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[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 229 (Wednesday, November 27, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 70900-70901]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-28503]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2013-0951; Airspace Docket No. 13-ASW-22]
RIN 2120-AA66

Proposed Modification of Area Navigation (RNAV) Route Q-20, TX

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to modify RNAV route Q-20 in support of 
the Houston Optimization of Airspace and Procedures in a Metroplex 
(OAPM) project. This proposed action re-aligns Q-20 to incorporate the 
FUSCO waypoint (WP) being relocated .48 nautical miles southwest to 
match the intersection of Jet routes J-15 and J-183.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before January 13, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on this proposal to the U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 
West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001; 
telephone: (202) 366-9826. You must identify FAA Docket No. FAA-2013-
0951 and Airspace Docket No. 13-ASW-22 at the beginning of your 
comments. You may also submit comments through the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Colby Abbott, Airspace Policy and ATC 
Procedures Group, Office of Airspace Services, 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 both docket numbers (FAA Docket No. 
FAA-2013-0951 and Airspace Docket No. 13-ASW-22) and be submitted in 
triplicate to the Docket Management Facility (see ADDRESSES section for 
address and phone number). You may also submit comments through the 
Internet at http://www.regulations.gov.
    Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments 
on this action must submit with those comments a self-addressed, 
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments 
to FAA Docket No. FAA-2013-0951 and Airspace Docket No. 13-ASW-22.'' 
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 action may be changed in light of 
comments received. All comments submitted will be available for 
examination in the public 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 NPRMs

    An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded through the 
Internet at http://www.regulations.gov.
    You may review the public docket containing the proposal, any 
comments received and any final disposition in person in the Dockets 
Office (see ADDRESSES section for address and phone number) between 
9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. An informal docket may also be examined during normal 
business hours at the office of the Central Service Center, Operations 
Support Group, Federal Aviation Administration, 2601 Meacham Blvd., 
Fort Worth, TX 76137.
    Persons interested in being placed on a mailing list for future 
NPRM's should contact 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 Title 14, Code of Federal 
Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 to modify Q-20 in support of the Houston 
OAPM project. OAPM is intended to improve air traffic flows within an 
entire region resulting in increased capacity and fuel efficiency and 
reduced track distances. Q-20 extends between the Corona, NM, VHF 
Omnidirectional Range/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) navigation aid 
and the Junction, TX, VORTAC navigation aid. This action would amend Q-
20 by relocating the FUSCO WP to match the intersection of Jet routes 
J-15 and J-183, and re-designating FUSCO as a fix. The modification 
would enable aircraft filed eastbound via J-15, J-183, or Q-20, to 
file, after FUSCO, direct to a published transition to a Houston 
Standard Terminal Arrival Route. This would simplify flight plan filing 
and Flight Management Computer entries; thus, reducing the potential 
for routing errors.
    High altitude RNAV routes are published in paragraph 2006 of FAA 
Order 7400.9X dated August 7, 2013, and effective September 15, 2013, 
which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The RNAV route 
listed in this document would be subsequently published in the Order.
    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 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 
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.
    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 proposed regulation is within the scope of that

[[Page 70901]]

authority as it would modify the route structure as required to enhance 
the safe and efficient flow of air traffic in the United States.

Environmental Review

    This proposal will be subject to an environmental analysis in 
accordance with FAA Order 1050.1E, ``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 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]

0
2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of FAA Order 7400.9X, 
Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 7, 2013, and 
effective September 15, 2013, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 2006 United States Area Navigation Routes.

* * * * *

Q-20 CNX, NM to JCT, TX [Amended]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Corona (CNX), NM                             VORTAC                         (Lat. 34[deg]22'01'' N., long. 105[deg]40'41'' W.)
HONDS, NM                                    FIX                            (Lat. 33[deg]34'00'' N., long. 104[deg]51'12'' W.)
UNNOS, NM                                    WP                             (Lat. 32[deg]57'00'' N., long. 103[deg]56'00'' W.)
FUSCO, TX                                    FIX                            (Lat. 31[deg]10'38'' N., long. 101[deg]19'47'' W.)
Junction (JCT), TX                           VORTAC                         (Lat. 30[deg]35'53'' N., long. 99[deg]49'03'' W.)
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
 

    Issued in Washington, DC, on November 19, 2013.
Gary A. Norek,
Manager, Airspace Policy and ATC Procedures Group.
[FR Doc. 2013-28503 Filed 11-26-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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