[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 125 (Wednesday, June 28, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 39834-39835]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-16329]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 00-AAL-02]


Proposed Establishment of VOR Federal Airway; AK

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

[[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.


Sec. 71.1  [Amended]

    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