[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 95 (Tuesday, May 17, 2022)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 29825-29828]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-10031]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2021-1093; Airspace Docket No. 21-ASO-8]
RIN 2120-AA66


Amendment and Removal of VOR Federal Airways; Southeastern United 
States

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: In the proposed rule for this action, the FAA proposed to 
amend 11 VHF Omnidirectional Radar (VOR) Federal airways and remove 6 
airways in support of the VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) project 
in the southeastern United States. However, due to need for additional 
coordination with the Department of Defense (DoD), modifications of 9 
airways will be made at a later date. Eight airways remain in this rule 
with some changes from the proposed route structure.

DATES: Effective date 0901 UTC, July 14, 2022. The Director of the 
Federal Register approves this incorporation by reference action under 
1 CFR part 51, subject to the annual revision of FAA Order JO 7400.11 
and publication of conforming amendments.

ADDRESSES: 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: Paul Gallant, 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).

History

    The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking for Docket No. 
FAA-2021-1093 in the Federal Register (86 FR 72897; December 23, 2021), 
to modify 11 VOR Federal airways and remove 6 airways in the 
southeastern United States. Interested parties were invited to 
participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting written comments on 
the proposal. Four persons submitted comments.
    Domestic VOR Federal airways are published in paragraph 6010(a) of 
FAA Order JO 7400.11F, dated August 10, 2021 and effective September 
15, 2021, which is incorporated by reference in 14

[[Page 29826]]

CFR 71.1. The VOR Federal airways listed in this document will be 
subsequently published in, or removed from FAA Order JO 7400.11.

Discussion of Comments

    All commenters opposed the removal of VOR Federal airways unless 
they are replaced by Area Navigation (RNAV) T routes, or there are 
suitable existing routes to be used as alternatives. The commenters 
wrote that the lack of replacement routes would hurt efficiency, and 
limit pilots' ability to flight plan for lower altitudes, especially 
when necessary to avoid inflight icing conditions. They stated that T 
routes and VOR airways provide minimum en route altitudes (MEA) that 
are depicted on aeronautical charts. Pilots can rely on these routes 
for safe navigation. However, a lack of suitable charted routes would 
require more reliance on random route navigation, which would require 
pilots to plan a flight using the Off Route Obstacle Clearance Altitude 
(OROCA), which may be much higher than a published MEA.
    Additionally, the DoD has not yet provided comments on the route 
structure changes proposed in the NPRM, and requested the FAA not 
remove any route structure pending DoD review.
    The Federal Aviation Administration recognizes the challenges 
associated with the modification or removal of airways in support of 
the VOR MON project, and the transition of the NAS to performance-based 
navigation.
    As a result, pending further evaluation and DoD feedback, the FAA 
has not included the following airways in this final rule: V-5, V-20, 
V-51, V-70, V-155, V-179, V-243, V-267 and V-578. Modification of these 
airways will be made in subsequent actions at a later date. They will 
remain as currently shown on aeronautical charts pending later action.
    Consequently, only the following airway modifications are 
implemented by this rule: V-35, V-56, V-66, V-97, V-154, V-323, and V-
454. The route descriptions differ from those that were published in 
the NPRM and are described in the ``Differences from the NPRM'' 
section. In addition, T route substitutions for the affected routes are 
added in that section. The rule also removes airway V-362 as proposed 
in the NPRM.

Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference

    This document amends 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.

Differences From the NPRM

    Based on comments received and continuing coordination with the 
Department of Defense, this docket action is revised to facilitate only 
those structural changes necessary due to the scheduled decommissioning 
of the Atlanta, GA, (ATL); Crimson, AL, (LDK); and Macon, GA, (MCN) 
VORTACs.
    The proposed changes to the following airways are not included in 
this final rule and will be slipped to a subsequent docket action at a 
later date: V-5, V-20, V-51, V-70, V-155, V-179, V-243, V-267, and V-
578. These airways will remain in place as currently depicted on IFR En 
Route Charts.
    Airway actions for V-35, V-56, V-66, V-97, V-154, V-323, and V-454 
are included in this final rule, but with changes to the descriptions 
that were published in the NPRM, as noted below. In addition, changes 
to V-362 are as published in the NPRM.

