Amendment of Domestic Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal Airways V-44, V-170, and V-312; Eastern United States

Issuing agencies

Abstract

This action proposes to amend domestic VOR Federal Airways V- 44, V-170, and V-312 in the eastern United States. The FAA is proposing these actions due to the planned decommissioning of the Andrews, MD (ADW), VOR/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC).

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 212 (Wednesday, November 4, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 212 (Wednesday, November 4, 2026)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 69509-69511]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-22464]



[[Page 69509]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2026-14030; Airspace Docket No. 26-AEA-12]
RIN 2120-AA66


Amendment of Domestic Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range 
(VOR) Federal Airways V-44, V-170, and V-312; Eastern United States

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to amend domestic VOR Federal Airways V-
44, V-170, and V-312 in the eastern United States. The FAA is proposing 
these actions due to the planned decommissioning of the Andrews, MD 
(ADW), VOR/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC).

DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 21, 2026.

ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by FAA Docket No. FAA-2026-14030 
and Airspace Docket No. 26-AEA-12 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; U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Room W58-213, West Building, 
5th Floor, Washington, DC 20590.
    * Hand Delivery or Courier: Take comments to Docket Operations in 
Room W58-213 of the West Building, 5th 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 W58-213 of 
the West Building, 5th 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 7400.11M, 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 Airspace Regulation 
Group, Operational Policy, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267-
8783.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ashley Toth, Airspace Regulation 
Group, Operational 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 amend the route structure to maintain the 
efficient flow of air traffic within the National Airspace System 
(NAS).

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 Eastern Service Center, 
Federal Aviation Administration, Room 210, 1701 Columbia Avenue, 
College Park, GA 30337.

Incorporation by Reference

    Domestic 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 7400.11M, dated July 30, 2026, and effective September 15, 2026. 
These updates would be published in the next update to FAA Order JO 
7400.11. FAA Order JO 7400.11M, which lists Class A, B, C, D, and E 
airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and reporting points, is 
publicly available as listed in the ADDRESSES section of this document.

Background

    The FAA is planning to decommission the Andrews, MD (ADW), VORTAC 
on August 5, 2027. The FAA determined the Andrews VORTAC should be 
decommissioned to reduce the dependency on ground-based navigation 
facilities and legacy en-route structure as the NAS continues to 
transition to a more efficient Performance Based Navigation (PBN) route 
structure. The Air Traffic Service (ATS) routes affected by the planned 
navigational aid (NAVAID) decommissioning are VOR Federal Airways V-44, 
V-170, and V-312. With

[[Page 69510]]

