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[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 207 (Tuesday, October 27, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 65621-65626]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-27334]

[[Page 65621]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 91

[Docket No.: FAA-2014-0225; Amdt. No. 91-331B]
RIN 2120-AK78

Extension of the Prohibition Against Certain Flights in the 
Simferopol (UKFV) and Dnipropetrovsk (UKDV) Flight Information Regions 
(FIRs)

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action extends the prohibition against certain flight 
operations in the Simferopol (UKFV) and Dnipropetrovsk (UKDV) flight 
information regions (FIRs) by all United States (U.S.) air carriers; 
U.S. commercial operators; persons exercising the privileges of a U.S. 
airman certificate, except when such persons are operating a U.S.-
registered aircraft for a foreign air carrier; and operators of U.S.-
registered civil aircraft, except when such operators are foreign air 
carriers. This action also revises the FAA approval process for 
proposed operations authorized by other U.S. Government departments, 
agencies, and instrumentalities to clarify the FAA's expectations 
regarding requests for approval and revises the approval conditions and 
information about requests for exemptions to reflect the termination of 
statutory authorization for the FAA's premium war risk insurance 
program. This action also makes minor non-substantive corrections to 
the wording of the rule. The FAA finds this action to be necessary to 
address a continuing hazard to persons and aircraft engaged in such 
flight operations.

DATES: This final rule is effective on October 22, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Filippell, Air Transportation 
Division, AFS-220, Flight Standards Service, Federal Aviation 
Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591; 
telephone: 202-267-8166; email: michael.e.filippell@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Executive Summary

    This action continues the prohibition on flight operations in the 
UKFV and UKDV FIRs by all U.S. air carriers; U.S. commercial operators; 
persons exercising the privileges of a U.S. airman certificate, except 
when such persons are operating a U.S.-registered aircraft for a 
foreign air carrier; and operators of U.S.-registered civil aircraft, 
except when such operators are foreign air carriers. This action also 
revises the FAA approval process for proposed operations authorized by 
other U.S. Government departments, agencies, and instrumentalities to 
clarify the FAA's expectations regarding requests for approval and 
revises the approval conditions and information about requests for 
exemptions to reflect the termination of statutory authorization for 
the FAA's premium war risk insurance program. This action also makes 
minor non-substantive corrections to the wording of the rule. The FAA 
finds this action necessary to address a continuing hazard to persons 
and aircraft engaged in such flight operations.

II. Good Cause for Immediate Adoption

    Section 553(b)(3)(B) of title 5, U.S. Code, authorizes agencies to 
dispense with notice and comment procedures for rules when the agency 
for ``good cause'' finds that those procedures are ``impracticable, 
unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest.'' In this instance, 
the FAA finds that notice and public comment to this immediately 
adopted final rule, as well as any delay in the effective date of this 
rule, are contrary to the public interest due to the immediate need to 
address the hazard to U.S. civil aviation that continues to exist in 
the UKFV and UKDV FIRs, as described in the Background section of this 
rule.

III. Authority for This Rulemaking

    The FAA is responsible for the safety of flight in the U.S. and for 
the safety of U.S. civil operators, U.S.-registered civil aircraft, and 
U.S.-certificated airmen throughout the world. The FAA's authority to 
issue rules on aviation safety is found in title 49, U.S. Code. 
Subtitle I, section 106(f), describes the authority of the FAA 
Administrator. Section 40101(d)(1) provides that the Administrator 
shall consider in the public interest, among other matters, assigning, 
maintaining, and enhancing safety and security as the highest 
priorities in air commerce. Section 40105(b)(1)(A) requires the 
Administrator to exercise his authority consistently with the 
obligations of the U.S. Government under international agreements.
    This rulemaking is promulgated under the authority described in 
Subtitle VII, Part A, subpart III, section 44701, General requirements. 
Under that section, the FAA is charged broadly with promoting safe 
flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing, among other 
things, regulations and minimum standards for practices, methods, and 
procedures that the Administrator finds necessary for safety in air 
commerce and national security. This regulation is within the scope of 
that authority because it continues to prohibit the persons subject to 
paragraph (a) of SFAR No. 113, Sec.  91.1607, from conducting flight 
operations in the UKFV and UKDV FIRs due to the hazard to the safety of 
such persons' flight operations, as described in the Background section 
of this rule.

