[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 100 (Tuesday, May 24, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 31436-31438]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-11013]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2022-0617; Airspace Docket No. 22-ASW-4]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Amendment of VOR Federal Airway V-573 and Area 
Navigation (RNAV) Route T-398 in the Vicinity of Sulphur Springs, TX

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to amend VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) 
Federal airway V-573 and Area Navigation (RNAV) route T-398. The FAA is 
proposing this action due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR 
portion of the Sulphur Springs, TX (SLR), VOR/Distance Measuring 
Equipment (VOR/DME) navigational aid (NAVAID). The Sulphur Springs VOR 
is being decommissioned in support of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational 
Network (MON) program.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 8, 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: 
1(800) 647-5527, or (202) 366-9826. You must identify FAA Docket No. 
FAA-2022-0617; Airspace Docket No. 22-ASW-4 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: Colby Abbott, 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 National Airspace System (NAS) as 
necessary to preserve the safe and efficient flow of air traffic.

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-2022-0617; Airspace Docket No. 22-ASW-4) 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-2022-0617; Airspace Docket No. 22-ASW-4.'' 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 NPRMs

    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 Operations Support Group, Central 
Service Center, Federal Aviation Administration, 10101 Hillwood 
Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177.

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,

[[Page 31437]]

air traffic service routes, and reporting points.

Background

    The FAA is planning to decommission the Sulphur Springs, TX, VOR in 
February 2023. The Sulphur Springs VOR was 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 
of July 26, 2016 (81 FR 48694), Docket No. FAA-2011-1082.
    Although the VOR portion of the Sulphur Springs VOR/DME is planned 
for decommissioning, the co-located DME portion of the NAVAID is being 
retained to support NextGen PBN flight procedure requirements.
    The ATS routes affected by the Sulphur Springs VOR decommissioning 
are VOR Federal airway V-573 and RNAV route T-398. The V-573 airway is 
affected directly with the Sulphur Springs VOR being included in the 
route description. However, the T-398 route is a mitigation to address 
the proposed loss of the V-573 airway segment affected by the planned 
Sulphur Springs VOR decommissioning. With the planned decommissioning 
of the Sulphur Springs VOR, the remaining ground-based NAVAID coverage 
in the area is insufficient to enable the continuity of V-573. As such, 
modifications to the airway would result in creating a gap in the 
airway.
    To overcome the airway gap in V-573, instrument flight rules (IFR) 
traffic could use portions of adjacent VOR Federal airways V-16, V-124, 
and V-278 to circumnavigate the affected area, or receive air traffic 
control (ATC) radar vectors to fly through the affected area. 
Additionally, IFR pilots equipped with RNAV capabilities could file and 
navigate point to point using the existing fixes that would remain in 
place, or could use the T-398 route extension proposed in this action, 
to support continued operations though the affected area. Visual flight 
rules (VFR) pilots who elect to navigate via the affected ATS routes 
could also take advantage of the adjacent ATS routes or ATC services 
listed previously.
    As noted above, the FAA proposes to extend RNAV route T-398 between 
the RRORY, TX, waypoint (WP) being established near the Bonham, TX, 
VOR/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) and the existing SLOTH, TX, WP 
located near the Texarkana, AR, VORTAC. The proposed T-398 route 
extension would overlay the V-573 airway segment between the Bonham 
VORTAC and the Texarkana VORTAC and, in part, mitigate the proposed 
removal of the V-573 airway segment between those NAVAIDs. The new T-
route extension would provide airspace users equipped with RNAV 
capabilities an enroute structure between the Bonham, TX, area eastward 
to the Pinehurst, NC, area. Further, the extended T-398 route would 
support the FAA's NextGen efforts to modernize the NAS navigation 
system from a ground-based system to a satellite-based system.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 to amend VOR 
Federal airway V-573 and RNAV route T-398 due to the planned 
decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Sulphur Springs, TX (SLR), 
VOR/DME. The proposed ATS route actions are described below.
    V-573: V-573 currently extends between the Will Rogers, OK, VORTAC 
and the Little Rock, AR, VORTAC. The FAA proposes to remove the airway 
segment overlying the Sulphur Springs VOR/DME between the Bonham, TX, 
VORTAC and the Texarkana, AR, VORTAC. The unaffected portions of the 
existing airway would remain as charted.
    T-398: T-398 currently extends between the SLOTH, TX, WP, and the 
GMINI, NC, WP. The FAA proposes to extend the route further westward 
between the RRORY, TX, WP being established near the Bonham, TX, VORTAC 
and the SLOTH, TX, WP. The added RNAV route segment would overlay the 
V-573 airway segment proposed for removal between the Bonham, TX, 
VORTAC and Texarkana, AR, VORTAC noted above. The full route legal 
description is listed in ``The Proposed Amendment'' section, below. The 
unaffected portions of the existing route would remain as charted.
    All NAVAID radials listed in the VOR Federal airway description 
below are unchanged and stated in True degrees.
    VOR Federal airways are published in paragraph 6010(a) and RNAV T-
routes are published in paragraph 6011 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 ATS routes 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 6010(a) Domestic VOR Federal Airways.

