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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 236 (Monday, December 9, 2024)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 97569-97571]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-28726]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2024-2568; Airspace Docket No. 24-AGL-10]
RIN 2120-AA66

Amendment of Jet Routes J-60 and J-82, and VOR Federal Airways V-
8, V-55, and V-221; and Revocation of VOR Federal Airways V-92 and V-
126 in the Vicinity of Goshen, IN

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to amend Jet Routes J-60 and J-82, and 
Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal Airways V-8, V-
55, and V-221; and revoke VOR Federal Airways V-92 and V-126. The FAA 
is proposing this action due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR 
portion of the Goshen, IN (GSH), VOR/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) 
navigational aid (NAVAID). The Goshen 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 23, 2025.

ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by FAA Docket No. FAA-2024-2568 and 
Airspace Docket No. 24-AGL-10 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 7400.11J, 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, 
600 Independence Avenue SW, Washington DC 20597; telephone: (202) 267-
8783.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Colby Abbott, Rules and Regulations 
Group, Office of Policy, Federal Aviation Administration, 600 
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20597; 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,

[[Page 97570]]

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 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

    Jet Routes are published in paragraph 2004 and 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 7400.11J, dated July 31, 
2024, and effective September 15, 2024. 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 7400.11J 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 Goshen, 
IN, VORTAC in June 2025. The Goshen 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 Goshen VORTAC is planned for 
decommissioning, the co-located Tactical Air Navigation (TACAN) portion 
of the NAVAID is being retained. The TACAN would continue to provide 
navigational service for military operations and Distance Measuring 
Equipment (DME) service supporting current and future NextGen PBN 
flight procedure requirements.
    The Air Traffic Service (ATS) routes affected by the planned 
decommissioning of the Goshen VOR are J-60, J-82, V-8, V-55, V-92, V-
126, and V-221. With the planned decommissioning of the Goshen VOR, the 
remaining ground-based NAVAID coverage in the area is insufficient to 
enable the continuity of the affected routes. As such, proposed 
modifications to J-82 and V-221 would result in the ATS routes being 
shortened; to J-60 would result in a gap in the route; to V-8 would 
result in an existing gap being expanded; to V-55 would result in an 
additional gap in the airway; and to V-92 and V-126 would result in the 
airways being revoked.
    To address the proposed amendments to the affected ATS routes, 
instrument flight rules (IFR) traffic could use Jet Routes J-30, J-146, 
and J-584 in the high-altitude stratum or use VOR Federal Airways V-10, 
V-38, V-277, and V-526 in the low-altitude stratum to navigate around 
the area affected by the planned decommissioning of the Goshen VOR. 
Additionally, IFR pilots with Area Navigation (RNAV)-equipped aircraft 
could navigate using RNAV Route Q-62 in the high-altitude stratum, RNAV 
Routes T-215 and T-265 in the low-altitude stratum, or point-to-point 
using the existing Fixes and waypoints (WP) that would remain in place 
to support continued operations though the affected area. Visual flight 
rules pilots who elect to navigate via the affected ATS routes could 
also take advantage of the adjacent conventional airways listed above, 
as well as the listed RNAV routes and point-to-point navigation, if 
properly equipped. Lastly, all aircraft have the option to request and 
receive radar vectors from air traffic control to transit the affected 
area as well.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 by amending Jet 
Routes J-60 and J-82, and VOR Federal Airways V-8, V-55, and V-221; and 
revoking VOR Federal Airways V-92 and V-126. The FAA is proposing this 
action due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the 
Goshen, IN, VORTAC NAVAID. The proposed ATS route actions are described 
below.
    J-60: J-60 currently extends between the Los Angeles, CA, VORTAC 
and the Sparta, NJ, VORTAC. The FAA proposes to remove the route 
segment between the Joliet, IL, VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/
DME) and the Dryer, OH, VOR/DME. As amended, the route would be changed 
to extend between the Los Angeles VORTAC and the Joliet VOR/DME, and 
between the Dryer VOR/DME and the Sparta VORTAC.
    J-82: J-82 currently extends between the Battle Ground, WA, VORTAC 
and the Sioux Falls, SD, VORTAC; and between the Dubuque, IA, VORTAC 
and the Goshen, IN, VORTAC. The FAA proposes to remove the route 
segment between the Joliet, IL, VOR/DME and the Goshen VORTAC. As 
amended, the route would be changed to extend