IV. Background

    On April 25, 2014, the FAA published SFAR No. 113, Sec.  91.1607, 
which prohibited flight operations in a portion of the UKFV FIR by all 
U.S. air carriers; U.S. commercial operators; persons exercising the 
privileges of a U.S. airman certificate, except when such persons were 
operating a U.S.-registered aircraft for a foreign air carrier; and 
operators of U.S.-registered civil aircraft, except when such operators 
were foreign air carriers (79 FR 22862). At that time, the FAA viewed 
the possibility of civil aircraft receiving confusing and conflicting 
air traffic control instructions from both Ukrainian and Russian air 
traffic service providers when operating in the portion of the 
Simferopol (UKFV) FIR covered by SFAR No. 113, Sec.  91.1607, as an 
unsafe condition that presented a potential hazard to U.S. civil flight 
operations in the disputed airspace. Because political and military 
tensions between Ukraine and the Russian Federation remained high, the 
FAA was also concerned that compliance with air traffic control 
instructions issued by the authorities of one country could result in a 
civil aircraft being misidentified as a threat and intercepted or 
otherwise engaged by air defense forces of the other country. The FAA 
continues to have these concerns.
    On July 18, 2014 (UTC), the FAA expanded its flight prohibition 
through the issuance of Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) FDC 4/2182, due to 
ongoing safety concerns regarding U.S. civil flight operations in the 
entire UKFV and UKDV FIRs. The FAA determined that the ongoing conflict 
in the region posed a significant threat to U.S. civil aviation 
operations in these FIRs. In addition to a series of attacks on fixed-
wing and rotary-wing Ukrainian military aircraft flying at lower 
altitudes, a Ukrainian An-26 flying at 21,000 feet southeast of Luhansk 
was shot down on July 14, 2014, and a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 was 
shot down on July 17, 2014,

[[Page 65622]]