the planned decommissioning of the Andrews VORTAC, the remaining 
ground-based NAVAID coverage in the area is insufficient to enable the 
continuity of the affected ATS routes. This lack of continuity 
necessitates the proposed amendments to V-44, V-170, and V-312 by 
removing portions of the airways that would lack coverage.
    To overcome the proposed modifications to the affected routes, 
instrument flight rules (IFR) traffic could use adjacent VOR Federal 
Airways V-33, V-93, V-123, V-166, V-268, V-378, V-379, and V-499 or 
receive air traffic control (ATC) radar vectors to fly through or 
circumnavigate the affected area. Additionally, IFR pilots with Area 
Navigation (RNAV)-equipped aircraft could also use the adjacent RNAV 
Routes T-224, T-287, T-291, T-295, T-307, T-315, T-320, T-335, T-356, 
T-358, T-447, and T-476 or navigate point-to-point using the existing 
waypoints that will remain in place to support continued operations 
through the affected area. Visual flight rules (VFR) pilots who elect 
to navigate via airways through the affected area could also take 
advantage of the ATC services listed previously.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 that would 
modify domestic VOR Federal Airways V-44, V-170, and V-312 to support 
the planned decommissioning of the Andrews VORTAC.
    V-44: V-44 currently extends between the Columbia, MO (COU), VOR/
Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) and the Centralia, IL (ENL), 
VORTAC; and between the Parkersburg, WV (JPU), VOR/DME and the Albany, 
NY (ALB), VORTAC. The airspace below 2,000 feet mean sea level (MSL) 
outside the United States is excluded.
    The FAA proposes to remove the segment of the airway that extends 
between the Martinsburg, WV (MRB), VORTAC and the intersection of the 
Baltimore, MD (BAL), VORTAC 122[deg] and Sea Isle, NJ (SIE), VORTAC 
267[deg] radials due to the planned decommissioning of the Andrews 
VORTAC. As amended, the airway would extend between the Columbia, MO 
(COU), VOR/DME and the Centralia VORTAC; between the Parkersburg VOR/
DME and the Martinsburg VORTAC; and between the Sea Isle VORTAC and the 
Albany VORTAC. The airspace below 2,000 feet MSL outside the United 
States is excluded.
    V-170: V-170 currently extends between the Jamestown, ND (JMS), 
VOR/DME and the Badger, WI (BAE), VOR/DME; and between the Slate Run, 
PA (SLT), VORTAC and the intersection of the Andrews VORTAC 060[deg] 
and Baltimore VORTAC 165[deg] radials. The airspace within R-5802 is 
excluded when R-5802 is active.
    The FAA proposes to remove the segment of the airway that extends 
between the intersection of the Dupont, DE (DQO), VORTAC 223[deg] and 
the Andrews VORTAC 060[deg] radials; and the intersection Andrews 
VORTAC 060[deg] and Baltimore VORTAC 165[deg] radials due to the 
planned decommissioning of the Andrews VORTAC. As amended, the airway 
would extend between the Jamestown, ND (JMS), VOR/DME and the Badger 
VOR/DME; and between the Slate Run VORTAC and the Dupont VORTAC. The 
airspace within R-5802 is excluded when R-5802 is active.
    V-312: V-312 currently extends between the intersection of the 
Andrews VORTAC 060[deg] and Baltimore VORTAC 165[deg] radials and the 
intersection of the Coyle, NJ (CYN), VORTAC 090[deg] and Kennedy, NY 
(JFK), VOR/DME 154[deg] radials. The airspace within R-5002D is 
excluded when R-5002D is active, and the airspace below 2,000 feet MSL 
outside the United States is excluded.
    The FAA proposes to remove the segment of the airway that extends 
between the intersection of the Andrews VORTAC 060[deg] and Baltimore 
VORTAC 165[deg] radials and the intersection of the Andrews VORTAC 
060[deg] and Woodstown, NJ (ODD), VORTAC 230[deg] radials. As amended, 
the airway would extend between the Woodstown VORTAC and the 
intersection of the Coyle VORTAC 090[deg] and Kennedy VOR/DME 154[deg] 
radials. The airspace within R-5002D is excluded when R-5002 is active, 
and the airspace below 2,000 feet MSL outside the United States is 
excluded.
    The full proposed descriptions of the above routes are set forth 
below in the proposed text amendments to part 71. The NAVAID radials 
listed in the VOR Federal airway description regulatory text of this 
NPRM are 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 
Order 2100.6B, ``Policies and Procedures for Rulemakings'' (March 10, 
2025); and (3) is expected to result in, at most, de minimis costs from 
compliance with applicable operating requirements or minor flight 
rerouting for operators choosing to navigate around the controlled 
airspace. Since these proposed amendments are routine and the expected 
impact to operators is de minimis, the FAA certifies 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 1050.1G, ``FAA National Environmental Policy 
Act Implementing 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 
7400.11M, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated July 30, 
2026, and effective September 15, 2026, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6010(a) Domestic VOR Federal Airways.

* * * * *

V-44 [Amended]

    From Columbia, MO; INT Columbia 131[deg] and Foristell, MO, 
262[deg] radials; Foristell; to Centralia, IL. From Parkersburg, WV; 
Morgantown, WV; to Martinsburg, WV. From Sea Isle; INT Sea Isle 
040[deg] and Deer Park, NY, 209[deg] radials; Deer Park; INT Deer 
Park 041[deg] and Bridgeport, CT, 133[deg] radials; Bridgeport; INT 
Bridgeport 324[deg] and Pawling, NY, 160[deg] radials; Pawling; INT 
Pawling 342[deg] and Albany, NY, 181[deg] radials; to Albany. The 
airspace below 2,000 feet MSL outside the United States is excluded.
* * * * *

V-170 [Amended]

    From Jamestown, ND; Aberdeen, SD; to Sioux Falls, SD. From 
Rochester, MN;

[[Page 69511]]

Nodine, MN; Dells, WI; INT Dells 097[deg] and Badger, WI, 304[deg] 
radials; to Badger. From Slate Run, PA; Selinsgrove, PA; Ravine, PA; 
INT Ravine 125[deg] and Modena, PA, 318[deg] radials; Modena; to 
Dupont, DE. The airspace within R-5802 is excluded when active.
* * * * *

V-312 [Amended]

    From Woodstown, NJ; INT Woodstown 065[deg] and Coyle, NJ, 
264[deg] radials; Coyle; INT Coyle 090[deg] and Kennedy, NY, 
154[deg] radials. The airspace within R-5002D is excluded when 
active, and the airspace below 2,000 feet MSL outside the United 
States is excluded.
* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on October 29, 2026.
Brian Eric Konie,
Acting Manager, Airspace Regulation Group.
[FR Doc. 2026-22464 Filed 11-3-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


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