Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 244 / Thursday, December 21, 2023 / Proposed Rules 88281 

Points, dated August 11, 2023, and 

effective September 15, 2023, is 

amended as follows: 

Paragraph 6005 Class E Airspace Areas 

Extending Upward From 700 Feet or More 

Above the Surface of the Earth. 

* * * * * 

AEA PA E5 Ebensburg, PA [Amended] 

Ebensburg Airport, PA 

(Lat. 40°27′41′′ N, long. 78°46′31′′ W) 

That airspace extending upward from 700 

feet above the surface within a 8.1-mile 

radius of Ebensburg Airport; and within 4 

miles each side of the 237° bearing from the 

airport extending from the 8.1-mile radius to 

11.3 miles west of the airport. 

* * * * * 

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on December 

14, 2023. 

Martin A. Skinner, 

Acting Manager, Operations Support Group, 

ATO Central Service Center. 

[FR Doc. 2023–27869 Filed 12–20–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 71 

[Docket No. FAA–2023–2363 Airspace 

Docket No. 22–AAL–33] 

RIN 2120–AA66 

Revocation of Colored Federal Airway 

Amber 15 and Amendment of Alaskan 

Very High Frequency Omnidirectional 

Range Federal Airway V–428 in Alaska 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: This action proposes to 

revoke Colored Federal airway Amber 

15 (A–15) within United States (U.S.) 

airspace due to the pending 

decommissioning of the Nabesna, 

Sumner Strait, Haines, and Nichols 

Nondirectional Radio Beacons (NDB) in 

Alaska. Additionally, this action 

proposes to amend Alaskan Very High 

Frequency Omnidirectional Range 

(VOR) Federal Airway V–428 due to the 

pending decommissioning of the Haines 

NDB. 

DATES: Comments must be received on 

or before February 5, 2024. 

ADDRESSES: Send comments identified 

by FAA Docket No. FAA–2023–2363 

and Airspace Docket No. 22–AAL–33 

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 

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: 

Steven Roff, 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 route structure as necessary 

to preserve the safe and efficient flow of 

air traffic within the National Airspace 

System (NAS). 

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 segment 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 https://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 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, 

Western Service Center, Federal 

Aviation Administration, 2200 South 

216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198. 

Incorporation by Reference 

Colored Federal airways are 

published in paragraph 6009 and 

Alaskan VOR Federal airways are 

published in paragraph 6010 of FAA 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with PROPOSALS
88282 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 244 / Thursday, December 21, 2023 / Proposed Rules 

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 

In 2003, Congress enacted the Vision 

100-Century of Aviation 

Reauthorization Act (Pub. L. 108–176), 

which established a joint planning and 

development office in the FAA to 

manage the work related to the Next 

Generation Air Transportation System 

(NextGen). Today, NextGen is an 

ongoing FAA-led modernization of the 

nation’s air transportation system to 

make flying safer, more efficient, and 

more predictable. 

In support of NextGen, this proposal 

is part of an ongoing, large, and 

comprehensive T-route modernization 

project in the state of Alaska. The 

project mission statement states: ‘‘To 

modernize Alaska’s Air Traffic Service 

route structure using satellite-based 

navigation development of new T-routes 

and optimization of existing T-routes 

will enhance safety, increase efficiency 

and access, and will provide en route 

continuity that is not subject to the 

restrictions associated with groundbased airway navigation.’’ As part of 

this project, the FAA evaluated the 

existing Colored Airway structure for: 

(a) direct replacement (i.e., overlay) 

with a T-route that offers a similar or 

lower Minimum En route Altitude 

(MEA) or Global Navigation Satellite 

System (GNSS) MEA; (b) the 

replacement of the colored airway with 

a T-route in an optimized but similar 

geographic area, while retaining similar 

or lower MEA; or (c) removal with no 

route structure (T-route) restored in that 

area because the value was determined 

to be insignificant. 

The aviation industry/users have 

indicated a desire for the FAA to 

transition the Alaskan en route 

navigation structure away from 

dependency on NDBs and move to 

develop and improve the United States 

Area Navigation (RNAV) route structure. 

Colored Federal airway A–15 extends 

between the Ethelda, British Columbia 

(BC), Canada, NDB and the Delta 

Junction, AK, NDB, excluding the 

airspace within Canada. 

The decommissioning of the Nichols, 

Sumner Strait, and Haines NDBs in 

Alaska would render the segment of A– 

15 within U.S. airspace between the 

United Sates/Canadian border south of 

the Nichols NDB and the United States/ 

Canadian border north of Haines NDB 

unusable. Mitigations to the loss of this 

segment are a combination of 

conventional airways and RNAV routes. 

