Proposed Rule2023-07302
Amendment to United States Area Navigation Route Q-46; Point Hope, 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 10, 2023
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
This action proposes to amend United States Area Navigation (RNAV) Route Q-46 in the vicinity of Point Hope, AK. The FAA is taking this action due to the pending decommissioning of the Point Hope, AK (PHO), Non-Directional Beacon (NDB) navigational aid (NAVAID).
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 68 (Monday, April 10, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 68 (Monday, April 10, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 21139-21141]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-07302]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2023-0866; Airspace Docket No. 22-AAL-51]
RIN 2120-AA66
Amendment to United States Area Navigation Route Q-46; Point
Hope, AK
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: This action proposes to amend United States Area Navigation
(RNAV) Route Q-46 in the vicinity of Point Hope, AK. The FAA is taking
this action due to the pending decommissioning of the Point Hope, AK
(PHO), Non-Directional Beacon (NDB) navigational aid (NAVAID).
DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 25, 2023.
ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by FAA Docket No. [FAA-2023-0866]
and Airspace Docket No. 22-AAL-51 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.
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>. You may also contact the Rules and
Regulations Group, Office of Policy, Federal Aviation Administration,
800 Independence Avenue SW, Washington DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267-
8783.
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 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
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,
[[Page 21140]]
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.
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>.
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 Operations Support Group,
Western Service Center, Federal Aviation Administration, 2200 South
216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198.
Incorporation by Reference
United States Area Navigation Routes are published in paragraph
2006 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 aviation industry has indicated a desire for the FAA to
transition the Alaskan enroute navigation structures away from NDB
dependency. Advances in technology have allowed for alternate
navigation methods to support the decommissioning of high-cost ground
navigation equipment, such as NDBs. The FAA conducted a non-rulemaking
study in accordance with FAA Order JO 7400.2, Procedures for Handling
Airspace Matters, in 2021 on the Point Hope, AK, NDB due to the ongoing
high cost of maintenance and repairs. Interested parties were invited
to participate in this effort by submitting comments on the proposal.
The FAA received no comments or objections to the study. As a result,
the Point Hope, AK, NDB was added to the schedule of NDBs to be
decommissioned.
RNAV route Q-46 extends between the Point Hope, AK, NDB and the
Barrow, AK, Very High Frequency (VHF) Omnidirectional Range/Distance
Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME). The decommissioning of the Point Hope,
AK, NDB will leave the southwest portion of the route unsupported, as
the NDB is the southwest end point of Q-46.
The Proposal
The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 to amend RNAV
route Q-46 in the vicinity of Point Hope, AK, due to the pending
decommissioning of the Point Hope (PHO) NDB. The proposed RNAV route
amendment action is described below.
Q-46: Currently, Q-46 extends between the Point Hope, AK, NDB and
the Barrow, AK, VOR/DME. The FAA proposed to amend the route by
replacing the Point Hope, AK, NDB route point with the VANTY, AK,
waypoint (WP). As amended, the route would be changed to extend between
the VANTY WP and the Barrow VOR/DME.
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 [FAA Order JO
7400.11G, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 19,
2022, and effective September 15, 2022, is amended as follows:
Paragraph 2006 United States Area Navigation Routes.
* * * * *
[[Page 21141]]
Q-46 VANTY, AK to Barrow, AK (BRW) [Amended]
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VANTY, AK WP (Lat. 68[deg]20'40.64'' N, long. 166[deg]48'09.96'' W)
Barrow, AK (BRW) VOR/DME (Lat. 71[deg]16'24.34'' N, long. 156[deg]47'18.90'' W)
* * * * *
Issued in Washington, DC, on April 3, 2023.
Brian Konie,
Acting Manager, Airspace Rules and Regulations.
[FR Doc. 2023-07302 Filed 4-7-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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