while flying over Ukraine at 33,000 feet just west of the Russian 
border. Two hundred ninety eight passengers and crew perished. The use 
of weapons capable of targeting and shooting down aircraft flying on 
civil air routes at cruising altitudes posed a significantly dangerous 
threat to civil aircraft flying in the UKFV and UKDV FIRs. The FAA 
published a final rule incorporating the expanded flight prohibition 
into SFAR No. 113, Sec.  91.1607, on December 29, 2014 (79 FR 77857).
    The FAA has continued to evaluate the situation in the UKFV and 
UKDV FIRs and has determined there is a continuing significant flight 
safety hazard to U.S. civil aviation from the ongoing risk of 
skirmishes in the area. There is also a potential for larger-scale 
fighting in eastern Ukraine involving pro-Russian separatists, which 
could result in civil aircraft being misidentified as a threat and then 
intercepted or otherwise engaged, as demonstrated by the shoot down of 
Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 on July 17, 2014. Pro-Russian separatists 
have access to a variety of anti-aircraft weapons, to include man-
portable air defense systems (MANPADS) and possibly more advanced 
surface-to-air-missiles (SAMs) that have the capability to engage 
aircraft at higher altitudes. Separatists have demonstrated their 
ability to use these anti-aircraft weapons by successfully shooting 
down a number of aircraft during the course of the fighting in eastern 
Ukraine in 2014. There is also continuing concern over the hazard to 
U.S. civil aviation from possible conflicting air traffic control 
instructions from Ukrainian and Russian air traffic service providers 
due to a dispute over responsibility for providing air navigation 
services in portions of the Simferopol (UKFV) FIR. In addition, there 
have been reported incidents of purposeful interference, including GPS 
jamming, in the UKFV and UKDV FIRs.
    Due to the previously described continuing hazards to U.S. civil 
aviation operations, the FAA is extending the expiration date of SFAR 
No. 113, Sec.  91.1607, to continue the prohibition on flight 
operations in the UKFV and UKDV FIRs by all U.S. air carriers; U.S. 
commercial operators; persons exercising the privileges of a U.S. 
airman certificate, except when such persons are operating a U.S.-
registered aircraft for a foreign air carrier; and operators of U.S.-
registered civil aircraft, except when such operators are foreign air 
carriers. This rule extends the expiration date of SFAR No. 113, Sec.  
91.1607, from October 27, 2015, to October 27, 2016.
    The FAA will continue to actively evaluate the area to determine to 
what extent U.S. civil aviation may be able to safely operate therein. 
Adjustments to this SFAR may be appropriate if the risk to aviation 
safety and security changes. The FAA may amend or rescind this SFAR as 
necessary prior to its expiration date.
    Additionally, the FAA is revising its approval process for proposed 
operations authorized by other U.S. Government departments, agencies, 
and instrumentalities to clarify the FAA's expectations regarding 
requests for approval. The FAA is also revising the approval conditions 
that will apply to operations authorized by other U.S. Government 
departments, agencies, and instrumentalities and approved by the FAA, 
and the information about requests for exemption, to reflect the 
termination of statutory authorization for the FAA premium war risk 
insurance program. Section 102 of Division L of the Consolidated and 
Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015, Public Law 113-235, 
December 16, 2014, inter alia, amended 49 U.S.C. 44302(f) and 44310(a) 
to specify the termination dates in those sections as December 11, 
2014. The effect was to terminate coverage under FAA's premium war risk 
insurance program as of December 11, 2014. This action also makes minor 
non-substantive corrections to the wording of the rule.
    Because the circumstances described herein warrant immediate action 
by the FAA, I find that notice and public comment under 5 U.S.C. 
553(b)(3)(B) are impracticable and contrary to the public interest. 
Further, I find that good cause exists under 5 U.S.C. 553(d) for making 
this rule effective immediately upon issuance. I also find that this 
action is fully consistent with the obligations under 49 U.S.C. 40105 
to ensure that I exercise my duties consistently with the obligations 
of the United States under international agreements.

V. Revised Approval Process Based on a Request From a Department, 
Agency, or Instrumentality of the United States Government

    If a department, agency, or instrumentality of the U.S. Government 
determines that it has a critical need to engage any person covered 
under SFAR No. 113, Sec.  91.1607, including a U.S. air carrier or a 
U.S. commercial operator, to conduct a charter to transport civilian or 
military passengers or cargo or other operations in either or both of 
the UKFV and UKDV FIRs, that department, agency, or instrumentality may 
request that the FAA approve persons covered under SFAR No. 113, Sec.  
91.1607, to conduct such operations. An approval request must be made 
directly by the requesting department, agency, or instrumentality of 
the U.S. Government to the FAA's Associate Administrator for Aviation 
Safety (AVS-1) in a letter signed by an appropriate senior official of 
the requesting department, agency, or instrumentality. Requests for 
approval submitted to the FAA by anyone other than the requesting 
department, agency, or instrumentality will not be accepted and will 
not be processed. In addition, the senior official signing the letter 
requesting FAA approval on behalf of the requesting department, agency, 
or instrumentality must be sufficiently highly placed within his or her 
organization to demonstrate that the senior leadership of the 
requesting department, agency, or instrumentality supports the request 
for approval and is committed to taking all necessary steps to minimize 
operational risks to the proposed flights. The senior official must 
also be in a position to: (1) Attest to the accuracy of all 
representations made to the FAA in the request for approval and (2) 
ensure that any support from the requesting U.S. government department, 
agency, or instrumentality described in the request for approval is in 
fact brought to bear and is maintained over time. Unless exigent 
circumstances exist, requests for approval must be submitted to the FAA 
not less than 30 calendar days before the date on which the requesting 
department, agency, or instrumentality wishes the proposed operations, 
if approved by the FAA, to commence.
    The letter must be sent by the requesting department, agency, or 
instrumentality to the Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety 
(AVS-1), Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW., 
Washington, DC 20591. Electronic submissions are acceptable, and the 
requesting entity may request that the FAA notify it electronically as 
to whether the approval request is granted. If a requestor wishes to 
make an electronic submission to the FAA, the requestor should contact 
the Air Transportation Division, Flight Standards Service, at (202) 
267-8166 to obtain the appropriate email address. A single letter may 
request approval from the FAA for multiple persons covered under SFAR 
No. 113, Sec.  91.1607, and/or for multiple flight operations. To the 
extent known, the letter must identify the person(s) expected to be 
covered under the SFAR on whose behalf the U.S. Government department, 
agency, or instrumentality is seeking FAA approval, and it must 
describe--

