Proposed Rule2023-04780
Revocation of Very High Frequency (VHF) Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal Airway V-489; Galena, 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
March 9, 2023
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
This action proposes to revoke Alaskan VOR Federal Airway V- 489. The FAA is taking this action due to automated flight plan conflicts between New York Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) and Anchorage ARTCC when pilots file V-489 in flight plans.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 46 (Thursday, March 9, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 46 (Thursday, March 9, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 14516-14517]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-04780]
[[Page 14516]]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2023-0512; Airspace Docket No. 22-AAL-59
RIN 2120-AA66
Revocation of Very High Frequency (VHF) Omnidirectional Range
(VOR) Federal Airway V-489; Galena, AK
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: This action proposes to revoke Alaskan VOR Federal Airway V-
489. The FAA is taking this action due to automated flight plan
conflicts between New York Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) and
Anchorage ARTCC when pilots file V-489 in flight plans.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 24, 2023.
ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by FAA Docket No. FAA-2023-0512 and
Airspace Docket No. 22-AAL-59 using any of the following methods:
* Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> and follow
the online instructions for sending your comments electronically.
* Mail: Send comments to Docket Operations, M-30; U.S. Department
of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Room W12-140, West
Building Ground Floor, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
* Hand Delivery or Courier: Take comments to Docket Operations in
Room W12-140 of the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey
Avenue SE, Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through
Friday, except Federal holidays.
* Fax: Fax comments to Docket Operations at (202) 493-2251.
Privacy: In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits comments
from the public to better inform its rulemaking process. DOT posts
these comments, without edit, including any personal information the
commenter provides, to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>, as described in the system
of records notice (DOT/ALL-14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at
<a href="http://www.dot.gov/privacy">www.dot.gov/privacy</a>.
Docket: Background documents or comments received may be read at
<a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> at any time. Follow the online instructions for
accessing the docket or go to the Docket Operations in Room W12-140 of
the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE,
Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays.
FAA Order JO 7400.11G, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points,
and subsequent amendments can be viewed online at <a href="http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/">www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steven Roff, 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 proposes to revoke Alaskan VOR Airway V-489.
Comments Invited
The FAA invites interested persons to participate in this
rulemaking by submitting written comments, data, or views. Comments are
specifically invited on the overall regulatory, aeronautical, economic,
environmental, and energy-related aspects of the proposal. The most
helpful comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain
the reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. To
ensure the docket does not contain duplicate comments, commenters
should submit only one time if comments are filed electronically, or
commenters should send only one copy of written comments if comments
are filed in writing.
The FAA will file in the docket all comments it receives, as well
as a report summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA
personnel concerning this proposed rulemaking. Before acting on this
proposal, the FAA will consider all comments it receives on or before
the closing date for comments. The FAA will consider comments filed
after the comment period has closed if it is possible to do so without
incurring expense or delay. The FAA may change this proposal in light
of the comments it receives.
Availability of Rulemaking Documents
An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded through the
internet at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>. Recently published rulemaking
documents can also be accessed through the FAA's web page at
<a href="http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/airspace_amendments/">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
Operations office (see ADDRESSES section for address, phone number, and
hours of operations). An informal docket may also be examined during
normal business hours at the office of the Western Service Center,
Federal Aviation, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198.
Incorporation by Reference
Alaskan VOR Federal airways are published in paragraph 6010(b) 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 proposes to amend the current version of that order, FAA Order
JO 7400.11G, dated August 19, 2022, and effective September 15, 2022.
These updates would be published in the next update to FAA Order JO
7400.11. That order is publicly available as listed in the ADDRESSES
section of this document.
FAA Order JO 7400.11G lists Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas,
air traffic service routes, and reporting points.
Background
The VOR Federal airway V-489 identifier is used in Alaska and in
the New Jersey/New York area. The Alaskan V-489 is a short segment that
extends between the Galena, AK, VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/
DME) and Tanana, AK, VOR/DME navigational aids (NAVAID). The Domestic
V-489 extends between the Sparta, NJ, VOR/Tactical Air Navigation
(VORTAC) and Albany, NY, VORTAC NAVAIDs. Automated flight plans that
include the Domestic V-489 routinely appear in the Anchorage ARTCC
computer system when they are intended for New York ARTCC. As a result,
pilots are unable to activate their flight plan. Correcting the flight
plan conflicts within the computers is not feasible due to the
Anchorage and New York ARTCCs utilizing different computer systems and
flight data processors.
[[Page 14517]]
The Proposal
The FAA proposes to amend 14 CFR part 71 by revoking Alaskan VOR
Federal airway V-489 in its entirety. Revoking the Alaskan V-489 would
eliminate the confusion between the Alaskan V-489 and the Domestic V-
489 and resolve the automated flight plan conflicts the confusion
causes with the Anchorage and New York ARTCCs. The FAA is proposing to
revoke Alaskan VOR Federal airway V-489 in its entirety. The Domestic
VOR Federal airway V-489 would remain unchanged.
Other existing routes would mitigate the loss of the Alaskan V-489.
Currently, Alaskan the V-489 offers indirect routing between the
Galena, AK, VOR/DME and the Tanana, AK, VOR/DME NAVAIDs; however, two
other routes--Alaskan VOR Federal airway V-488 and Area Navigation
(RNAV) route T-225--offer direct routing between these two NAVAIDs.
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 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
7400.11G, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 19,
2022, and effective September 15, 2022, is amended as follows:
Paragraph 6010(b) Alaskan VOR Federal Airways.
* * * * *
V-489 [Remove]
* * * * *
Issued in Washington, DC.
Brian Konie,
Acting Manager, Airspace Rules and Regulations.
[FR Doc. 2023-04780 Filed 3-8-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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