The Rule

    This action amends 14 CFR part 71 by modifying the following VOR 
Federal airways: V-35, V-56, V-66, V-97, V-154, V-323, V-362, and V-454 
as described below.
    V-35: V-35 currently consists of two parts: From Dolphin, FL to 
Morgantown, WV; and From Phillipsburg, PA, to Syracuse, NY. This action 
removes the segments between Pecan, GA and the intersection of the 
Dublin, GA 309[deg] and the Athens, GA 195[deg] radials (the SINCA, GA, 
FIX on aeronautical charts). The segments between the SINCA Fix and 
Glade Spring, VA, are retained, but the SINCA FIX is redefined as the 
intersection of the Dublin, GA, and Athens, GA radials due to the 
decommissioning of the Macon, GA, VORTAC. As amended, V-35 consists of 
three parts: From Dolphin, FL, to Pecan, GA; From the intersection of 
the above Dublin, GA and Athens, GA radials (SINCA FIX); to Morgantown, 
WV, and From Philipsburg, PA to Syracuse, NY. A new T route (T-423) 
will overlay V-35 from Sugarloaf Mountain, NC, to Charleston, WV. In 
addition, the words ``The airspace below 2,000 feet MSL outside the 
United States is excluded,'' and ``The portion outside the United 
States has no upper limit,'' are removed from the route description. A 
review of aeronautical charts shows that V-35 does not extend outside 
the U.S. territorial limit, therefore these exclusions are not 
necessary.
    V-56: V-56 currently extends from Montgomery, AL, to New Bern, NC. 
This action removes the segments from Montgomery, AL, to Colliers, SC. 
The routing from Colliers, SC to New Bern, NC is retained. A new T 
route (T-404) will overlay V-56 from Macon, GA, to Columbia, SC. As 
amended, V-56 extends from Colliers, SC, to New Bern, NC.
    V-66: V-66 currently consists of two parts: From Mission, Bay, CA, 
to Millsap, TX; and From Crimson, AL, to Franklin, VA. The segments 
from Crimson, AL, to Brookwood, AL; and from LaGrange, GA to Sandhills, 
NC are removed. The segment from Brookwood, AL, to LaGrange, GA, is 
retained. An extension of T route T-258 will overlay V-66 from Crimson, 
AL, to Sandhills, NC. As amended, V-66 consists of three parts: From 
Mission Bay, CA, to Millsap, TX (as currently charted); From Brookwood, 
AL, to LaGrange, GA; and From Sandhills, NC, to Franklin, VA.
    V-97: V-97 currently consists of two parts: From Dolphin, FL, to 
the intersection of the Chicago Heights, IL, 358[deg] and the Dupage, 
IL, 101[deg] radials; and From Nodine, MN, to Gopher, MN. This action 
removes the route segments between the intersection of the Pecan, GA, 
357[deg] and the Vienna, GA, 300[deg] radials (the charted PRATZ FIX) 
and the intersection of the Rome, GA, 060[deg] and the Volunteer, TN 
197[deg] radials (the charted NELLO FIX). T route T-319 currently 
exists through the Atlanta Class B airspace area and serves as an 
overlay for a portion of V-97 that is being removed across Atlanta, GA. 
As amended, V-97 consists of three parts: From Dolphin, FL, to the 
intersection of the Pecan, GA, 357[deg] and the Vienna, GA, 300[deg] 
radials; From the intersection of the Rome, GA 060[deg] and the 
Volunteer, TN, 197[deg] radials to the intersection of the Chicago 
Heights 358[deg] and DuPage, IL 101[deg] radials; and From Nodine, MN, 
to Gopher, MN. The airspace below 2,000 feet MSL outside the United 
States is excluded.
    V-154: V-154 currently extends from Rome, GA, to Savannah, GA. The 
NPRM proposed to remove the entire route. The FAA has decided to retain 
V-154 with the following changes. Due to the scheduled decommissioning 
of the Macon, GA, VORTAC, the point currently defined by the 
intersection of the Rome, GA 166[deg] and the Macon, GA, 301[deg] 
radials (charted as the TIROE FIX), is redefined using the intersection 
of the Rome 166[deg] and the LaGrange, GA, 048[deg] radials. T route T-
408 will overlay V-154 from Macon, GA, to Savannah, GA.

