[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 57 (Tuesday, March 24, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 16585-16588]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-05863]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2020-0188; Airspace Docket No. 20-ASO-9]
RIN 2120-AA66
Proposed Amendment of Air Traffic Service (ATS) Routes J-6, Q-68,
V-5, V-49, V-243, and T-325 in the Vicinity of Bowling Green, KY
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: This action proposes to amend one jet route, J-6; three VHF
Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airways, V-5, V-49, and V-243; and
two area navigation (RNAV) routes, Q-68 and T-325. The FAA is proposing
this action due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of
the Bowling Green, KY, VOR/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) navigation
aid (NAVAID). The Bowling Green VOR is being decommissioned in support
of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 8, 2020.
ADDRESSES: Send comments on this proposal to the U.S. Department of
Transportation, Docket Operations, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West
Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590; telephone:
1(800) 647-5527, or (202) 366-9826. You must identify FAA Docket No.
FAA-2020-0188; Airspace Docket No. 20-ASO-9 at the beginning of your
comments. You may also submit comments through the internet at https://www.regulations.gov.
FAA Order 7400.11D, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, and
subsequent amendments can be viewed online at https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/. For further information, you can contact the
Rules and Regulations Group, Federal Aviation Administration, 800
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267-
8783. The Order is also available for inspection at the National
Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the
availability of FAA Order 7400.11D at NARA, email:
[email protected] or go to https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.
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
Interested parties are invited to participate in this proposed
rulemaking by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as they
may desire. Comments that provide the factual basis supporting the
views and suggestions presented are particularly helpful in developing
reasoned regulatory decisions on the proposal. Comments are
specifically invited on the overall regulatory, aeronautical, economic,
environmental, and energy-related aspects of the proposal.
Communications should identify both docket numbers (FAA Docket No.
FAA-2020-0188; Airspace Docket No. 20-ASO-9) and be submitted in
triplicate to the Docket Management Facility (see ADDRESSES section for
address and phone number). You may also submit comments through the
internet at https://www.regulations.gov.
Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments
on this action must submit with those comments a self-addressed,
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments
to FAA Docket No. FAA-2020-0188; Airspace Docket No. 20-ASO-9.'' The
postcard will be date/time stamped and returned to the commenter.
All communications received on or before the specified comment
closing date will be considered before taking action on the proposed
rule. The proposal contained in this action may be changed in light of
comments received. All comments submitted will be available for
examination in the public docket both before and after the comment
closing date. A report summarizing each substantive public contact with
FAA personnel concerned with this rulemaking will be filed in the
docket.
[[Page 16586]]
Availability of NPRMs
An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded through the
internet at https://www.regulations.gov. Recently published rulemaking
documents can also be accessed through the FAA's web page at https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/airspace_amendments/.
You may review the public docket containing the proposal, any
comments received and any final disposition in person in the Dockets
Office (see ADDRESSES section for address and phone number) between
9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except federal
holidays. 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 Blvd.,
Fort Worth, TX, 76177.
Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference
This document proposes to amend FAA Order 7400.11D, Airspace
Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 8, 2019, and effective
September 15, 2019. FAA Order 7400.11D is publicly available as listed
in the ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order 7400.11D 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 Bowling
Green, KY (BWG), VORTAC in September 2020. The Bowling Green VOR was
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 of July 26, 2016 (81 FR
48694), Docket No. FAA-2011-1082. Although the VOR portion of the
Bowling Green VORTAC NAVAID is planned for decommissioning, the DME
portion is being retained with the ``BWG'' identifier. The air traffic
service (ATS) routes affected by the Bowling Green VOR decommissioning
are jet route J-6; VOR Federal airways V-5, V-49, and V-243; and RNAV
route T-325.
With the planned decommissioning of the Bowling Green VOR, the
remaining ground-based NAVAID coverage in the area is insufficient to
enable the continuity of J-6, V-5, V-49, and V-243 within the affected
area. As such, the proposed modifications to J-6 and V-5 would result
in gaps in the ATS routes. The proposed modifications to V-49 and V-243
would result in the V-49 airway segment north of the Nashville, TN,
VORTAC and the V-243 airway segment north of the Choo Choo, TN, VORTAC
being removed.
To overcome the removal of the J-6, V-5, V-49, and V-243 route and
airway segments, the FAA plans to retain the current fixes located
along those route and airway segments to assist pilots and air traffic
controllers already familiar with them, for navigation purposes.