Alternatives to the segment of A–15 

between the United Sates/Canadian 

border and the Nichols NDB are nearby 

V–317 and V–309. Alternative routing 

between the Nichols NDB and the 

United States/Canadian border north of 

the Haines NDB, are V–317, T–266, and 

T–481. T–266 was developed for routing 

from the Nichols NDB to the Haines 

NDB and T–481 was developed for 

routing from Haines to the United 

States/Canadian border. T–266 and T– 

481 were developed to provide alternate 

routing in this area that avoids 

mountainous terrain and its associated 

weather by following the water channels 

along the Lynn Canal and Stephens 

Passage. This routing adds some mileage 

to the route but avoids the higher 

minimum enroute altitudes (MEA) and 

the dangers associated with overflying 

the mountain terrain. 

The decommissioning of the Nabesna, 

AK, NDB, would render the northern 

segment of A–15 within U.S. airspace 

between the United States/Canadian 

border and the Delta Junction NDB 

unusable. The loss of this segment is 

mitigated by the existence of V–444, T– 

232, and T–372. 

Alaskan VOR Federal Airway V–428 

extends between the Biorka Island, AK, 

Very High Frequency Omnidirectional 

Range/Tactical Air Navigation 

(VORTAC) and Whitehorse, Yukon 

Territory (YT), Canada, VOR/distance 

measuring equipment (VOR/DME), 

excluding the airspace within Canada. 

With the decommissioning of the 

Haines NDB, a segment of V–428 would 

become unusable. The FAA is proposing 

to revoke the segment of V–428 between 

the Sisters Island, AK, VORTAC and 

Whitehorse, YT, Canada, VOR/DME 

within United States airspace. The loss 

of this airway is mitigated by an existing 

RNAV route, T–481, between the Sisters 

Island VORTAC and the Haines NDB, 

and T–266 between the Haines NDB and 

the United States/Canadian border. 

The Proposal 

The FAA is proposing an amendment 

to 14 CFR part 71 to revoke Colored 

Federal airway A–15 in its entirety and 

amend Alaskan VOR Federal Airway V– 

428 due to the pending 

decommissioning of supporting 

Navigational Aids (NAVAID). 

Colored Federal airway A–15 extends 

between the Ethelda, BC, Canada, NDB 

and the Delta Junction, AK, NDB, 

excluding the airspace within Canada. 

The FAA proposes to revoke Colored 

Federal airway A–15 in its entirety. 

Alaskan VOR Federal Airway V–428 

extends between the Biorka Island, AK, 

VORTAC and the Whitehorse, YT, 

Canada, VOR/DME, excluding the 

airspace within Canada. The FAA is 

proposing to revoke the segment of V– 

428 within U.S. airspace between the 

Sisters Island, AK, VORTAC and 

Whitehorse, YT, Canada, VOR/DME. As 

amended, V–428 would extend between 

the Biorka Island VORTAC and the 

Sisters Island VORTAC. 

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 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. 

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 

■ 1. The authority citation for 14 CFR 

part 71 continues to read as follows: 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with PROPOSALS
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 244 / Thursday, December 21, 2023 / Proposed Rules 88283 

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. 

§ 71.1 [Amended] 

■ 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 6009(c) Amber Federal Airways. 

* * * * * 

A–15 [Removed] 

* * * * * 

Paragraph 6010(b) Alaskan VOR Federal 

Airways. 

* * * * * 

V–428 [Amended] 

From Biorka Island, AK; to Sisters Island, 

AK. 

* * * * * 

Issued in Washington, DC, on December 

15, 2023. 

Brian Konie, 

Acting Manager, Rules and Regulations 

Group. 

[FR Doc. 2023–28029 Filed 12–20–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 71 

[Docket No. FAA–2023–2346 Airspace 

Docket No. 22–AAL–31] 

RIN 2120–AA66 

Revocation of Colored Federal Airway 

Amber 1 (A–1) in Alaska 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: This action proposes to 

revoke Colored Federal airway Amber 1 

(A–1) in Alaska due to the pending 

decommissioning of the navigational 

aids (NAVAID) that support the airway. 

DATES: Comments must be received on 

or before February 5, 2024. 

ADDRESSES: Send comments identified 

by FAA Docket No. FAA–2023–2346 

and Airspace Docket No. 22–AAL–31 

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 

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: 

Steven Roff, 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 route structure as necessary 

to preserve the safe and efficient flow of 

air traffic within the National Airspace 

System (NAS). 

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 https://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 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, 

Western Service Center, Federal 

Aviation Administration, 2200 South 

216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198. 

Incorporation by Reference 

Colored Federal airways are 

published in paragraph 6009 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 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with PROPOSALS