Proposed Rule2024-10426
Amendment of VOR Federal Airways V-258, V-519, and RNAV Route T-426; and Revocation of Jet Routes J-213 and J-526, and VOR Federal Airway V-59 in the Vicinity of Beckley, WV
Primary source
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Published
May 16, 2024
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
This action proposes to amend Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal Airways V-258 and V-519, and Area Navigation (RNAV) Route T-426; and revoke Jet Routes J-213 and J-526, and VOR Federal Airway V-59. The FAA is proposing this action due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Beckley, WV (BKW), VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) navigational aid (NAVAID). The Beckley 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 89 Issue 96 (Thursday, May 16, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 96 (Thursday, May 16, 2024)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 42824-42826]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-10426]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2024-1396; Airspace Docket No. 24-AEA-3]
RIN 2120-AA66
Amendment of VOR Federal Airways V-258, V-519, and RNAV Route T-
426; and Revocation of Jet Routes J-213 and J-526, and VOR Federal
Airway V-59 in the Vicinity of Beckley, WV
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 Airways V-258 and V-519, and Area
Navigation (RNAV) Route T-426; and revoke Jet Routes J-213 and J-526,
and VOR Federal Airway V-59. The FAA is proposing this action due to
the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Beckley, WV
(BKW), VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) navigational aid
(NAVAID). The Beckley VOR is being decommissioned in support of the
FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 1, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by FAA Docket No. FAA-2024-1396 and
Airspace Docket No. 24-AEA-3 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, 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>.
[[Page 42825]]
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
Jet Routes are published in paragraph 2004, VOR Federal Airways are
published in paragraph 6010(a), and United States Area Navigation
Routes are published in paragraph 6011 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 Beckley,
WV, VOR/DME in February 2025. The Beckley 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 Beckley VOR/DME is planned for
decommissioning, the co-located Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) is
being retained to continue supporting current and future NextGen PBN
flight procedure requirements.
The Air Traffic Service (ATS) routes affected by the planned
decommissioning of the Beckley VOR are Jet Routes J-213 and J-526, and
VOR Federal Airways V-59, V-258, and V-519. With the planned
decommissioning of the Beckley VOR, the remaining ground-based NAVAID
coverage in the area is insufficient to enable the continuity of the
affected ATS routes. As such, proposed modifications to V-258 and V-519
would result in the airways being shortened and to J-213, J-526, and V-
59 would result in the routes and airway being revoked.
To address the proposed modifications to the affected ATS routes,
pilots operating under instrument flight rules (IFR) could use adjacent
Jet Routes J-6, J-8, J-24, J-48, and J-78 in the high-altitude stratum
or use VOR Federal Airways V-16, V-45, V-115, V-133, V-140, and V-178
in the low-altitude stratum to navigate around the area affected.
Additionally, pilots operating aircraft equipped with RNAV capabilities
could also navigate using RNAV Routes Q-34, Q-50, Q-68, Q-75, and Q-80
in the high-altitude stratum; RNAV Route T-426, once amended by this
action, in the low-altitude stratum; or point-to-point using the
existing Fixes and waypoints (WP) that would remain in place to support
continued operations though the affected area. Pilots operating under
visual flight rules who elect to navigate via the affected VOR Federal
airways could take advantage of the adjacent conventional routes or
airways listed above, as well as the listed RNAV routes and point-to-
point navigation, if properly equipped. Lastly, all pilots also have
the option to request and receive radar vectors from air traffic
control to transit the affected area.
To further mitigate the proposed modifications to the affected VOR
Federal airways, the FAA also proposes to modify RNAV Route T-426. T-
426 would be extended northward from the DANCO, VA, WP to overlay and
mitigate the proposed removal of the affected V-59 airway. The extended
T-route would provide pilots with RNAV-equipped aircraft an alternative
route through the affected area, reduce ATC sector workload and
complexity, reduce pilot-to-controller communication, and support the
FAA's continued NextGen efforts to modernize the NAS from a ground-
based navigation system to a satellite-based system.