[[Page 97571]]

between the Battle Ground VORTAC and the Sioux Falls VORTAC, and 
between the Dubuque VORTAC and the Joliet VOR/DME.
    V-8: V-8 currently extends between the intersection of the Seal 
Beach, CA, VORTAC 266[deg] and Ventura, CA, VOR/DME 144[deg] radials 
(DOYLE Fix) and the Flag City, OH, VORTAC; and between the Martinsburg, 
WV, VORTAC and the Washington, DC, VOR/DME. The portion of the airway 
outside the United States has no upper limit. The FAA proposes to 
remove the airway segment between the Chicago Heights, IL, VORTAC and 
the Flag City VORTAC. As amended, the airway would be changed to extend 
between the intersection of the Seal Beach VORTAC 266[deg] and Ventura 
VOR/DME 144[deg] radials (DOYLE Fix) and the Chicago Heights VORTAC, 
and between the Martinsburg VORTAC and the Washington VOR/DME.
    V-55: V-55 currently extends between the Dayton, OH, VOR/DME and 
the Pullman, MI, VOR/DME; and between the Grand Forks, ND, VOR/DME and 
the Bismarck, ND, VOR/DME. The FAA proposes to remove the airway 
segment between the Fort Wayne, IN, VORTAC and the Gipper, MI, VORTAC. 
As amended, the airway would be changed to extend between the Dayton 
VOR/DME and the Fort Wayne VORTAC, between the Gipper VORTAC and the 
Pullman VOR/DME, and between the Grand Forks VOR/DME and the Bismarck 
VOR/DME.
    V-92: V-92 currently extends between the Chicago Heights, IL, 
VORTAC and the Goshen, IN, VORTAC. The FAA proposes to remove the 
airway in its entirety.
    V-126: V-126 currently extends between the Goshen, IN, VORTAC and 
the intersection of the Goshen VORTAC 092[deg] and Fort Wayne, IN, 
VORTAC 016[deg] radials (ILTON Fix). The FAA proposes to remove the 
airway in its entirety.
    V-221: V-221 currently extends between the Bible Grove, IL, VORTAC 
and the intersection of the Fort Wayne, IN, VORTAC 016[deg] and Goshen, 
IN, VORTAC 092[deg] radials (ILTON Fix). The FAA proposes to remove the 
airway segment between the Fort Wayne VORTAC and the intersection of 
the Fort Wayne VORTAC 016[deg] and Goshen VORTAC 092[deg] radials 
(ILTON Fix). As amended, the airway would be changed to extend between 
the Bible Grove VORTAC and the Fort Wayne VORTAC.
    All NAVAID radials listed in the ATS route descriptions in the 
regulatory text of this notice of proposed rulemaking 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); 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 
7400.11J, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated July 31, 
2024, and effective September 15, 2024, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 2004 Jet Routes.

* * * * *

J-60 [Amended]

    From Los Angeles, CA; Paradise, CA; Hector, CA; Boulder City, 
NV; Bryce Canyon, UT; Hanksville, UT; Red Table, CO; Mile High, CO; 
Hayes Center, NE; Lincoln, NE; Iowa City, IA; to Joliet, IL. From 
Dryer, OH; Philipsburg, PA; INT Philipsburg 100[deg] and Sparta, NJ, 
253[deg] radials; to Sparta.
* * * * *

J-82 [Amended]

    From Battle Ground, WA; Donnelly, ID; Dubois, ID; Crazy Woman, 
WY; Rapid City, SD; to Sioux Falls, SD. From Dubuque, IA; INT 
Dubuque 095[deg] and Joliet, IL, 317[deg] radials; to Joliet.
* * * * *

Paragraph 6010(a) Domestic VOR Federal Airways.

* * * * *

V-8 [Amended]

    From INT Seal Beach, CA, 266[deg] and Ventura, CA, 144[deg] 
radials; Seal Beach; Paradise, CA; 35 miles, 7 miles wide (3 miles 
SE and 4 miles NW of centerline) Hector, CA; Goffs, CA; INT Goffs 
033[deg] and Morman Mesa, NV, 196[deg] radials; Morman Mesa; Bryce 
Canyon, UT; Hanksville, UT; Grand Junction, CO; Rifle, CO; 
Kremmling, CO; Mile High, CO; Akron, CO; Hayes Center, NE; Grand 
Island, NE; Omaha, IA; Des Moines, IA; Iowa City, IA; Moline, IL; 
Joliet, IL; to Chicago Heights, IL. From Martinsburg, WV; to 
Washington, DC. The portion outside the United States has no upper 
limit.
* * * * *

V-55 [Amended]

    From Dayton, OH; to Fort Wayne, IN. From Gipper, MI; Keeler, MI; 
to Pullman, MI. From Grand Forks, ND; INT Grand Forks 239[deg] and 
Bismarck, ND, 067[deg] radials; to Bismarck.
* * * * *

V-92 [Removed]

* * * * *

V-126 [Removed]

* * * * *

V-221 [Amended]

    From Bible Grove, IL; Hoosier, IN; Shelbyville, IN; Muncie, IN; 
to Fort Wayne, IN.
* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on December 3, 2024.
Richard Lee Parks,
Manager (A), Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2024-28726 Filed 12-6-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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