Rule2023-10795
Amendment and Revocation of VOR Federal Airways; Northeast United States
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
May 22, 2023
Effective
August 10, 2023
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
This action amends Very High Frequency (VHF) Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airways V-16 and V-290 and removes Federal airways V-93 and V-229. This action is necessary to support the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 98 (Monday, May 22, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 98 (Monday, May 22, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 32638-32640]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-10795]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2022-0901; Airspace Docket No. 21-ANE-5]
RIN 2120-AA66
Amendment and Revocation of VOR Federal Airways; Northeast United
States
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This action amends Very High Frequency (VHF) Omnidirectional
Range (VOR) Federal airways V-16 and V-290 and removes Federal airways
V-93 and V-229. This action is necessary to support the FAA's VOR
Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.
DATES: Effective date 0901 UTC, August 10, 2023. The Director of the
Federal Register approves this incorporation by reference action under
1 CFR part 51, subject to the annual revision of FAA JO Order 7400.11
and publication of conforming amendments.
ADDRESSES: A copy of the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), all
comments received, this final rule, and all background material may be
viewed online at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> using the FAA Docket number.
Electronic retrieval help and guidelines are available on the website.
It is available 24 hours each day, 365 days each year.
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: Paul Gallant, 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 modifies the route structure as necessary to preserve
the safe and efficient flow of air traffic within the National Airspace
System.
History
The FAA published a NPRM for Docket No. FAA-2022-0901 in the
Federal Register (87 FR 43755; July 22, 2022), proposing to amend VOR
Federal airways V-1, V-16, and V-290, and remove airways V-93, and V-
229. Interested parties were invited to participate in this rulemaking
effort by submitting written comments on the proposal. No comments were
received.
Differences From the NPRM
Since publishing the NPRM, the FAA decided to postpone some of the
proposed airway changes.
V-1: The NPRM proposed to remove the V-1 airway segments from
Cofield, NC, to Boston, MA. After publication, the FAA decided to
postpone these changes. Therefore, V-1 remains in effect as currently
published in FAA Order JO 7400.11G.
V-16: The NPRM proposed to amend V-16 by removing the airway
segments from the intersection of the Richmond, VA, 039[deg] and the
Patuxent, MD, 228[deg] radials, to Boston, MA. After publication, the
FAA decided to retain some of these segments. Accordingly, the FAA
removes the segments between Richmond, VA, and Smyrna, DE; and the
segments between the CREAM, NY, Fix, and Boston, MA. The segment from
Smyrna to CREAM is being retained to support the VOR MON plan.
V-93: The NPRM proposed to remove V-93 entirely. After publication,
the FAA decided to retain some of the route. V-93 is amended by
removing only the segments between Patuxent River, MD, and Baltimore,
MD.
V-229: The NPRM proposed to remove V-229 entirely. After
publication, the FAA decided to retain some of the route. The FAA
removes the following two segments of V-229: the segment between
Patuxent River, MD, and the DONIL, DE, Fix: and the segment between the
PANZE, NJ, Fix, and Hartford, CT. The airway segment between DONIL and
PANZE is retained.
V-290: The NPRM proposed to amend V-290 by removing the segments
from Rainelle, WV, to Flat Rock, VA, due to the planned decommissioning
of the Rainelle, WV (RNL), VOR. Subsequently, the FAA established the
SHANE, WV, navigation Fix to replace the VOR so that the segment to
Flat Rock can be retained and remain available for navigation. The
SHANE Fix is defined by the intersection of the Bluefield, WV (BLF),
VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) 025[deg](T)/028[deg](M) and the
Montebello, VA (MOL), VOR/DME 274[deg](T)/279[deg](M) radials.
These differences are reflected in the airway descriptions in the
Rule section.
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 amends the current version of that order, FAA Order JO
7400.11G, dated August 19, 2022, and effective September 15, 2022. FAA
Order JO 7400.11G is publicly available as listed in the ADDRESSES
section of this document. These amendments will be published in the
next update to FAA Order JO 7400.11.
