Proposed Rule2022-08785
Proposed Establishment of Area Navigation (RNAV) Route T-719; Sitka, AK
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
April 26, 2022
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
This action proposes to establish one Canadian Area Navigation (RNAV) route in the vicinity of Sitka, AK. This action is required in support of a large and comprehensive RNAV T-route modernization project for the state of Alaska.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 80 (Tuesday, April 26, 2022)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 80 (Tuesday, April 26, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 24481-24483]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-08785]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2022-0429; Airspace Docket No. 21-AAL-40]
RIN 2120-AA66
Proposed Establishment of Area Navigation (RNAV) Route T-719;
Sitka, AK
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This action proposes to establish one Canadian Area Navigation
(RNAV) route in the vicinity of Sitka, AK. This action is required in
support of a large and comprehensive RNAV T-route modernization project
for the state of Alaska.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 10, 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-2022-0429; Airspace Docket No. 21-AAL-40 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: Jesse Acevedo, 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 expand the availability of RNAV in Alaska and
improve the efficient flow of air traffic within the National Airspace
System (NAS) by lessoning the dependency on ground based navigation.
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-2022-0429; Airspace Docket No. 21-AAL-40) 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-2022-0429; Airspace Docket No. 21-AAL-40.'' 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 Western Service Center, Operations
Support Group, 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 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
In 2003, Congress enacted the Vision 100--Century of Aviation
Reauthorization Act (Pub. L. 108-176),
[[Page 24482]]
which established a joint planning and development office in the FAA to
manage the work related to the Next Generation Air Transportation
System (NextGen). Today, NextGen is an ongoing FAA-led modernization of
the nation's air transportation system to make flying safer, more
efficient, and more predictable.
In support of NextGen, this proposal is part of a larger and
comprehensive T-route modernization project in the state of Alaska. The
project's mission statement is ``To modernize Alaska's Air Traffic
Service route structure using satellite based navigation. Development
of new T-routes and optimization of existing T-routes will enhance
safety, increase efficiency and access, and will provide enroute
continuity that is not subject to the restrictions associated with
ground based airway navigation.'' As part of this project, the FAA
evaluated the existing Colored airway structure for: (1) Direct
replacement (i.e., overlay) with a T-route that offers a similar or
lower Minimum Enroute Altitude (MEA) or Global Navigation Satellite
System Minimum Enroute Altitude (GNSS MEA); (2) the replacement of the
Colored airway with a T-route in an optimized but similar geographic
area, while retaining similar or lower MEA; or (3) removal with no
route structure (T-route) restored in that area because the value was
determined to be insignificant.
The aviation industry/users have indicated a desire for the FAA to
transition the Alaskan en route navigation structure away from
dependency on Non-Directional Beacons (NDB), and move to develop and
improve the RNAV route structure. The FAA considers this transition as
time sensitive, given the increasing number of NDBs that are currently
and/or scheduled out of service, and the lack of an NDB acquisition,
maintenance, or sustainment program. This forces pilots flying under
Instrument Flight Rules (IFR), with aircraft not equipped with de-icing
protection, to fly at higher than normal MEAs, increasing the risk to
flight safety. The Sitka, AK, NDB is one of the many NDBs scheduled for
decommissioning. The proposal to establish RNAV route, T-719, would
support the decommissioning of the Sitka, AK, NDB. Further, the
proposed route would connect with a planned Canadian extension to their
RNAV route T-719, thereby connecting the Sandspit, Canada (YZP) VHF
Omnidirectional Range/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) and the
proposed new EEVER waypoint (WP). The Canadian extension will occur
concurrently with the publication of the United States portion of the
proposed RNAV T-route, T-719. Finally, the proposed RNAV route would
overlie and eventually replace directly the Colored airway Amber 1.
The Proposal
The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 to establish
RNAV route T-719, near Sitka, AK, in support of a large and
comprehensive T-route modernization project in the state of Alaska. The
proposed RNAV route establishment is described below.
T-719: T-719 is a new RNAV route that would extend between the new
EEVER, AK, WP and the Biorka Island, AK, (BKA) VOR and Tactical Air
Navigational System (VORTAC). The EEVER, AK, WP would replace the CFQBR
computer navigation Fix to be located along the Sandspit, Canada (YZP),
VOR/DME 312[deg] radial and the US/Canada border.
Canadian Area Navigation Routes are published in paragraph 6013 of
FAA Order JO 7400.11F dated August 10, 2021 and effective September 15,
2021, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The RNAV route
listed in this document would be published subsequently in FAA Order 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 6013 Canadian Area Navigation Routes.
* * * * *
T-719 EEVER, AK to Biorka Island, AK (BKA)
EEVER, AK WP (Lat. 54[deg]35'01.79'' N, long. 133[deg]05'54.23'' W)
Biorka Island, AK (BKA) VORTAC (Lat. 56[deg]51'33.87'' N, long. 135[deg]33'04.72'' W)
[[Page 24483]]
* * * * *
Issued in Washington, DC, on April 20, 2022.
Scott M. Rosenbloom,
Manager, Airspace Rules and Regulations.
[FR Doc. 2022-08785 Filed 4-25-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
</pre></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on April 26, 2022.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.