[[Page 65623]]

     The proposed operation(s), including the nature of the 
mission being supported;
     The service to be provided by the person(s) covered by the 
SFAR;
     To the extent known, the specific locations in either or 
both of the Simferopol (UKFV) and Dnipropetrovsk (UKDV) FIRs where the 
proposed operation(s) will be conducted, including, but not limited to, 
the flight path and altitude of the aircraft while it is operating in 
either or both of the Simferopol (UKFV) and Dnipropetrovsk (UKDV) FIRs 
and the airports, airfields and/or landing zones at which the aircraft 
will take-off and land; and
     The method by which the department, agency, or 
instrumentality will provide, or how the operator will otherwise 
obtain, current threat information and an explanation of how the 
operator will integrate this information into all phases of its 
proposed operations (e.g., pre-mission planning and briefing, in-
flight, and post-flight).
    The request for approval must also include a list of operators with 
whom the U.S. Government department, agency, or instrumentality 
requesting FAA approval has a current contract(s), grant(s), or 
cooperative agreement(s) (or with whom its prime contractor has a 
subcontract(s)) for specific flight operations in either or both of the 
UKFV and UKDV FIRs. Additional operators may be identified to the FAA 
at any time after the FAA approval is issued. However, all additional 
operators must be identified to, and obtain an Operations Specification 
(OpSpec) or Letter of Authorization (LOA), as appropriate, from, the 
FAA, for operations in either or both of the UKFV and UKDV FIRs before 
such operators commence such operations. The revised approval 
conditions discussed below will apply to any such additional operators. 
Updated lists should be sent to the email address to be obtained from 
the Air Transportation Division by calling (202) 267-8166.
    If an approval request includes classified information, requestors 
may contact Aviation Safety Inspector Michael Filippell for 
instructions on submitting it to the FAA. His contact information is 
listed in the ``For Further Information Contact'' section of this final 
rule.
    FAA approval of an operation under SFAR No. 113, Sec.  91.1607, 
does not relieve persons subject to this SFAR of their responsibility 
to comply with all applicable FAA rules and regulations. Operators of 
civil aircraft must also comply with the conditions of their 
certificate, OpSpecs, and LOAs, as applicable. Operators must further 
comply with all rules and regulations of other U.S. Government 
departments and agencies that may apply to the proposed operation, 
including, but not limited to, the Transportation Security Regulations 
issued by the Transportation Security Administration, Department of 
Homeland Security.

Revised Approval Conditions

    If the FAA approves the request, the FAA's Aviation Safety 
Organization (AVS) will send an approval letter to the requesting 
department, agency, or instrumentality informing it that the FAA's 
approval is subject to all of the following conditions:
    (1) The approval will stipulate those procedures and conditions 
that limit, to the greatest degree possible, the risk to the operator, 
while still allowing the operator to achieve its operational 
objectives.
    (2) Before any approval takes effect, the operator must submit to 
the FAA:
    (a) A written release of the U.S. Government from all damages, 
claims, and liabilities, including without limitation legal fees and 
expenses; and
    (b) The operator's agreement to indemnify the U.S. Government with 
respect to any and all third-party damages, claims, and liabilities, 
including without limitation legal fees and expenses, relating to any 
event arising from or related to the approved operations in either or 
both of the UKFV and UKDV FIRs.
    (3) Other conditions that the FAA may specify, including those that 
may be imposed in OpSpecs or LOAs, as applicable.
    The release and agreement to indemnify do not preclude an operator 
from raising a claim under an applicable non-premium war risk insurance 
policy issued by the FAA under chapter 443 of title 49, United States 
Code.
    If the proposed operation or operations are approved, the FAA will 
issue an OpSpec or an LOA, as applicable, to the operator authorizing 
the operation or operations, and will notify the department, agency, or 
instrumentality that requested the FAA's approval of any additional 
conditions beyond those contained in the approval letter. The 
requesting department, agency, or instrumentality must have a contract, 
grant, or cooperative agreement (or its prime contractor must have a 
subcontract) with the person(s) described in paragraph (a) of this SFAR 
No. 113, Sec.  91.1607, on whose behalf the department, agency, or 
instrumentality requests FAA approval.

