Document Headings

                    Document headings vary by document type but may contain                    the following:                  
                -                       the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document                    
                -                       the number of the CFR title and the number of each part                      the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly                      related to                    
                -                       the agency docket number / agency internal file number                    
                -                       the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in                      the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory                      Actions                    

                    See the                                          Document Drafting Handbook                                        for more details.                  

###### Department of Transportation

###### Federal Aviation Administration 

          - 14 CFR Part 71 
          - [Airspace Docket No. 00-AAL-02] 

# AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. 

# ACTION:

Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM). 

# SUMMARY:

This action proposes to establish a Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airway (V-457) in Alaska. The FAA is proposing to establish this Federal airway for the following reasons: the conversion of this uncharted nonregulatory route to a VOR Federal airway would add to the instrument flight rules (IFR) airway and route infrastructure in Alaska;  pilots would be provided with minimum en route altitudes and minimum obstruction clearance altitudes information;  this amendment would establish controlled airspace, thus eliminating some of the commercial IFR operations in uncontrolled airspace; and  the addition of this route would improve the management of air traffic operations and thereby enhance safety. 

# DATES:

Comments must be received on or before August 14, 2000. 

# ADDRESSES:

Send comments on the proposal in triplicate to: Manager, Air Traffic Division, AAL-500, Docket No. 00-AAL-02, Federal Aviation Administration, 222 West 7th Avenue, #14, Anchorage, AK 99533. 

The official docket may be examined in the Rules Docket, Office of the Chief Counsel, Room 916, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC, weekdays, except Federal holidays, between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. 

An informal docket may also be examined during normal business hours at the office of the Regional Air Traffic Division. 

# FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Joseph C. White, Airspace and Rules Division, ATA-400, Office of Air Traffic Airspace Management, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267-8783. 

# SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

## 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 the airspace docket number and be submitted in triplicate to the address                           ( print page 39835)                        listed above. Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments on this notice must submit with those comments a self-addressed, stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: “Comments to Airspace Docket No. 00-AAL-02.” The postcard will be date/time stamped and returned to the commenter. All communications received on or before the specified closing date for comments will be considered before taking action on the proposed rule. The proposal contained in this notice may be changed in light of comments received. All comments submitted will be available for examination in the Rules Docket both before and after the closing date for comments. A report summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA personnel concerned with this rulemaking will be filed in the docket.                 

## Availability of NPRM's 

An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded, using a modem and suitable communications software, from the FAA regulations section of the Fedworld electronic bulletin board service (telephone: 703-321-3339) or the Federal Register's electronic bulletin board service (telephone: 202-512-1661). 

Internet users may reach the FAA's web page at http://www.faa.gov or the Superintendent of Document's web page at http://www.access.gpo.gov/​nara for access to recently published rulemaking documents. 

Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request to the Federal Aviation Administration, Office of Air Traffic Airspace Management, ATA-400, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591, or by calling (202) 267-8783. Communications must identify the notice number of this NPRM. Persons interested in being placed on a mailing list for future NPRM's should call the FAA's Office of Rulemaking, (202) 267-9677, for a copy of Advisory Circular No. 11-2A, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Distribution System, which describes the application procedure. 

## The Proposal 

The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 (part 71) to establish a VOR Federal airway (V-457) in Alaska. Presently, there is an uncharted nonregulatory route that uses the same routings as this proposed airway. The current route is used daily by air carrier and general aviation aircraft. The FAA is proposing to establish this Federal airway for the following reasons: (1) the conversion of this uncharted nonregulatory route to a VOR Federal airway would add to the IFR airway and route infrastructure in Alaska; (2) pilots would be provided with minimum en route altitudes and minimum obstruction clearance altitudes information; (3) this amendment would establish controlled airspace, thus eliminating some of the commercial IFR operations in uncontrolled airspace; and (4) the addition of this route would improve the management of air traffic operations and thereby enhance safety. 

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. Therefore, this proposed regulation: (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 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. 

Alaskan VOR Federal airways are published in paragraph 6010(b) of FAA Order 7400.9G dated September 1, 1999, and effective September 16, 1999, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Alaskan VOR Federal airway listed in this document would be published subsequently in the order. 

# 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, CLASS B, CLASS C, CLASS D, AND CLASS E AIRSPACE AREAS; AIRWAYS; ROUTES; AND REPORTING POINTS 

1. The authority citation for part 71 continues to read as follows: 

Authority:49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40103, 40113, 40120; E.O. 10854, 24 FR 9565, 3 CFR, 1959-1963 Comp., p.389. 

§ 71.1 

2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of FAA Order 7400.9G, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated September 1, 1999, and effective September 16, 1999, is amended as follows: 

### Paragraph 6010(b)—Alaskan VOR Federal Airways 

* * * * *

## V-457 [New] 

From Iliamna, AK, NDB; to Kenai, AK. 

* * * * *

Issued in Washington, DC, on June 19, 2000. 

Reginald C. Matthews, 

Manager, Airspace and Rules Division. 

[FR Doc. 00-16329 Filed 6-27-00; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910-13-P