Proposed Rule2024-21454
Amendment of RNAV Route Q-33 in the Vicinity of Winnfield, LA
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
September 20, 2024
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
This action proposes to amend United States Area Navigation (RNAV) Route Q-33. The FAA is proposing this action due to the planned decommissioning of the Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR) portion of the Sawmill, LA (SWB), VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) navigational aid (NAVAID). The Sawmill 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 183 (Friday, September 20, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 183 (Friday, September 20, 2024)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 77053-77055]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-21454]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2024-2226; Airspace Docket No. 24-ASW-1]
RIN 2120-AA66
Amendment of RNAV Route Q-33 in the Vicinity of Winnfield, LA
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-33. The FAA is proposing this action due to the planned
decommissioning of the Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR)
portion of the Sawmill, LA (SWB), VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment
(VOR/DME) navigational aid (NAVAID). The Sawmill VOR is being
decommissioned in support of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network
(MON) program.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before November 4, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by FAA Docket No. FAA-2024-2226 and
Airspace Docket No. 24-ASW-1 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 7400.11J, 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, Policy Directorate, Federal Aviation Administration,
600 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20597; telephone: (202) 267-
8783.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Colby Abbott, Rules and Regulations
Group, Policy Directorate, Federal Aviation Administration, 600
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20597; telephone: (202) 267-
8783.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
[[Page 77054]]
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>.
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
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 7400.11J, dated July 31, 2024, and effective
September 15, 2024. 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 7400.11J 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 Sawmill,
LA, VOR/DME in April 2025. The Sawmill 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 Sawmill VOR/DME is planned for
decommissioning, the co-located DME is being retained to continue
providing service supporting current and future NextGen PBN flight
procedure requirements.
The Air Traffic Service (ATS) routes affected by the planned
decommissioning of the Sawmill VOR are Jet Route J-180 and RNAV Route
Q-33. Proposed amendments to J-180 have been published previously in a
separate NPRM so that route is not addressed further in this action.
With the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Sawmill VOR/
DME, the remaining ground-based NAVAID coverage in the area is
insufficient to enable the continuity of RNAV route Q-33. As such,
proposed modifications to Q-33 would result in the existing route being
retained by replacing the Sawmill VOR/DME route point with a Waypoint
(WP) in the immediate vicinity of the NAVAID. Additionally, the FAA is
proposing to replace the Daisetta, TX, VOR/Tactical Air Navigation
(VORTAC) route point with a WP in the immediate vicinity of that
NAVAID, as well.
RNAV-equipped aircraft operating under Instrument Flight Rules
(IFR) would continue to be able to navigate using Q-33 to transit the
area affected by the planned decommissioning of the Sawmill VOR and the
changed Daisetta VORTAC route point or receive radar vectors from air
traffic control (ATC).
The Proposal
The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 to amend RNAV
Route Q-33 due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the
Sawmill, LA, VOR/DME. The proposed Q-33 amendment is described below.
Q-33: Q-33 currently extends between the Humble, TX, VORTAC and the
PROWL, MO, WP. The FAA proposes to replace the Sawmill, LA, VOR/DME
route point with the SWEUP, LA, WP and replace the Daisetta, TX, VORTAC
route point with the TAYUR, TX, WP. Both WPs would be established in
the immediate vicinity of the NAVAIDs they are replacing and result in
extremely minor alignment changes of the route. As amended, the route
would continue to extend between the Humble VORTAC and the PROWL WP.
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
[[Page 77055]]
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
7400.11J, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated July 31,
2024, and effective September 15, 2024, is amended as follows:
Paragraph 2006 United States Area Navigation Routes.
* * * * *
Q-33 Humble, TX (IAH) to PROWL, MO [Amended]
Humble, TX (IAH) VORTAC (Lat. 29[deg]57'24.90'' N, long. 095[deg]20'44.59'' W)
TAYUR, TX WP (Lat. 30[deg]11'23.40'' N, long. 094[deg]38'41.48'' W)
SWEUP, LA WP (Lat. 31[deg]58'23.07'' N, long. 092[deg]40'38.00'' W)
LITTR, AR WP (Lat. 34[deg]40'39.90'' N, long. 092[deg]10'49.26'' W)
PROWL, MO WP (Lat. 37[deg]02'00.00'' N, long. 091[deg]15'00.00'' W)
* * * * *
Issued in Washington, DC, on September 16, 2024,
Frank Lias,
Manager, Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2024-21454 Filed 9-19-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on September 20, 2024.
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