FAA Order JO 7400.11G lists Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas,
air traffic service routes, and reporting points.
The Rule
This action amends 14 CFR part 71 by modifying the following VOR
Federal airways, as described.
V-16: V-16 consists of two parts: from Los Angeles, CA, to Holly
Springs, MS; and from Shelbyville, TN, to Boston, MA. This action
amends the second part of the route by removing the segments
[[Page 32639]]
between Richmond, VA, and Smyrna, DE; and by removing the segments
between the CREAM, NY, Fix and Boston, MA. The CREAM Fix is defined by
the intersection of the Calverton, NY 044[deg], and the Madison, CT
142[deg] radials. Therefore, the second part of V-16 extends from
Shelbyville, TN, to Richmond, VA; and from Smyrna, DE, to the
intersection of the Calverton, NY, 044[deg], and the Madison, CT
142[deg] radials (i.e., the CREAM Fix). The first part of the route,
from Los Angeles, CA, to Holly Springs, MS, remains unchanged as
currently published in FAA Order JO 7400.11G. The words ``The airspace
within Restricted Areas R-4005 and R-4006 is excluded,'' is removed
from the route description because the amended route no longer passes
by those areas.
As amended, V-16 consists of three parts: from Los Angeles, CA, to
Holly Springs, MS; from Shelbyville, TN, to Richmond, VA; and from
Smyrna, DE, to the intersection of the Calverton, NY, 044[deg], and the
Madison, CT 142[deg] radials.
Area Navigation (RNAV) route T-224 has been extended as an overlay
of V-16.
V-93: V-93 extends, in two parts, from Patuxent River, MD, to the
intersection of the Wilkes-Barre, PA 037[deg] and Sparta, NJ 300[deg]
radials; and from the intersection of the Sparta 018[deg] ad the
Kingston, NY 270[deg] radials, to Chester, MA. This action removes the
segments from Patuxent River, MD to Baltimore, MD, due to the planned
decommissioning of the Patuxent, MD, and Nottingham, MD, VOR/Tactical
Air Navigation (VORTAC). As amended, V-93 extends from Baltimore, MD,
to the intersection of the Wilkes-Barre, PA 037[deg] and Sparta, NJ
300[deg] radials; and from the intersection of the Sparta 018[deg] and
the Kingston, NY 270[deg] radials to Chester, MA.
V-229: V-229 extends from Patuxent, MD, to Hartford, CT. This
action removes the segments From Patuxent, MD to the DONIL, DE, Fix;
and the segment from the PANZE, NJ, Fix to Hartford, CT. The segment
From DONIL to PANZE is being retained at the request of the Department
of Defense. As amended, V-229 extends from the intersection of the
Atlantic City, NJ 236[deg] and the Smyrna, DE 133[deg] radials (the
DONIL Fix) to the intersection of the Atlantic City 055[deg] and the
Coyle, NJ 125[deg] radials (the PANZE Fix). The words ``The airspace
below 2,000 feet MSL outside the United States is excluded'' are
removed from the route description because they no longer apply.
RNAV route T-315 overlies the segments of VOR Federal airway V-229
north of the DONIL Fix.
V-290: V-290 consists of two parts: from Rainelle, WV to Flat Rock,
VA; and from Tar River, NC to the intersection of the Tar River
109[deg] and the New Bern, NC 042[deg] radials. This action replaces
the Rainelle, WV (RNL), VOR in the route description with the SHANE,
WV, Fix. As amended, V-290 extends from the intersection of the
Bluefield, WV 025[deg](T)/028[deg](M) and the Montebello, VA
274[deg](T)/279[deg](M) radials (the SHANE Fix) to Flat Rock; and from
Tar River to the intersection of the Tar River 109[deg] and the New
Bern 042[deg] radials.
The full route descriptions of these airways are listed in the
amendments to part 71 set forth below. These actions are necessary to
support the FAA's VOR MON program.
