[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 248 (Monday, December 29, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 67553-67555]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-33760]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 97-ASW-13]
RIN 2120-AA66


Realignment of VOR Federal Airway; Dallas/Fort Worth, TX

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Direct final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This rule realigns Federal Airway 369 (V-369) located in the 
Dallas/Fort Worth, TX, area. Specifically, V-369 will be realigned to 
include the newly activated Groesbeck, TX, Very High Frequency 
Omnidirectional Range/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) 
Navigational Aid (NAVAID) as part of its route structure. As a result, 
the minimum en route altitude (MEA) on V-369 between the Dallas/Fort 
Worth (DFW) Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range/Tactical Air 
Navigation (VORTAC), TX, and the Navasota, TX, VORTAC will be lowered. 
Lowering the MEA increases the capacity of the airway because it 
increases the number of altitudes that are available for air traffic 
control assignment to airway users. Overall, this action increases the 
efficiency of operations in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, February 26, 1998.

    Comment date: Comments for inclusion in the Rules Docket must be 
received on or before January 28, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on the proposal in triplicate to: Manager, Air 
Traffic Division, ASW-500, Docket No. 97-ASW-13, Federal Aviation

[[Page 67554]]

Administration, 2601 Meacham Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX 76193-0500.
    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, Federal 
Aviation Administration, 2601 Meacham Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX 76193-
0500.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Brown, 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:

The Direct Final Rule Procedure

    The FAA anticipates that this regulation will not result in adverse 
or negative comment and therefore is issuing it as a direct final rule. 
The addition of Groesbeck VOR/DME along the centerline of the current 
V-369 and realigning the airway to include Groesbeck will not alter the 
airway track significantly and will benefit users of the airway. Since 
previous rulemaking actions similar to this one have not been 
controversial, the FAA does not anticipate any adverse comments on this 
case. Therefore, unless a written adverse or negative comment, or a 
written notice of intent to submit an adverse or negative comment is 
received within the comment period, the regulation will become 
effective on the date specified above. After the close of the comment 
period, the FAA will publish a document in the Federal Register 
indicating that no adverse or negative comments were received and 
confirming the date on which the final rule will become effective. If 
the FAA does receive, within the comment period, an adverse or negative 
comment, or written notice of intent to submit such a comment, a 
document withdrawing the direct final rule will be published in the 
Federal Register, and a notice of proposed rulemaking may be published 
with a new comment period.

Comments Invited

    Although this action is in the form of a final rule and was not 
preceded by a notice of proposed rulemaking, comments are invited on 
this rule. Interested persons are invited to comment on this rule by 
submitting such written data, views, or arguments as they may desire. 
Communications should identify the Rules Docket number and be submitted 
in triplicate to the address specified under the caption ``ADDRESSES.'' 
All communications received on or before the specified closing date for 
comments will be considered, and this rule may be amended or withdrawn 
in light of comments received. Factual information that supports the 
commenter's ideas and suggestions is extremely helpful in evaluating 
the effectiveness of this action and determining whether additional 
rulemaking action would be needed.
    Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory, 
aeronautical, economic, environmental, and energy-related aspects of 
the rule that might suggest a need to modify the rule. All comments 
submitted will be available for examination in the Rules Docket both 
before and after the closing date for comments. A report that 
summarizes each FAA-public contact concerned with the substance of this 
action will be filed in the Rules Docket.
    Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments 
submitted in response to this rule must submit a self-addressed, 
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments 
to Airspace Docket No. 97-ASW-13.'' The postcard will be date stamped 
and returned to the commenter.

The Rule

    This amendment to 14 CFR part 71 realigns V-369 located in the 
Dallas/Fort Worth area. Currently, V-369 consists of one leg spanning 
162 nautical miles (NM) from the Navasota VORTAC to the DFW VORTAC. 
Activation of the Groesbeck VOR/DME near the centerline of V-369 and 
the realignment of the airway to include the Groesbeck VOR/DME will 
allow for a lower MEA to be flown between the two VORTAC's. Lowering 
the MEA increases the capacity of the airway because it increases the 
number of altitudes that are available for air traffic control 
assignment to airway users. Overall, this action increases the 
efficiency of operations between the DFW and the Navasota VORTAC's.
    Domestic VOR Federal Airways are published in paragraph 6010(a) of 
FAA Order 7400.9E, dated September 10, 1997, and effective September 
16, 1997, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The 
airways listed in this document will be published subsequently in the 
Order.

Agency Findings

    The regulations adopted herein will not have substantial direct 
effects on the States, on the relationship between the national 
government and the States, or on the distribution of power and 
responsibilities among the various levels of government. Therefore, in 
accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this final 
rule does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the 
preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
    The FAA has determined that this regulation is not controversial 
and unlikely to result in adverse or negative comments. For the reasons 
discussed in the preamble, I certify that this 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 rule, when 
promulgated, will not have a significant economic impact, positive or 
negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria 
of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71

    Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).

The Amendment

    In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation 
Administration amends 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 the Federal 
Aviation Administration Order 7400.9E, Airspace Designations and 
Reporting Points, dated September 10, 1997, and effective September 16, 
1997, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6010(a)--Domestic VOR Federal Airways

* * * * *

V-369 [Revised]

From Navasota, TX; via Groesbeck, TX; to Dallas-Fort Worth, TX.
* * * * *

[[Page 67555]]

    Issued in Washington, DC, on December 17, 1997.
Nancy B. Kalinowski,
Acting Program Director for Air Traffic Airspace Management.
[FR Doc. 97-33760 Filed 12-24-97; 8:45 am]
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