VI. Requests for Exemption

    Any operations not conducted under an approval issued by the FAA 
through the approval process set forth previously must be conducted 
under an exemption from SFAR No. 113, Sec.  91.1607. A request by any 
person covered under SFAR No. 113, Sec.  91.1607, for an exemption must 
comply with 14 CFR part 11, and will require exceptional circumstances 
beyond those contemplated by the approval process set forth previously. 
In addition to the information required by 14 CFR 11.81, at a minimum, 
the requestor must describe in its submission to the FAA--
     The proposed operation(s), including the nature of the 
operation;
     The service to be provided by the person(s) covered by the 
SFAR;
     The specific locations in either or both of the Simferopol 
(UKFV) and Dnipropetrovsk (UKDV) FIRs where the proposed operation(s) 
will be conducted, including, but not limited to, the flight path and 
altitude of the aircraft while it is operating in the UKFV and/or UKDV 
FIRs and the airports, airfields and/or landing zones at which the 
aircraft will take-off and land); and
     The method by which the operator will obtain current 
threat information and an explanation of how the operator will 
integrate this information into all phases of its proposed operations 
(e.g., the pre-mission planning and briefing, in-flight, and post-
flight phases).
    Additionally, the release and agreement to indemnify, as referred 
to previously, will be required as a condition of any exemption that 
may be issued under SFAR No. 113, Sec.  91.1607.
    The FAA recognizes that operations that may be affected by SFAR No. 
113, Sec.  91.1607, may be planned for the governments of other 
countries with the support of the U.S. Government. While these 
operations will not be permitted through the approval process, the FAA 
will process exemption requests for such operations on an expedited 
basis and prior to any private exemption requests.

VII. Regulatory Notices and Analyses

A. Regulatory Evaluation

    Changes to Federal regulations must undergo several economic 
analyses. First, Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 direct that each 
Federal agency shall propose or adopt a regulation only upon a reasoned 
determination that the benefits of the intended regulation justify its 
costs. Second, the Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (Pub. L. 96-354), 
as codified in 5 U.S.C. 603 et seq., requires agencies to analyze the

[[Page 65624]]