[[Page 29827]]

This rule amends V-154 to consist of two parts: From Rome, GA to the 
intersection of the Rome 166[deg] and the LaGrange, GA, 048[deg] 
radials; and From Dublin, GA, to Savannah, GA.
    V-323: V-323 currently extends from Montgomery, AL, to the 
intersection of the Dublin, GA, 309[deg] and the Athens, GA, 221[deg] 
radials. The NPRM proposed to remove the entire route. The FAA has 
decided to retain V-323 with the following changes. The route segments 
from Macon, GA, to the intersection of the Dublin, GA, 309[deg] and the 
Athens, GA 221[deg] radials (the charted HUSKY, GA, FIX) is removed 
from the route. T route T-408 will overlay V-323 from Eufaula, AL, to 
Columbia, SC. As amended, V-323 extends from Montgomery, AL; via 
Eufaula, AL; to the intersection of the Eufaula 059[deg] and the Pecan, 
GA 357[deg] radials (the charted WILMS, GA, FIX).
    V-362: V-362 currently extends from Brunswick, GA, to Macon, GA. As 
proposed in the NPRM, this action removes the entire route. No T route 
replacement is planned due to low utilization of V-362.
    V-454: V-454 currently consists of two parts: From Brookley, AL, to 
the intersection of the Greenwood, SC, 046[deg] and the Charlotte, NC 
227[deg] radials; and From the intersection of the Charlotte, NC, 
034[deg] and the Liberty, NC, 253[deg] radials to Hopewell, VA. This 
action removes the segments from the intersection of the Monroeville, 
AL, 073[deg] and the Eufaula, AL, 258[deg] radials, to the intersection 
of the Greenwood, SC, 046[deg] and the Charlotte, NC, 227[deg] radials 
from the route. In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to change the starting 
point for the second part of the route from the intersection of the 
Charlotte 034[deg] and the Liberty 253[deg] radials to Liberty, NC. 
Subsequently, the FAA decided to retain the segment between the 
intersection of the above Charlotte and Liberty radials and Liberty, 
NC. Therefore, as amended, V-454 extends from Brookley, AL, to 
Monroeville, AL; and From the intersection of the Charlotte, NC, 
034[deg] and the Liberty, NC, 253[deg] radials to Hopewell, VA. No T 
route replacement is planned due to the redundant VOR Federal airway 
route structure in the area.
    The full route descriptions are listed in the ``The Amendment'' 
section, below.
    FAA Order 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 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 amending VOR Federal 
airways V-35, V-56, V-66, V-97, V-154, V-323, and V-454, and removing 
airway V-362, in the eastern United States qualifies for categorical 
exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 
et seq.) 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); and paragraph 5-
6.5b, which categorically excludes from further environmental impact 
review ``Actions regarding establishment of jet routes and Federal 
airways (see 14 CFR 71.15, Designation of jet routes and VOR Federal 
airways) . . .''. As such, this action is not expected to cause 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 
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 JO 
7400.11F Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 10, 
2021, and effective September 15, 2021, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6010(a) Domestic VOR Federal Airways.