Additionally, the FAA proposes to extend RNAV route Q-68 between a new
waypoint being established, named LITTR, near the Little Rock, AR,
VORTAC and the Charleston, WV, VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/
DME) NAVAID to overlay the J-6 routing being removed. Lastly, the
Bowling Green, KY, DME facility is planned to be retained and charted
in its current location as a DME facility with the ``BWG'' identifier.
As such, the FAA proposes to retain T-325 as it is charted today by
changing the Bowling Green, KY, VORTAC route point to reflect the
Bowling Green, KY, DME route point.
Instrument flight rules (IFR) traffic could use the extended Q-68
route segment in the enroute high altitude structure or existing
adjacent ATS route segments (including V-4, V-11, V-47, V-51, V-140, V-
513, and T-325) in the enroute low altitude structure, file point-to-
point using the fixes that will remain in place, or receive air traffic
control (ATC) radar vectors to continue operating through the affected
area. Visual flight rules (VFR) pilots who elect to navigate via the
airways through the affected area could also take advantage of the air
traffic services previously listed.
The Proposal
The FAA is proposing an amendment to Title 14 Code of Federal
Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 to remove ATS route segments from J-6, V-
5, V-49, and V-243; extend RNAV route Q-68 to overlay the J-6 routing
being removed; and redefine the RNAV route T-325 Bowling Green, KY,
VORTAC route point. This proposal would also correct the location for
the Choo Choo VORTAC to read Tennessee (TN). The planned
decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Bowling Green, KY, VORTAC has
made this action necessary. The proposed ATS route actions are
described below.
J-6: J-6 currently extends between the Salinas, CA, VORTAC and the
Albany, NY, VORTAC. The FAA proposes to remove the route segment
between the Little Rock, AR, VORTAC and the Charleston, WV, VOR/DME.
The unaffected portions of the existing route would remain as charted.
Q-68: Q-68 currently extends between the Charleston, WV, VOR/DME
and the OTTTO, VA, waypoint located near the Linden, VA, VORTAC. The
FAA proposes to extend the route westward from the Charleston, WV, VOR/
DME to a new waypoint, named LITTR, being established near the Little
Rock, AR, VORTAC to overlay the J-6 routing proposed to be removed. The
unaffected portions of the existing route would remain as charted.
V-5: V-5 currently extends between the Pecan, GA, VOR/DME and the
Appleton, OH, VORTAC. The FAA proposes to remove the airway segment
between the Choo Choo, TN, VORTAC and the New Hope, KY, VOR/DME. The
unaffected portions of the existing airway would remain as charted.
V-49: V-49 currently extends between the Vulcan, AL, VORTAC and the
Mystic, KY, VOR. The FAA proposes to remove the airway segment between
the Nashville, TN, VORTAC and the Mystic, KY, VOR. The unaffected
portions of the existing airway would remain as charted.
V-243: V-243 currently extends between the Craig, FL, VORTAC and
the Bowling Green, KY, VORTAC. The FAA proposes to remove the airway
segment between the Choo Choo, TN, VORTAC and the Bowling Green, KY,
VORTAC. The unaffected portions of the existing airway would remain as
charted.
T-325: T-325 currently extends between the Bowling Green, KY,
VORTAC and the Terre Haute, IN, VORTAC. The FAA proposes to change the
Bowling Green, KY (BWG), route point from being listed as a ``VORTAC''
to a ``DME''. Additionally, the Bowling Green, KY, ``BWG'' identifier
and Terre Haute, IN, ``TTH'' identifier are added to the first line of
the route description and the geographic coordinates of each route
point are updated to be expressed in degrees, minutes, seconds, and
hundredths of a second. The existing RNAV route would remain as
charted.
The NAVAID radials listed in the airway descriptions below are
unchanged and stated in True degrees.
Jet routes are published in paragraph 2004, RNAV Q-routes are
published in paragraph 2006, VOR Federal airways are published in
paragraph 6010(a), and RNAV T-routes are published in paragraph 6011 of
FAA Order 7400.11D dated August 8, 2019, and effective
[[Page 16587]]
September 15, 2019, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1.
The ATS routes listed in this document would be subsequently published
in the Order.
FAA Order 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, is
published yearly and effective on September 15.
