[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 219 (Wednesday, November 15, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 78265-78267]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-25182]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[[Docket No. FAA-2023-2247; Airspace Docket No. 23-ACE-4]
RIN 2120-AA66


Amendment of VOR Federal Airway V-132 and Revocation of VOR 
Federal Airways V-131, V-307, and V-350 in the Vicinity of Chanute, KS

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to amend Very High Frequency 
Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airway V-132 and revoke VOR Federal 
airways V-131, V-307, and V-350. The FAA is proposing this action due 
to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Chanute, KS 
(CNU), VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) navigational aid 
(NAVAID). The Chanute VOR is being decommissioned in support of the 
FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before January 2, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by FAA Docket No. FAA-2023-2247 and 
Airspace Docket No. 23-ACE-4 using any of the following methods:
    * Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov and follow 
the online instructions for sending your comments electronically.
    * Mail: Send comments to Docket Operations, M-30; U.S. Department 
of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Room W12-140, West 
Building Ground Floor, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
    * Hand Delivery or Courier: Take comments to Docket Operations in 
Room W12-140 of the West Building

[[Page 78266]]

Ground 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 
www.regulations.gov at any time. Follow the online instructions for 
accessing the docket or go to the Docket Operations in Room W12-140 of 
the West Building Ground 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 7400.11H, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, 
and subsequent amendments can be viewed online at www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/. You may also contact the Rules and 
Regulations Group, Office of Policy, Federal Aviation Administration, 
800 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267-
8783.

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 (NAS) as 
necessary to preserve the safe and efficient flow of air traffic.

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 www.regulations.gov, as described in the system 
of records notice (DOT/ALL-14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at 
www.dot.gov/privacy.

Availability of Rulemaking Documents

    An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded through the 
internet at www.regulations.gov. Recently published rulemaking 
documents can also be accessed through the FAA's web page at 
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 
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 Operations Support Group, 
Central Service Center, Federal Aviation Administration, 10101 Hillwood 
Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177.

Incorporation by Reference

    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 7400.11H, dated August 11, 2023, and effective September 15, 2023. 
These updates would be published in the next update to FAA Order JO 
7400.11. That order is publicly available as listed in the ADDRESSES 
section of this document.
    FAA Order JO 7400.11H 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 Chanute, 
KS, VOR/DME in July 2024. The Chanute VOR is 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 
on July 26, 2016 (81 FR 48694), Docket No. FAA-2011-1082.
    Although the VOR portion of the Chanute VOR/DME is planned for 
decommissioning, the co-located DME portion of the NAVAID is being 
retained to support current and future NextGen PBN flight procedure 
requirements.
    The VOR Federal airways affected by the planned decommissioning of 
the Chanute VOR are V-131, V-132, V-307, and V-350. With the planned 
decommissioning of the Chanute VOR, the remaining ground-based NAVAID 
coverage in the area is insufficient to enable the continuity of the 
affected airways. As such, the FAA proposes modifications would result 
in a gap in airway V-132 and in a revocation of airways V-131, V-307, 
and V-350.
    To address the affected VOR Federal airway proposed amendment and 
revocations, instrument flight rules (IFR) traffic could use portions 
of adjacent VOR Federal airways V-73 and V-88 between Wichita, KS, and 
Springfield, MO; V-71 and V-234 between Hutchison, KS, and Springfield, 
MO; and V-77 and V-532 between Okmulgee, OK, and Topeka, KS, for 
conventional navigation or RNAV routes T-312 and T-413 for global 
positioning system-equipped aircraft. Additionally, IFR pilots equipped 
with RNAV capabilities could also navigate point-to-point using the 
existing NAVAIDs, Fixes, and waypoints (WP) that would remain in place 
to support continued operations through the affected area or receive 
air traffic control (ATC) radar vectors to fly around or through the 
affected area, upon request. Visual flight rules (VFR) pilots who elect 
to navigate via the affected VOR Federal airways could also take 
advantage of the adjacent airways or ATC services listed previously.

[[Page 78267]]

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 to amend VOR 
Federal airway V-132 and revoke VOR Federal airways V-131, V-307, and 
V-350 due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the 
Chanute, KS, VOR/DME NAVAID. The proposed airway actions are described 
below.
    V-131: V-131 currently extends between the Okmulgee, OK, VOR/DME 
and the Topeka, KS, VOR/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC). The FAA 
proposes to remove the airway segment between the Tulsa, OK, VORTAC and 
the Topeka VORTAC due to the planned decommissioning of the Chanute 
VOR. Additionally, the FAA proposes to remove the airway segment 
between the Okmulgee VOR/DME and the Tulsa VORTAC also since that 
airway segment overlaps V-161 which will remain charted and provide 
navigational guidance between the two NAVAIDs. As a result, the airway 
would be removed in its entirety.
    V-132: V-132 currently extends between the Medicine Bow, WY, VOR/
DME and the intersection of the Forney, MO, VOR 086[deg] and Vichy, MO, 
VOR/DME 156[deg] radials (LENOX Fix), excluding that portion within 
restricted areas R-4501A, R-4501B, R-4501C, and R-4501D during their 
time of activation. The FAA proposes to remove the airway segment 
between the Hutchinson, KS, VOR/DME and the Springfield, MO, VORTAC. 
Additionally, the FAA proposes to exclude the airway portion within 
restricted areas R-4501E, R-4501F, and R-4501H during their times of 
activation since those restricted areas also fall within 4 nautical 
miles of the airway. As amended, the airway would be changed to extend 
between the Medicine Bow VOR/DME and the Hutchinson VOR/DME and between 
the Springfield VORTAC and the intersection of the Forney VOR 086[deg] 
and Vichy VOR/DME 156[deg] radials (LENOX Fix), excluding the portion 
within all 7 restricted areas of the R-4501 restricted area complex.
    V-307: V-307 currently extends between the Chanute, KS, VOR/DME and 
the Emporia, KS, VORTAC. The FAA proposes to remove the airway in its 
entirety.
    V-350: V-350 currently extends between the Wichita, KS, VORTAC and 
the Chanute, KS, VOR/DME. The FAA proposes to remove the airway in its 
entirety.
    The NAVAID radials listed in the V-132 description in The Proposed 
Amendment section are unchanged and 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 
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 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 
7400.11H, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 11, 
2023, and effective September 15, 2023, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6010(a) Domestic VOR Federal Airways.

* * * * *

V-131 [Removed]

* * * * *

V-132 [Amended]

    From Medicine Bow, WY; INT Medicine Bow 106[deg] and Cheyenne, 
WY, 330[deg] radials; Cheyenne; Akron, CO; 17 miles, 49 miles, 59 
MSL, Goodland, KS; 50 miles, 97 miles, 65 MSL, to Hutchinson, KS. 
From Springfield, MO; INT Springfield 058[deg] and Forney, MO, 
266[deg] radials; Forney; to INT Forney 086[deg] and Vichy, MO, 
156[deg] radials, excluding that portion within R-4501A, R-4501B, R-
4501C, R-4501D, R-4501E, R-4501F, and R-4501H during their time of 
activation.
* * * * *

V-307 [Removed]

* * * * *

V-350 [Removed]

* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on November 9, 2023.
Karen L. Chiodini,
Acting Manager, Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2023-25182 Filed 11-14-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P