economic impact of regulatory changes on small entities. Third, the 
Trade Agreements Act (Pub. L. 96-39), as amended, 19 U.S.C. Chapter 13, 
prohibits agencies from setting standards that create unnecessary 
obstacles to the foreign commerce of the United States. In developing 
U.S. standards, the Trade Agreements Act requires agencies to consider 
international standards and, where appropriate, that they be the basis 
of U.S. standards. Fourth, the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 
(Pub. L. 104-4), as codified in 2 U.S.C. Chapter 25, requires agencies 
to prepare a written assessment of the costs, benefits, and other 
effects of proposed or final rules that include a Federal mandate 
likely to result in the expenditure by State, local, or tribal 
governments, in the aggregate, or by the private sector, of $100 
million or more annually (adjusted for inflation with base year of 
1995). This portion of the preamble summarizes the FAA's analysis of 
the economic impacts of this final rule.
    In conducting these analyses, FAA has determined this final rule 
has benefits that justify its costs. This rule is a significant 
regulatory action as defined in section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866, 
as it raises novel policy issues contemplated under that Executive 
Order; further, this rule is ``significant'' as defined in DOT's 
Regulatory Policies and Procedures. This rule will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. 
This rule will not create unnecessary obstacles to the foreign commerce 
of the United States. This rule will not impose an unfunded mandate on 
State, local, or tribal governments, or on the private sector by 
exceeding the threshold identified above.
    Department of Transportation (DOT) Order 2100.5 prescribes policies 
and procedures for simplification, analysis, and review of regulations. 
If the expected cost impact is so minimal that a proposed or final rule 
does not warrant a full evaluation, this order permits a statement to 
that effect and the basis for it to be included in the preamble if a 
full regulatory evaluation of the costs and benefits is not prepared. 
Such a determination has been made for this final rule. The reasoning 
for this determination follows.
    This rule extends the existing prohibition against U.S. civil 
flight operations in the UKFV and UKDV FIRs. As we noted in the most 
recent previous amendment to SFAR No. 113, Sec.  91.1607 (79 FR 77860, 
December 29, 2014), almost all U.S. operators already had voluntarily 
ceased their operations in these FIRs prior to the issuance of the FAA 
NOTAM on July 18, 2014 (UTC), prohibiting U.S. civil flight operations 
in these two FIRS in their entirety. Prior to the issuance of the July 
18, 2014 (UTC) NOTAM, the FAA had already prohibited U.S. civil flight 
operations in a portion of the UKFV FIR due to a dispute between 
Ukraine and the Russian Federation over which country is responsible 
for providing air navigation services in the area, first via NOTAM and 
subsequently when the FAA initially published SFAR No. 113, Sec.  
91.1607, on April 25, 2014. Consequently, no U.S. operators were 
operating in that portion of the UKFV FIR at the time of the December 
29, 2014 amendment to the rule.
    Because of the continuing significant hazards to U.S. civil 
aviation discussed in the Background section of this final rule, the 
FAA believes that few, if any, U.S. operators presently wish to conduct 
operations in either of these two FIRS. Moreover, both the amendment 
published on December 29, 2014, and this rule, permit a U.S. Government 
department, agency, or instrumentality to request FAA approval on 
behalf of a person described in paragraph (a) of SFAR No. 113, Sec.  
91.1607, to conduct operations under a contract (or subcontract), 
grant, or cooperative agreement with that department, agency, or 
instrumentality. As no U.S. Government department, agency, or 
instrumentality has requested such approval since December 29, 2014, 
there is apparently little demand for such approvals. Finally, the 
possibility of obtaining an approval, should one be requested, lowers 
the expected cost of the extended rule. Accordingly, the FAA believes 
the incremental costs of this final rule will be minimal. These minimal 
costs will be exceeded by the benefits of avoiding the deaths, 
injuries, and/or property damage that would result from a U.S. 
operator's aircraft being shot down (or otherwise damaged) while 
operating in either or both of the UKFV and UKDV FIRs.

B. Regulatory Flexibility Determination

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (Pub. L. 96-354) (RFA) 
establishes ``as a principle of regulatory issuance that agencies shall 
endeavor, consistent with the objectives of the rule and of applicable 
statutes, to fit regulatory and informational requirements to the scale 
of the businesses, organizations, and governmental jurisdictions 
subject to regulation. To achieve this principle, agencies are required 
to solicit and consider flexible regulatory proposals and to explain 
the rationale for their actions to assure that such proposals are given 
serious consideration.'' The RFA covers a wide range of small entities, 
including small businesses, not-for-profit organizations, and small 
governmental jurisdictions.
    Agencies must perform a review to determine whether a rule will 
have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities. If the agency determines that it will, the agency must 
prepare a regulatory flexibility analysis, as described in the RFA.
    However, if an agency determines that a rule is not expected to 
have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities, section 605(b) of the RFA provides that the head of the 
agency may so certify and a regulatory flexibility analysis is not 
required. The certification must include a statement providing the 
factual basis for this determination, and the reasoning should be 
clear.
    As described in the Regulatory Evaluation section of this preamble, 
the incremental costs of this rule are minimal. Therefore, as provided 
in Sec.  605(b), the head of the FAA certifies that this rulemaking 
will not result in a significant economic impact on a substantial 
number of small entities.