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
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 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 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 7400.11D,
Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 8, 2019, and
effective September 15, 2019, is amended as follows:
Paragraph 2004 Jet Routes.
* * * * *
J-6 [Amended]
From Salinas, CA; INT Salinas 145[deg] and Avenal, CA, 292[deg]
radials; Avenal; INT Avenal 119[deg] and Palmdale, CA, 310[deg]
radials; Palmdale; Hector, CA; Needles, CA; Drake, AZ; Zuni, AZ;
Albuquerque, NM; Tucumcari, NM; Panhandle, TX; Will Rogers, OK; to
Little Rock, AR. From Charleston, WV; INT Charleston 076[deg] and
Martinsburg, WV, 243[deg] radials; Martinsburg; Lancaster, PA;
Broadway, NJ; Sparta, NJ; to Albany, NY.
* * * * *
Paragraph 2006 United States Area Navigation Routes.
* * * * *
Q-68 LITTR, AR to OTTTO, VA [Amended]
LITTR, AR WP (Lat. 34[deg]40'39.90'' N, long. 092[deg]10'49.26'' W)
SOPIE, TN FIX (Lat. 36[deg]08'37.48'' N, long. 088[deg]33'47.95'' W)
Bowling Green, KY DME (Lat. 36[deg]55'43.47'' N, long. 086[deg]26'36.36'' W)
YOCKY, KY FIX (Lat. 37[deg]39'14.79'' N, long. 084[deg]09'22.45'' W)
SPAYD, WV FIX (Lat. 38[deg]11'36.56'' N, long. 082[deg]19'28.69'' W)
CHARLESTON, WV (HVQ) VOR/DME (Lat. 38[deg]20'58.83'' N, long. 081[deg]46'11.69'' W)
TOMCA, WV WP (Lat. 38[deg]34'42.49'' N, long. 080[deg]36'41.09'' W)
RONZZ, WV WP (Lat. 38[deg]33'16.08'' N, long. 080[deg]07'56.63'' W)
HHOLZ, WV WP (Lat. 38[deg]38'01.96'' N, long. 079[deg]41'33.22'' W)
CAPOE, VA WP (Lat. 38[deg]51'13.13'' N, long. 078[deg]22'27.45'' W)
OTTTO, VA WP (Lat. 38[deg]51'15.81'' N, long. 078[deg]12'20.01'' W)
* * * * *
Paragraph 6010(a) Domestic VOR Federal Airways.
* * * * *
V-5 [Amended]
From Pecan, GA; Vienna, GA; Dublin, GA; Athens, GA; INT Athens
340[deg] and Electric City, SC, 274[deg] radials; INT Electric City
274[deg] and Choo Choo, TN, 127[deg] radials; to Choo Choo. From New
Hope, KY; Louisville, KY; Cincinnati, OH; to Appleton, OH.
* * * * *
V-49 [Amended]
From Vulcan, AL; Decatur, AL; to Nashville, TN.
* * * * *
V-243 [Amended]
From Craig, FL; Waycross, GA; Vienna, GA; LaGrange, GA; INT
LaGrange 342[deg] and Choo Choo, TN, 189[deg] radials; to Choo Choo.
* * * * *
Paragraph 6011 United States Area Navigation Routes.
* * * * *
T-325 Bowling Green, KY (BWG) to Terre Haute, IN (TTH) [Amended]
Bowling Green, KY (BWG) DME (Lat. 36[deg]55'43.47'' N, long. 086[deg]26'36.36'' W)
RENRO, KY WP (Lat. 37[deg]28'50.53'' N, long. 086[deg]39'19.25'' W)
LOONE, KY WP (Lat. 37[deg]44'14.43'' N, long. 086[deg]45'18.02'' W)
APALO, IN WP (Lat. 38[deg]00'20.59'' N, long. 086[deg]51'35.27'' W)
BUNKA, IN WP (Lat. 39[deg]04'57.32'' N, long. 087[deg]09'06.58'' W)
Terre Haute, IN (TTH) VORTAC (Lat. 39[deg]29'20.19'' N, long. 087[deg]14'56.45'' W)
[[Page 16588]]
* * * * *
Issued in Washington, DC, on March 11, 2020.
Scott M. Rosenbloom,
Acting Manager, Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2020-05863 Filed 3-23-20; 8:45 am]
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