* * * * *

V-35 [Amended]

    From Dolphin, FL; INT Dolphin 266[deg] and Cypress, FL, 110[deg] 
radials; INT Cypress 110[deg] and Lee County, FL, 138[deg] radials; 
Lee County; INT Lee County 326[deg] and St. Petersburg, FL, 152[deg] 
radials; St. Petersburg; INT St. Petersburg 350[deg] and Cross City, 
FL, 168[deg] radials; Cross City; Greenville, FL; to Pecan, GA. From 
INT Dublin, GA 309[deg] and Athens, GA, 195[deg] radials; Athens; 
Electric City, SC; Sugarloaf Mountain, NC; Holston Mountain, TN; 
Glade Spring, VA; Charleston, WV; INT Charleston 051[deg] and 
Elkins, WV, 264[deg] radials; Clarksburg, WV; to Morgantown, WV. 
From Philipsburg, PA; Stonyfork, PA; Elmira, NY; to Syracuse, NY.
* * * * *

V-56 [Amended]

    From Colliers, SC; Columbia, SC; Florence, SC; Fayetteville, NC, 
41 miles 15 MSL, INT Fayetteville 098[deg] and New Bern, NC 256[deg] 
radials; to New Bern.
* * * * *

V-66 [Amended]

    From Mission Bay, CA; Imperial, CA; 13 miles, 24 miles, 25 MSL; 
Bard, AZ; 12 miles, 35 MSL; INT Bard 089[deg] and Gila Bend, AZ, 
261[deg] radials; 46 miles, 35 MSL; Gila Bend; Tucson, AZ, 7 miles 
wide (3 miles south and 4 miles north of centerline); Douglas, AZ; 
INT Douglas 064[deg] and Columbus, NM, 277[deg] radials; Columbus; 
El Paso, TX; 6 miles wide; INT El Paso 109[deg] and Hudspeth, TX, 
287[deg] radials; 6 miles wide; Hudspeth; Pecos, TX; Midland, TX; 
INT Midland 083[deg] and Abilene, TX, 252[deg] radials; Abilene; to 
Millsap, TX. From Brookwood, AL; to LaGrange, GA. From Sandhills, 
NC; Raleigh-Durham, NC; to Franklin, VA.
* * * * *

V-97 [Amended]

    From Dolphin, FL; La Belle, FL; St. Petersburg, FL; Seminole, 
FL; Pecan, GA; to

[[Page 29828]]

INT Pecan 357[deg] and Vienna, GA 300[deg] radials. From INT Rome, 
GA 060[deg] and Volunteer, TN, 197[deg] radials; Volunteer; London, 
KY; Lexington, KY; Cincinnati, KY; Shelbyville, IN; INT Shelbyville 
313[deg] and Boiler, IN, 136[deg] radials; Boiler; Chicago Heights, 
IL; to INT Chicago Heights 358[deg] and DuPage, IL, 101[deg] 
radials. From Nodine, MN; to Gopher, MN. The airspace below 2,000 
feet MSL outside the United States is excluded.
* * * * *

V-154 [Amended]

    From Rome, GA; INT Rome 166[deg] and LaGrange, GA, 048[deg] 
radials. From Dublin, GA; INT Dublin 105[deg] and Savannah, GA, 
289[deg] radials; to Savannah.
* * * * *

V-323 [Amended]

    From Montgomery, AL, via Eufaula, AL; to INT Eufaula 059[deg] 
and Pecan, GA 357[deg] radials.
* * * * *

V-362 [Removed]

* * * * *

V-454 [Amended]

    From Brookley, AL; to Monroeville, AL. From INT Charlotte 
034[deg] and Liberty, NC, 253[deg] radials; Liberty, NC; 
Lawrenceville, VA; to Hopewell, VA.
* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on May 5, 2022.
Scott M. Rosenbloom,
Manager, Airspace Rules and Regulations.
[FR Doc. 2022-10031 Filed 5-16-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P