watertown, SD, VOR/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC), which provides navigational guidance to portions of the affected VOR Federal airways. The Watertown VOR is being decommissioned as part of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (VOR MON) program.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 58 (Friday, March 25, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 58 (Friday, March 25, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 17038-17040]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-06311]
[[Page 17038]]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2022-0248; Airspace Docket No. 22-AGL-4]
RIN 2120-AA66
Proposed Amendment of VOR Federal Airways V-24, V-78, V-181, and
V-398; and Establishment of Area Navigation (RNAV) Route T-462; in the
Vicinity of Watertown, SD
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to amend four VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR)
Federal airways and establish a new RNAV T-route in the vicinity of
Watertown, South Dakota. This action is necessary due to the planned
decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Watertown, SD, VOR/Tactical
Air Navigation (VORTAC), which provides navigational guidance to
portions of the affected VOR Federal airways. The Watertown VOR is
being decommissioned as part of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational
Network (VOR MON) program.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 9, 2022.
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-2022-0248; Airspace Docket No. 22-AGL-4 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 JO 7400.11F, 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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Colby Abbott, 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. 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.
Comments Invited
Interested parties are invited to participate in this proposed
rulemaking by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as they
may desire. 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-2022-0248; Airspace Docket No. 22-AGL-4) 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-2022-0248; Airspace Docket No. 22-AGL-4.'' 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 NPRMs
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, Central
Service Center, Federal Aviation Administration, 10101 Hillwood
Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177.
Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference
This document proposes to amend FAA Order JO 7400.11F, Airspace
Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 10, 2021 and effective
September 15, 2021. FAA Order JO 7400.11F is publicly available as
listed in the ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order JO 7400.11F
lists Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service
routes, and reporting points.
Background
The FAA is planning decommissioning activities for the VOR portion
of the Watertown, SD, VORTAC in December 2022. The Watertown VOR was
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 NextGen Transition to
Performance-Based Navigation (PBN) (Plan for Establishing a VOR MON),''
published in the Federal Register of July 26, 2016 (81 FR 48694),
Docket No. FAA-2011-1082. Although the VOR portion of the Watertown
VORTAC is planned for decommissioning, the co-located DME portion of
the navigational aid is being retained in support of current and future
RNAV procedures.
The VOR Federal airways affected by the Watertown VOR are V-24, V-
78, V-181, and V-398. With the planned decommissioning of the Watertown
VOR, the remaining ground-based navigational aid coverage in the area
is
[[Page 17039]]
insufficient to enable the continuity of these affected airways. As
such, the proposed modifications would result in the removal of airway
segments.
To overcome the impacts from the loss of portions of the airways,
instrument flight rules (IFR) traffic could use adjacent airways,
including V-2, V-148, V-170, V-175, and V-344, or receive air traffic
control radar vectors to fly through or around the affected areas.
Aircraft equipped with RNAV capabilities could also file point to point
through the affected area using the fixes that will remain in place,
use alternate RNAV routes, including T-322, T-405, and T-407, or use
the new RNAV route, T-462, proposed in this action. Visual flight rules
(VFR) pilots who elect to navigate via the affected ATS routes could
also take advantage of the adjacent ATS routes or ATC services listed
previously.
Further, the FAA proposes to establish RNAV T-route, T-462, to
mitigate the proposed removal of the airway segments for V-24 between
the Aberdeen, SD, VOR/DME and the Watertown, SD, VORTAC and for V-78
between the Watertown, SD, VORTAC and the Darwin, MN, VORTAC. The new
route would provide navigational options in areas of limited or no
radar coverage to pilots whose aircraft are RNAV equipped, as well as,
support the FAA's efforts to transition the National Airspace System
from ground-based to satellite-based navigation.
The Proposal
The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 to amend four
VOR Federal airways and establish one RNAV T-route. The proposed Air
Traffic Service (ATS) route actions are described below.
V-24: V-24 currently extends between the Aberdeen, SD, VOR/DME and
the Rochester, MN, VOR/DME; between the Janesville, WI, VOR/DME and the
Northbrook, IL, VOR/DME; and between the Peotone, IL, VORTAC and the
Brickyard, IN, VORTAC. The FAA proposes to remove the airway segment
between the Aberdeen, SD, VOR/DME and the Redwood Falls, MN, VOR/DME.