C. International Trade Impact Assessment

    The Trade Agreements Act of 1979 (Pub. L. 96-39), as amended, 
prohibits Federal agencies from establishing standards or engaging in 
related activities that create unnecessary obstacles to the foreign 
commerce of the United States. Pursuant to this Act, the establishment 
of standards is not considered an unnecessary obstacle to the foreign 
commerce of the United States, so long as the standard has a legitimate 
domestic objective, such as the protection of safety, and does not 
operate in a manner that excludes imports that meet this objective. The 
statute also requires consideration of international standards and, 
where appropriate, that they be the basis for U.S. standards.
    The FAA has assessed the effect of this final rule and determined 
that its purpose is to protect the safety of U.S. civil aviation from a 
hazard outside the U.S. Therefore, the rule is in compliance with the 
Trade Agreements Act.

D. Unfunded Mandates Assessment

    Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-
4) requires each Federal agency to prepare a written statement 
assessing the effects of any Federal mandate in a proposed or final 
agency rule that may result in an expenditure of $100 million or more 
(in

[[Page 65625]]

1995 dollars) in any one year by State, local, and tribal governments, 
in the aggregate, or by the private sector; such a mandate is deemed to 
be a ``significant regulatory action.'' The FAA currently uses an 
inflation-adjusted value of $155.0 million in lieu of $100 million.
    This final rule does not contain such a mandate. Therefore, the 
requirements of Title II of the Act do not apply.

E. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3507(d)) requires 
that the FAA consider the impact of paperwork and other information 
collection burdens imposed on the public. The FAA has determined that 
there is no new requirement for information collection associated with 
this immediately adopted final rule.

F. International Compatibility and Cooperation

    In keeping with U.S. obligations under the Convention on 
International Civil Aviation, it is FAA policy to conform to 
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Standards and 
Recommended Practices to the maximum extent practicable. The FAA has 
determined that there are no ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices 
that correspond to this regulation.

G. Environmental Analysis

    FAA Order 1050.1F identifies FAA actions that are categorically 
excluded from preparation of an environmental assessment or 
environmental impact statement under the National Environmental Policy 
Act (NEPA) in the absence of extraordinary circumstances. The FAA has 
determined this rulemaking action qualifies for the categorical 
exclusion identified in paragraph 5-6.6f of this order and involves no 
extraordinary circumstances.
    The FAA has reviewed the implementation of this SFAR and determined 
it is categorically excluded from further environmental review 
according to FAA Order 1050.1F, ``Environmental Impacts: Policies and 
Procedures,'' paragraph 5-6.6f. The FAA has examined possible 
extraordinary circumstances and determined that no such circumstances 
exist. After careful and thorough consideration of the action, the FAA 
finds that this Federal action does not require preparation of an 
Environmental Assessment or Environmental Impact Statement in 
accordance with the requirements of NEPA, Council on Environmental 
Quality (CEQ) regulations, and FAA Order 1050.1F.

VIII. Executive Order Determinations

A. Executive Order 13132, Federalism

    The FAA has analyzed this immediately adopted final rule under the 
principles and criteria of Executive Order 13132, Federalism. The 
agency has determined that this action would not have a substantial 
direct effect on the States, or the relationship between the Federal 
Government and the States, or on the distribution of power and 
responsibilities among the various levels of government, and, 
therefore, would not have Federalism implications.

B. Executive Order 13211, Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy 
Supply, Distribution, or Use

    The FAA analyzed this immediately adopted final rule under 
Executive Order 13211, Actions Concerning Regulations that 
Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use (May 18, 
2001). The agency has determined that it would not be a ``significant 
energy action'' under the executive order and would not be likely to 
have a significant adverse effect on the supply, distribution, or use 
of energy.

C. Executive Order 13609, Promoting International Regulatory 
Cooperation

    Executive Order 13609, Promoting International Regulatory 
Cooperation, (77 FR 26413, May 4, 2012) promotes international 
regulatory cooperation to meet shared challenges involving health, 
safety, labor, security, environmental, and other issues and to reduce, 
eliminate, or prevent unnecessary differences in regulatory 
requirements. The FAA has analyzed this action under the policies and 
agency responsibilities of Executive Order 13609, and has determined 
that this action would have no effect on international regulatory 
cooperation.

