[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 80 (Tuesday, April 26, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 24481-24483]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-08785]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2022-0429; Airspace Docket No. 21-AAL-40]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Establishment of Area Navigation (RNAV) Route T-719; 
Sitka, AK

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to establish one Canadian Area Navigation 
(RNAV) route in the vicinity of Sitka, AK. This action is required in 
support of a large and comprehensive RNAV T-route modernization project 
for the state of Alaska.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 10, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on this proposal to the U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Operations, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West 
Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590; telephone: 
(800) 647-5527, or (202) 366-9826. You must identify FAA Docket No. 
FAA-2022-0429; Airspace Docket No. 21-AAL-40 at the beginning of your 
comments. You may also submit comments through the internet at https://www.regulations.gov.
    FAA Order JO 7400.11F, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, 
and subsequent amendments can be viewed online at https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/. For further information, you can contact the 
Rules and Regulations Group, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267-
8783.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jesse Acevedo, 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 expand the availability of RNAV in Alaska and 
improve the efficient flow of air traffic within the National Airspace 
System (NAS) by lessoning the dependency on ground based navigation.

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-2022-0429; Airspace Docket No. 21-AAL-40) 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 https://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-2022-0429; Airspace Docket No. 21-AAL-40.'' The 
postcard will be date/time stamped and returned to the commenter.
    All communications received on or before the specified comment 
closing date 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 comment 
closing date. A report summarizing each substantive public contact with 
FAA personnel concerned with this rulemaking will be filed in the 
docket.

Availability of NPRM

    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 https://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 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 Western Service Center, Operations 
Support Group, Federal Aviation Administration, 2200 South 216th St., 
Des Moines, WA 98198.

Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference

    This document proposes to amend FAA Order JO 7400.11F, Airspace 
Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 10, 2021, and effective 
September 15, 2021. FAA Order JO 7400.11F is publicly available as 
listed in the ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order JO 7400.11F 
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),

[[Page 24482]]

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 a larger and 
comprehensive T-route modernization project in the state of Alaska. The 
project's mission statement is ``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 enroute 
continuity that is not subject to the restrictions associated with 
ground based airway navigation.'' As part of this project, the FAA 
evaluated the existing Colored airway structure for: (1) Direct 
replacement (i.e., overlay) with a T-route that offers a similar or 
lower Minimum Enroute Altitude (MEA) or Global Navigation Satellite 
System Minimum Enroute Altitude (GNSS MEA); (2) the replacement of the 
Colored airway with a T-route in an optimized but similar geographic 
area, while retaining similar or lower MEA; or (3) 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 Non-Directional Beacons (NDB), and move to develop and 
improve the RNAV route structure. The FAA considers this transition as 
time sensitive, given the increasing number of NDBs that are currently 
and/or scheduled out of service, and the lack of an NDB acquisition, 
maintenance, or sustainment program. This forces pilots flying under 
Instrument Flight Rules (IFR), with aircraft not equipped with de-icing 
protection, to fly at higher than normal MEAs, increasing the risk to 
flight safety. The Sitka, AK, NDB is one of the many NDBs scheduled for 
decommissioning. The proposal to establish RNAV route, T-719, would 
support the decommissioning of the Sitka, AK, NDB. Further, the 
proposed route would connect with a planned Canadian extension to their 
RNAV route T-719, thereby connecting the Sandspit, Canada (YZP) VHF 
Omnidirectional Range/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) and the 
proposed new EEVER waypoint (WP). The Canadian extension will occur 
concurrently with the publication of the United States portion of the 
proposed RNAV T-route, T-719. Finally, the proposed RNAV route would 
overlie and eventually replace directly the Colored airway Amber 1.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 to establish 
RNAV route T-719, near Sitka, AK, in support of a large and 
comprehensive T-route modernization project in the state of Alaska. The 
proposed RNAV route establishment is described below.
    T-719: T-719 is a new RNAV route that would extend between the new 
EEVER, AK, WP and the Biorka Island, AK, (BKA) VOR and Tactical Air 
Navigational System (VORTAC). The EEVER, AK, WP would replace the CFQBR 
computer navigation Fix to be located along the Sandspit, Canada (YZP), 
VOR/DME 312[deg] radial and the US/Canada border.
    Canadian Area Navigation Routes are published in paragraph 6013 of 
FAA Order JO 7400.11F dated August 10, 2021 and effective September 15, 
2021, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The RNAV route 
listed in this document would be published subsequently in FAA Order JO 
7400.11.
    FAA Order JO 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, 
is published yearly and effective on September 15.

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

0
1. The authority citation for 14 CFR 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 JO 
7400.11F, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 10, 
2021, and effective September 15, 2021, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6013 Canadian Area Navigation Routes.

* * * * *

T-719 EEVER, AK to Biorka Island, AK (BKA)
 
EEVER, AK                                       WP                             (Lat. 54[deg]35'01.79'' N, long. 133[deg]05'54.23'' W)
Biorka Island, AK (BKA)                         VORTAC                         (Lat. 56[deg]51'33.87'' N, long. 135[deg]33'04.72'' W)
 


[[Page 24483]]

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    Issued in Washington, DC, on April 20, 2022.
Scott M. Rosenbloom,
Manager, Airspace Rules and Regulations.
[FR Doc. 2022-08785 Filed 4-25-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P