Proposed Rule2023-28031
Amendment of VOR Federal Airway V-220 and Revocation of VOR Federal Airways V-79 and V-380 in the Vicinity of Hastings, NE
Primary source
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Published
December 21, 2023
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
This action proposes to amend Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal Airway V-220 and revoke VOR Federal Airways V-79 and V-380. The FAA is proposing this action due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Hastings, NE (HSI), VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) navigational aid (NAVAID). The Hastings VOR is being decommissioned in support of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 244 (Thursday, December 21, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 244 (Thursday, December 21, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 88286-88288]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-28031]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2023-2466; Airspace Docket No. 23-ACE-6]
RIN 2120-AA66
Amendment of VOR Federal Airway V-220 and Revocation of VOR
Federal Airways V-79 and V-380 in the Vicinity of Hastings, NE
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: This action proposes to amend Very High Frequency
Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal Airway V-220 and revoke VOR Federal
Airways V-79 and V-380. The FAA is proposing this action due to the
planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Hastings, NE (HSI),
VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) navigational aid (NAVAID).
The Hastings VOR is being decommissioned in support of the FAA's VOR
Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 5, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by FAA Docket No. FAA-2023-2466 and
Airspace Docket No. 23-ACE-6 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 7400.11H, 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,
[[Page 88287]]
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 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 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 7400.11H, dated August 11, 2023, and effective September 15, 2023.
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 7400.11H 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
Hastings, NE, VOR/DME in September 2024. The Hastings 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 Hastings VOR/DME is planned for
decommissioning, the co-located DME portion of the NAVAID is being
retained to support current and future NextGen PBN flight procedure
requirements.
The VOR Federal Airways affected by the planned decommissioning of
the Hastings VOR are V-79, V-220, and V-380. With the planned
decommissioning of the Hastings VOR, the remaining ground-based NAVAID
coverage in the area is insufficient to enable the continuity of the
affected airways. As such, proposed modifications to V-220 would result
in the airway segments supported by the Hastings VOR being removed and
to V-79 and V-380 would result in the airways being revoked.
To address the proposed amendment and revocation actions to the
affected airways, instrument flight rules (IFR) traffic could use
adjacent VOR Federal Airways V-6, V-8, or V-38, or request radar
vectors from air traffic control (ATC) to fly around or through the
affected area. Additionally, pilots with Area Navigation (RNAV)
equipped aircraft could also navigate using RNAV routes T-286, T-413,
and T-468, 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 pilots who elect to navigate via the
affected VOR Federal Airways could also take advantage of the adjacent
airways or routes, or the ATC services listed previously.
The Proposal
The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 to amend VOR
Federal Airway V-220 and revoke VOR Federal Airways V-79 and V-380 due
to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Hastings, NE,
VOR/DME. The proposed airway actions are described below.
V-79: V-79 currently extends between the Hastings, NE, VOR/DME and
the Lincoln, NE, VOR/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC). The FAA proposes
to remove the airway in its entirety.
V-220: V-220 currently extends between the Grand Junction, CO, VOR/
DME and the Columbus, NE, VOR/DME. The FAA proposes to remove the
airway segment between the Kearney, NE, VOR and the Columbus VOR/DME.
As amended, the airway would be changed to extend between the Grand
Junction VOR/DME and the Kearney VOR.
V-380: V-380 currently extends between the Grand Island, NE, VOR/
DME and the Mankato, KS, VORTAC. The FAA proposes to remove the airway
in its entirety.
The NAVAID radials listed in the V-220 description in the proposed
regulatory text of this NPRM 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
[[Page 88288]]
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
7400.11H, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 11,
2023, and effective September 15, 2023, is amended as follows:
Paragraph 6010(a) Domestic VOR Federal Airways.
* * * * *
V-79 [Removed]
* * * * *
V-220 [Amended]
From Grand Junction, CO; INT Grand Junction 075[deg] and Rifle,
CO, 163[deg] radials; Rifle; Meeker, CO; Hayden, CO; Kremmling, CO;
INT Kremmling 081[deg] and Gill, CO, 234[deg] radials; Gill; Akron,
CO; INT Akron 094[deg] and McCook, NE, 264[deg] radials; McCook; INT
McCook 072[deg] and Kearney, NE, 237[deg] radials; to Kearney.
* * * * *
V-380 [Removed]
* * * * *
Issued in Washington, DC, on December 15, 2023.
Brian Konie,
Acting Manager, Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2023-28031 Filed 12-20-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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