[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 174 (Friday, September 7, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 45337-45339]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-19347]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0219; Airspace Docket No. 17-AGL-23]
RIN 2120-AA66


Amendment of Air Traffic Service (ATS) Routes in the Vicinity of 
Mattoon and Charleston, IL

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action modifies two VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) 
Federal airways (V-72 and V-429) in the vicinity of Mattoon and 
Charleston, IL.

[[Page 45338]]

The FAA is taking this action due to the planned decommissioning of the 
Mattoon, IL, VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) navigation aid 
(NAVAID), which provides navigation guidance for portions of the 
affected ATS routes. The Mattoon VOR is being decommissioned in support 
of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.

DATES: Effective date 0901 UTC, November 8, 2018. The Director of the 
Federal Register approves this incorporation by reference action under 
Title 1, Code of Federal Regulations, part 51, subject to the annual 
revision of FAA Order 7400.11 and publication of conforming amendments.

ADDRESSES: FAA Order 7400.11B, Airspace Designations and Reporting 
Points, and subsequent amendments can be viewed online at http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/. For further information, you can 
contact the Airspace Policy Group, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267-
8783. The Order is also available for inspection at the National 
Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the 
availability of FAA Order 7400.11B at NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go 
to https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.
    FAA Order 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, is 
published yearly and effective on September 15.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Colby Abbott, Airspace Policy Group, 
Office of Airspace Services, 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 support the route structure in the Mattoon and 
Charleston, IL, area as necessary to preserve the safe and efficient 
flow of air traffic within the National Airspace System (NAS).

History

    The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal 
Register for Docket No. FAA-2018-0219 (83 FR 12883; March 26, 2018) to 
amend VOR Federal airways V-72 and V-429 due to the planned 
decommissioning of the Mattoon, IL, VOR. Interested parties were 
invited to participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting written 
comments on the proposal. One comment was received from the Illinois 
Department of Transportation (IDOT).
    In their comment, IDOT recommended the FAA amend the V-429 airway 
segment between the Bible Grove, IL, VOR/Tactical Air Navigation 
(VORTAC), Mattoon, IL, VOR/DME, and Champaign, IL, VORTAC by 
establishing a segment running directly between the Bible Grove VORTAC 
and Champaign VORTAC. They argued the discontinuity of the FAA proposal 
to remove the V-429 airway segment between the Bible Grove and 
Champaign VORTACs does not make effective use of the airspace in the 
area. In support of their recommendation, they noted the Bible Grove 
and Champaign VORTACs are located 68 nautical miles (NM) apart and 
establishing an airway segment between the two NAVAIDs is within the 
associated standard service volume (40 NM each) with a total segment 
service volume of 80 NM.
    In support of Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) 
initiatives aimed at modernizing the NAS to make flying safer, more 
efficient, and more predictable, the FAA is working to reduce the NAS 
dependency on its conventional navigational infrastructure and 
transition to a performance based navigation (PBN) infrastructure. To 
that end, as part of a NAS Efficient Streamlined Services Initiative, 
the VOR MON program is working to gradually reduce the number of 
conventional legacy NAVAIDs while more efficient PBN area navigation 
(RNAV) air traffic service (ATS) routes and procedures are being 
implemented throughout the NAS. As such, the FAA's goal is to provide 
additional RNAV ATS routes, point-to-point navigation where 
operationally beneficial, and to remove most conventional ATS routes, 
except where needed in mountainous regions and areas without radar 
coverage.
    As noted in the NPRM, the FAA identified available mitigations to 
overcome the proposed gaps in the V-72 and V-429 ATS routes. Instrument 
flight rules (IFR) traffic could use adjacent VOR Federal airways 
(including V-5, V-7, V-69, V-171, V-191, V-192, V-262, and V-586) to 
circumnavigate the affected area; file point to point through the 
affected area using fixes that will remain in place; or receive air 
traffic control (ATC) radar vectors through the area. And, visual 
flight rules (VFR) pilots who elect to navigate via V-72 and V-429 
through the affected area could also take advantage of the adjacent VOR 
Federal airways or ATC services. Additionally, the FAA planned to 
retain the Mattoon DME facility, charted as a DME facility, using the 
existing ``MTO'' three-letter identifier.
    In consideration of IDOT's recommendation, the FAA agrees that 
amending V-429 by establishing an airway segment directly between the 
Bible Grove and Champaign legacy VORTACs would continue to provide an 
uninterrupted, conventional ATS route between the Cape Girardeau, MO, 
VOR/DME and Joliet, IL, VORTAC. However, the FAA also notes that IDOT's 
recommendation does not support the FAA's NextGen efforts to modernize 
the NAS and that the mitigations identified in the NPRM provide 
alternatives for pilots to overcome and navigate through the ATS route 
gaps in the Charleston and Mattoon area that are successfully used in 
other parts of the NAS. As such, the FAA is moving forward with the ATS 
route amendments as proposed in the NPRM.
    Although the determination is to proceed with the amendments to V-
72 and V-429 addressed in the NPRM, the FAA is in the planning stages 
for establishing a PBN area navigation (RNAV) T-route that closely 
mirrors the ATS route segment recommended by IDOT, beginning near the 
Bible Grove VORTAC and proceeding northbound to near the Champaign 
VORTAC. Once all the coordination and development actions for 
establishing that RNAV T-route are completed, the FAA will propose the 
new T-route in a separate rulemaking action.
    VOR Federal airways are published in paragraph 6010(a) of FAA Order 
7400.11B dated August 3, 2017, and effective September 15, 2017, which 
is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The VOR Federal airways 
listed in this document will be subsequently published in the Order.

Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference

    This document amends FAA Order 7400.11B, Airspace Designations and 
Reporting Points, dated August 3, 2017,

[[Page 45339]]

and effective September 15, 2017. FAA Order 7400.11B is publicly 
available as listed in the ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA 
Order 7400.11B lists Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air 
traffic service routes, and reporting points.

The Rule

    The FAA is amending Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 
part 71 by modifying the descriptions of VOR Federal airways V-72 and 
V-429 due to the planned decommissioning of the Mattoon, IL, VOR. The 
VOR Federal airway changes are described below.
    V-72: V-72 extends between the Razorback, AR, VOR/Tactical Air 
Navigation (VORTAC) and the Bloomington, IL, VOR/DME. The airway 
segment between the Bible Grove, IL, VORTAC and the Bloomington, IL, 
VOR/DME is removed. The unaffected portions of the existing airway 
remain as charted.
    V-429: V-429 extends between the Cape Girardeau, MO, VOR/DME and 
the Joliet, IL, VORTAC. The airway segment between the Bible Grove, IL, 
VORTAC and the Champaign, IL, VORTAC is removed. The unaffected 
portions of the existing airway remain as charted.
    All radials in the route descriptions below are unchanged and 
stated in True degrees.

Regulatory Notices and Analyses

    The FAA has determined that this 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 
Department of Transportation (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 only affects air traffic procedures 
and air navigation, it is certified that this rule, when promulgated, 
does not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of 
small entities under the criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

Environmental Review

    The FAA has determined that this action of modifying VOR Federal 
airways V-72 and V-429 in the vicinity of Mattoon and Charleston, IL, 
qualifies for categorical exclusion under the National Environmental 
Policy Act, 42 U.S.C. 4321, and its implementing regulations at 40 CFR 
part 1500, and in accordance with FAA Order 1050.1F, Environmental 
Impacts: Policies and Procedures, paragraph 5-6.5a, which categorically 
excludes from further environmental impact review rulemaking actions 
that designate or modify classes of airspace areas, airways, routes, 
and reporting points (see 14 CFR part 71, Designation of Class A, B, C, 
D, and E Airspace Areas; Air Traffic Service Routes; and Reporting 
Points). As such, this action is not expected to result in any 
potentially significant environmental impacts. In accordance with FAA 
Order 1050.1F, paragraph 5-2 regarding Extraordinary Circumstances, the 
FAA has reviewed this action for factors and circumstances in which a 
normally categorically excluded action may have a significant 
environmental impact requiring further analysis. The FAA has determined 
that no extraordinary circumstances exist that warrant preparation of 
an environmental assessment or environmental impact study.

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, B, C, D, AND E AIRSPACE AREAS; AIR 
TRAFFIC SERVICE ROUTES; AND REPORTING POINTS

0
1. The authority citation for 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 7400.11B, 
Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 3, 2017 and 
effective September 15, 2017, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6010(a) Domestic VOR Federal Airways.

* * * * *

V-72 [Amended]

    From Razorback, AR; Dogwood, MO; INT Dogwood 058[deg] and 
Maples, MO, 236[deg] radials; Maples; Farmington, MO; Centralia, IL; 
to Bible Grove, IL.
* * * * *

V-429 [Amended]

    From Cape Girardeau, MO; Marion, IL; INT Marion 011[deg] and 
Bible Grove, IL, 207[deg] radials; to Bible Grove. From Champaign, 
IL; Roberts, IL; to Joliet, IL.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on August 29, 2018.
Scott M. Rosenbloom,
Acting Manager, Airspace Policy Group.
[FR Doc. 2018-19347 Filed 9-6-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P