Regulatory Notices and Analyses
The FAA has determined that this 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 only affects air traffic procedures
and air navigation, it is certified that this rule, when promulgated,
does not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of
small entities under the criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
Environmental Review
The FAA has determined that this action of amending VOR Federal
airways V-16, V-290 and removing Federal airways V-93, V-290 in
Northeastern United States, qualifies for categorical exclusion under
the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and its
implementing regulations at 40 CFR part 1500, and in accordance with
FAA Order 1050.1F, Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures,
paragraph 5-6.5a, which categorically excludes from further
environmental impact review rulemaking actions that designate or modify
classes of airspace areas, airways, routes, and reporting points (see
14 CFR part 71, Designation of Class A, B, C, D, and E Airspace Areas;
Air Traffic Service Routes; and Reporting Points); and paragraph 5-
6.5b, which categorically excludes from further environmental impact
review ``Actions regarding establishment of jet routes and Federal
airways (see 14 CFR 71.15, Designation of jet routes and VOR Federal
airways). . .''. As such, this action is not expected to result in any
potentially significant environmental impacts. In accordance with FAA
Order 1050.1F, paragraph 5-2 regarding Extraordinary Circumstances, the
FAA has reviewed this action for factors and circumstances in which a
normally categorically excluded action may have a significant
environmental impact requiring further analysis. Accordingly, the FAA
has determined that no extraordinary circumstances exist that warrant
preparation of an environmental assessment or environmental impact
study.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71
Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).
The Amendment
In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation
Administration amends 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 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 part 71 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-16 [Amended]
From Los Angeles, CA; Paradise, CA; Palm Springs, CA; Blythe,
CA; Buckeye, AZ; Phoenix, AZ; INT Phoenix 155[deg] and Stanfield,
AZ, 105[deg] radials; Tucson, AZ; San Simon, AZ; INT San Simon
119[deg] and Columbus, NM, 277[deg] radials; Columbus; El Paso, TX;
Salt Flat, TX; Wink, TX; INT Wink 066[deg] and Big Spring, TX,
260[deg] radials; Big Spring; Abilene, TX; Bowie, TX; Bonham, TX;
Paris, TX; Texarkana, AR; Pine Bluff, AR; Marvell, AR; to Holly
Springs, MS. From Shelbyville, TN; Hinch Mountain, TN; Volunteer,
TN; Holston Mountain, TN; Pulaski, VA; Roanoke, VA; Lynchburg, VA;
Flat Rock, VA; to Richmond, VA. From Smyrna, DE, to INT Calverton,
NY 044[deg] and Madison, CT 142[deg] radials. The airspace within
Mexico, and the airspace below 2,000 feet MSL outside the United
States is excluded. The airspace within restricted
[[Page 32640]]
areas R-5002A, R-5002C, and R-5002D is excluded during their times
of use.
* * * * *
V-93 [Amended]
From Baltimore, MD; 122[deg] radials; Baltimore; INT Baltimore
004[deg] and Lancaster, PA, 214[deg] radials; Lancaster; Wilkes-
Barre, PA; to INT Wilkes-Barre 037[deg] and Sparta, NJ 300[deg]
radials. From INT Sparta 018[deg] and Kingston, NY 270[deg] radials;
Kingston; Pawling, NY; to Chester, MA.
* * * * *
V-229 [Amended]
From INT Atlantic City, NJ 236[deg] and Smyrna, DE 133[deg]
radials; Atlantic City; to INT Atlantic City 055[deg] and Coyle, NJ,
125[deg] radials. The airspace within R-5002B is excluded during
times of use.
* * * * *
V-290 [Amended]
From INT Bluefield, WV 025[deg] and Montebello, VA 274[deg]
radials; Montebello; to Flat Rock, VA. From Tar River, NC; to INT
Tar River 109[deg] and New Bern, NC, 042[deg] radials.
* * * * *
Issued in Washington, DC, on May 16, 2023.
Brian Konie,
Acting Manager, Airspace Rules and Regulations.
[FR Doc. 2023-10795 Filed 5-19-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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