IX. Additional Information

A. Availability of Rulemaking Documents

    An electronic copy of rulemaking documents may be obtained from the 
Internet by--
     Searching the Federal eRulemaking Portal (http://www.regulations.gov);
     Visiting the FAA's Regulations and Policies Web page at 
http://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies or
     Accessing the Government Publishing Office's Web page at 
http://www.fdsys.gov
    Copies may also be obtained by sending a request (identified by 
docket or amendment number of the rule) to the Federal Aviation 
Administration, Office of Rulemaking, ARM-1, 800 Independence Avenue 
SW., Washington, DC 20591, or by calling (202) 267-9677.
    All documents the FAA considered in developing this rule, including 
economic analyses and technical reports, may be accessed from the 
Internet through the Federal eRulemaking Portal referenced above.

B. Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act

    The Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 
(SBREFA) requires FAA to comply with small entity requests for 
information or advice about compliance with statutes and regulations 
within its jurisdiction. A small entity with questions regarding this 
document may contact its local FAA official, or the person listed under 
the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT heading at the beginning of the 
preamble. To find out more about SBREFA on the Internet, visit http://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/rulemaking/sbre_act/.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 91

    Air traffic control, Aircraft, Airmen, Airports, Aviation safety, 
Freight, Ukraine.

The Amendment

    In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation 
Administration amends chapter I of title 14, Code of Federal 
Regulations, as follows:

PART 91--GENERAL OPERATING AND FLIGHT RULES

0
1. The authority citation for part 91 is revised to read as follows:

    Authority:  49 U.S.C. 106(f), 106(g), 1155, 40101, 40103, 40105, 
40113, 40120, 44101, 44111, 44701, 44704, 44709, 44711, 44712, 
44715, 44716, 44717, 44722, 46306, 46315, 46316, 46504, 46506-46507, 
47122, 47508, 47528-47531, 47534, articles 12 and 29 of the 
Convention on International Civil Aviation (61 Stat. 1180), (126 
Stat. 11).

0
2. Amend Sec.  91.1607 by revising paragraphs (a)(2), (c), and (e) to 
read as follows:

Sec.  91.1607  Special Federal Aviation Regulation No. 113--Prohibition 
Against Certain Flights in the Simferopol (UKFV) and Dnipropetrovsk 
(UKDV) Flight Information Regions (FIRs).

    (a) * * *
    (2) All persons exercising the privileges of an airman certificate 
issued by the FAA, except when such persons are operating U.S.-
registered aircraft for a foreign air carrier; and
* * * * *

[[Page 65626]]

    (c) Permitted operations. This section does not prohibit persons 
described in paragraph (a) of this section from conducting flight 
operations in either or both of the Simferopol (UKFV) or Dnipropetrovsk 
(UKDV) FIRs, provided that such flight operations are conducted under a 
contract, grant, or cooperative agreement with a department, agency, or 
instrumentality of the U.S. government (or under a subcontract between 
the prime contractor of the department, agency, or instrumentality and 
the person described in paragraph (a) of this section) with the 
approval of the FAA, or under an exemption issued by the FAA. The FAA 
will process requests for approval or exemption in a timely manner, 
with the order of preference being: first, for those operations in 
support of U.S. government-sponsored activities; second, for those 
operations in support of government-sponsored activities of a foreign 
country with the support of a U.S. government department, agency, or 
instrumentality; and third, for all other operations.
* * * * *
    (e) Expiration. This SFAR will remain in effect until October 27, 
2016. The FAA may amend, rescind, or extend this SFAR as necessary.

    Issued in Washington, DC, under the authority of 49 U.S.C. 
106(f), 40101(d)(1), 40105(b)(1)(A), and 44701(a)(5), on October 22, 
2015.
Michael P. Huerta,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2015-27334 Filed 10-22-15; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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