This would result in the first segment of the airway extending between
the Redwood Falls, MN, VOR/DME and the Rochester, MN, VOR/DME. The
second and third segments of the airway would remain unchanged.
V-78: V-78 currently extends between the Watertown, SD, VORTAC and
the Escanaba, MI, VOR/DME; and between the Pellston, MI, VORTAC and the
Saginaw, MI, VOR/DME. The FAA proposes to remove the airway segment
between the Watertown, SD, VORTAC and the Darwin, MN, VORTAC. This
would result in the first segment of the airway extending between the
Darwin, MN, VORTAC and the Escanaba, MI, VOR/DME. The second segment of
the airway would remain unchanged.
V-181: V-181 currently extends between the Kirksville, MO, VORTAC
and the Grand Forks, ND, VOR/DME. The FAA proposes to remove the airway
segment between the Sioux Falls, SD, VORTAC and the Fargo, ND, VOR/DME.
This would result in the airway extending between the Kirksville, MO,
VORTAC and the Sioux Falls, SD, VORTAC; and between the Fargo, ND, VOR/
DME and the Grand Forks, ND, VOR/DME.
V-398: V-398 currently extends between the Aberdeen, SD, VOR/DME
and the Rochester, MN, VOR/DME. The FAA proposes to remove the airway
segment between Aberdeen, SD, VOR/DME and the Redwood Falls, MN, VOR/
DME. This would result in the airway extending between the Redwood
Falls, MN, VOR/DME and the Rochester, MN, VOR/DME.
T-462: T-462 would be a new RNAV route that extends between the
Bismarck, ND, VOR/DME and the GENEO, MN, waypoint (WP) located near the
Darwin, MN, VOR.
All navigational aid radials listed in the VOR Federal airway
descriptions below are unchanged and stated in True degrees.
VOR Federal airways are published in paragraph 6010(a), and RNAV T-
routes are published in paragraph 6011 of FAA Order JO 7400.11F, dated
August 10, 2021, and effective September 15, 2021, which are
incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The VOR Federal airways
listed in this document would be published subsequently in FAA JO
7400.11.
FAA Order JO 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 a ``significant rule'' under
Department of Transportation (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), 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
7400.11F, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 10,
2021, and effective September 15, 2021, is amended as follows:
Paragraph 6010(a) Domestic VOR Federal Airways.
* * * * *
V-24 [Amended]
From Redwood Falls, MN; to Rochester, MN. From Janesville, WI;
INT Janesville 112[deg] and Northbrook, IL, 291[deg] radials; to
Northbrook. From Peotone, IL; INT Peotone 152[deg] and Brickyard,
IN, 312[deg] radials; to Brickyard.
* * * * *
V-78 [Amended]
From Darwin, MN; Gopher, MN; INT Gopher 091[deg] and Eau Claire,
WI, 290[deg] radials; Eau Claire; Rhinelander, WI; Iron Mountain,
MI; to Escanaba, MI. From Pellston, MI; Alpena, MI; INT Alpena
232[deg] and Saginaw, MI, 353[deg] radials; to Saginaw.
* * * * *
V-181 [Amended]
From Kirksville, MO; Lamoni, IA; Omaha, IA; Norfolk, NE;
Yankton, SD; to Sioux Falls, SD. From Fargo, ND; to Grand Forks, ND.
* * * * *
[[Page 17040]]
V-398 [Amended]
From Redwood Falls, MN; to Rochester, MN.
* * * * *
Paragraph 6011 United States Area Navigation Routes.
* * * * *
T-462 Bismarck, ND (BIS) to GENEO, MN [New]
Bismarck, ND (BIS) VOR/DME (Lat. 46[deg]45'42.34'' N, long. 100[deg]39'55.47'' W)
Aberdeen, SD (ABR) VOR/DME (Lat. 45[deg]25'02.48'' N, long. 098[deg]22'07.39'' W)
FFORT, SD WP (Lat. 44[deg]58'47.45'' N, long. 097[deg]08'30.36'' W)
GENEO, MN WP (Lat. 45[deg]05'15.37'' N, long. 094[deg]27'14.30'' W)
Issued in Washington, DC, on March 21, 2022.
Scott M. Rosenbloom,
Manager, Airspace Rules and Regulations.
[FR Doc. 2022-06311 Filed 3-24-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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