The Proposal
The FAA is proposing to amend 14 CFR part 71 by amending VOR
Federal Airways V-258 and V-519, and RNAV Route T-426; and revoking Jet
Routes J-213 and J-526, and VOR Federal Airway V-59 due to the planned
decommissioning of the Beckley, WV, VOR. The proposed ATS route actions
are described below.
J-213: J-213 currently extends between the Armel, VA, VOR/DME and
the Beckley, WV, VOR/DME. The FAA proposes to remove the route in its
entirety.
J-526: J-526 currently extends between the Beckley, WV, VOR/DME and
the Louisville, KY, VOR/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC). The FAA
proposes to remove the route in its entirety.
V-59: V-59 currently extends between the Pulaski, VA, VORTAC and
the Parkersburg, WV, VOR/DME. The FAA proposes to remove the airway in
its entirety.
V-258: V-258 currently extends between the Charleston, WV, VOR/DME
and the Danville, VA, VOR. The FAA proposes to remove the airway
segment between the Charleston VOR/DME and the Roanoke, VA, VOR/DME. As
amended, the airway would be changed to extend between the Roanoke VOR/
DME and the Danville VOR. Additional amendments to the airway have been
proposed in a separate rulemaking action.
V-519: V-519 currently extends between the Volunteer, TN, VORTAC
and the Beckley, WV, VOR/DME. The FAA proposes to remove the airway
segment between the Bluefield, WV, VOR/DME and the Beckley VOR/DME. As
amended, the airway would be changed to extend between the Volunteer
VORTAC and the Bluefield VOR/DME.
T-426: T-426 currently extends between the DANCO, WV, WP and the
MCDON, VA, WP. The FAA proposes to extend the route northward from the
DANCO WP to the Parkersburg, WV, VOR/DME. As amended, T-426 would
extend between the Parkersburg VOR/DME and the MCDON WP and provide
mitigation for the proposed V-59 airway removal. The full T-426 route
description is listed in the regulatory text of this NPRM.
All NAVAID radials listed in the VOR Federal airway descriptions in
the proposed regulatory text of this notice of proposed rulemaking 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
[[Page 42826]]
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
7400.11H, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 11,
2023, and effective September 15, 2023, is amended as follows:
Paragraph 2004 Jet Routes.
* * * * *
J-213 [Removed]
* * * * *
J-526 [Removed]
* * * * *
Paragraph 6010(a) Domestic VOR Federal Airways.
* * * * *
V-59 [Removed]
* * * * *
V-258 [Amended]
From Roanoke, VA; INT Roanoke 145[deg] and Danville, VA,
320[deg] radials; to Danville.
* * * * *
V-519 [Amended]
From Volunteer, TN; INT Volunteer 050[deg] and Glade Spring, VA,
246[deg] radials; Glade Spring; to Bluefield, WV.
* * * * *
Paragraph 6011 United States Area Navigation Routes.
* * * * *
T-426 Parkersburg, WV (JPU) to MCDON, VA [Amended]
Parkersburg, WV (JPU) VOR/DME (Lat. 39[deg]26'28.25'' N, long. 081[deg]22'29.14'' W)
SITTR, WV WP (Lat. 37[deg]46'49.13'' N, long. 081[deg]07'23.70'' W)
DANCO, VA WP (Lat. 37[deg]05'15.75'' N, long. 080[deg]42'46.45'' W)
TABER, VA FIX (Lat. 37[deg]02'55.04'' N, long. 080[deg]02'55.66'' W)
PIGGS, VA FIX (Lat. 36[deg]56'01.81'' N, long. 079[deg]42'40.61'' W)
DUNCE, VA FIX (Lat. 36[deg]50'52.00'' N, long. 079[deg]29'18.20'' W)
MCDON, VA WP (Lat. 36[deg]40'29.56'' N, long. 079[deg]00'52.03'' W)
* * * * *
Issued in Washington, DC, on May 8, 2024.
Frank Lias,
Manager, Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2024-10426 Filed 5-15-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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