Proposed Rule2023-08176
Amendment of VOR Federal Airways V-158 and V-172; Polo, IL
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 18, 2023
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
This action proposes to amend Very High Frequency (VHF) Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airways V-158 and V-172 in the vicinity of Polo, IL. The amendments are due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Polo, IL (PLL), VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) navigational aid (NAVAID). The Polo VOR is being decommissioned as part of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 74 (Tuesday, April 18, 2023)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 74 (Tuesday, April 18, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 23595-23597]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-08176]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2023-0965; Airspace Docket No. 23-AGL-8]
RIN 2120-AA66
Amendment of VOR Federal Airways V-158 and V-172; Polo, IL
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This action proposes to amend Very High Frequency (VHF)
Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airways V-158 and V-172 in the
vicinity of Polo, IL. The amendments are due to the planned
decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Polo, IL (PLL), VOR/Distance
Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) navigational aid (NAVAID). The Polo VOR
is being decommissioned as part of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational
Network (MON) program.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 2, 2023.
ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by FAA Docket No. FAA-2023-0965 and
Airspace Docket No. 23-AGL-8 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: 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 National Airspace System (NAS) as
necessary to preserve the safe and efficient flow of air traffic.
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
[[Page 23596]]
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,
Central Service Center, Federal Aviation Administration, 10101 Hillwood
Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177.
Incorporation by Reference
VOR Federal airways are published in paragraph 6010(a) 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 FAA is planning to decommission the VOR portion of the Polo,
IL, VOR/DME in January 2024. The Polo VOR is 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 Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen)
Transition to Performance-Based Navigation (PBN) (Plan for Establishing
a VOR Minimum Operational Network),'' published in the Federal Register
on July 26, 2016 (81 FR 48694), Docket No. FAA-2011-1082.
Although the VOR portion of the Polo, IL, VOR/DME NAVAID is planned
for decommissioning, the co-located DME portion of the NAVAID is being
retained to support NextGen PBN flight procedure requirements.
The VOR Federal airways affected by the Polo VOR decommissioning
are V-158 and V-172. With the planned decommissioning of the Polo VOR,
the remaining ground-based NAVAID coverage in the area is insufficient
to enable the continuity of the affected airways. As such, the proposed
modifications to V-158 and V-172 would result in the airways being
shortened due to the loss of the segments supported by the Polo VOR.
To address these proposed modifications, instrument flight rules
(IFR) traffic could use adjacent VOR Federal airways V-6, V-24, V-216,
and V-228 or receive air traffic control (ATC) radar vectors to fly
around or through the affected area. Additionally, pilots equipped with
RNAV capabilities could also use Area Navigation (RNAV) routes T-265,
T-302, T-325, and T-354 or navigate point to point using the existing
fixes that would remain in place to support continued operations though
the affected area. Visual flight rules (VFR) pilots who elect to
navigate via the affected VOR Federal airways could also take advantage
of the adjacent ATS routes or ATC services listed previously.
Prior to this NPRM, the FAA published a rule for Docket No. FAA-
2022-1395 in the Federal Register (88 FR 18023; March 27, 2023)
amending V-172 by removing the airway segment between the North Platte,
NE, VOR/DME and the Columbus, NE, VOR/DME NAVAIDs. The V-172 airway
amendment will be effective June 15, 2023, and is reflected in this
action.
Currently, the description of V-158 includes an exclusion for
restricted area R-3302; however, the FAA revoked that restricted area
in 2000. (65 FR 49483; August 14, 2000). The proposed change updates
the V-158 description by removing the obsolete reference to R-3302.
The Proposal
The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 by amending VOR
Federal airways V-158 and V-172 due to the planned decommissioning of
the VOR portion of the Polo, IL, VOR/DME. The proposed airway actions
are described below.
V-158: V-158 currently extends between the Mason City, IA, VOR/DME
and the intersection of the Polo, IL, VOR/DME 122[deg] and Davenport,
IA, VOR/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) 087[deg] radials (SHOOF Fix).
The FAA proposes to remove the airway segment between the Dubuque, IA,
VORTAC and the intersection of the Polo, IL, 122[deg] and Davenport,
IA, 087[deg] radials (SHOOF Fix). As amended, the airway would be
changed to extend between the Mason City VOR/DME and the Dubuque
VORTAC.
V-172: V-172 currently extends between the Columbus, NE, VOR/DME
and the DuPage, IL, VOR/DME. The FAA proposes to remove the airway
segment between the Cedar Rapids, IA, VOR/DME and the DuPage, IL, VOR/
DME. As amended, the airway would be changed to extend between the
Columbus VOR/DME and the Cedar Rapids VOR/DME.
The NAVAID radials contained in the VOR Federal airway descriptions
below are unchanged and stated in degrees True north.
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
[[Page 23597]]
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(a) Domestic VOR Federal Airways.
* * * * *
V-158 [Amended]
From Mason City, IA; INT Mason City 106[deg] and Dubuque, IA,
293[deg] radials; to Dubuque.
* * * * *
V-172 [Amended]
From Columbus, NE; Omaha, IA; INT Omaha 066[deg] and Newton, IA,
262[deg] radials; Newton; Cedar Rapids, IA.
* * * * *
Issued in Washington, DC, on April 12, 2023.
Brian Konie,
Acting Manager, Airspace Rules and Regulations.
[FR Doc. 2023-08176 Filed 4-17-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
</pre></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on April 18, 2023.
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.