* * * * *

V-573 [Amended]

    From Will Rogers, OK; INT Will Rogers 195[deg] and Ardmore, OK, 
327[deg] radials; Ardmore; to Bonham, TX. From Texarkana,

[[Page 31438]]

AR; INT Texarkana 037[deg] and Hot Springs, AR, 225[deg] radials; 
Hot Springs; to Little Rock, AR.
* * * * *

Paragraph 6011 United States Area Navigation Routes.

* * * * *

T-398 RRORY, TX to GMINI, NC [Amended]
 
RRORY, TX               WP                     (Lat. 33[deg]32'14.95'' N, long. 096[deg]14'03.45'' W)
MERIC, TX               WP                     (Lat. 33[deg]11'54.97'' N, long. 095[deg]32'32.66'' W)
SLOTH, TX               WP                     (Lat. 33[deg]30'49.99'' N, long. 094[deg]04'24.38'' W)
MUFRE, AR               FIX                    (Lat. 34[deg]05'31.32'' N, long. 093[deg]10'43.80'' W)
LITTR, AR               WP                     (Lat. 34[deg]40'39.90'' N, long. 092[deg]10'49.26'' W)
EMEEY, AR               WP                     (Lat. 34[deg]34'30.29'' N, long. 090[deg]40'27.14'' W)
GOINS, MS               WP                     (Lat. 34[deg]46'12.64'' N, long. 089[deg]29'46.81'' W)
HAGIE, AL               WP                     (Lat. 34[deg]42'25.87'' N, long. 087[deg]29'29.76'' W)
FILUN, AL               WP                     (Lat. 34[deg]47'50.14'' N, long. 086[deg]38'01.14'' W)
JILIS, GA               WP                     (Lat. 34[deg]57'23.98'' N, long. 085[deg]08'03.46'' W)
CRAND, GA               FIX                    (Lat. 34[deg]57'28.88'' N, long. 084[deg]51'20.59'' W)
BALNN, GA               WP                     (Lat. 34[deg]56'34.20'' N, long. 083[deg]54'56.42'' W)
BURGG, SC               WP                     (Lat. 35[deg]02'00.55'' N, long. 081[deg]55'36.86'' W)
GAFFE, SC               FIX                    (Lat. 35[deg]05'38.90'' N, long. 081[deg]33'23.92'' W)
CRLNA, NC               WP                     (Lat. 35[deg]12'49.48'' N, long. 080[deg]56'57.32'' W)
LOCAS, NC               FIX                    (Lat. 35[deg]12'05.18'' N, long. 080[deg]26'44.89'' W)
RELPY, NC               FIX                    (Lat. 35[deg]12'45.70'' N, long. 079[deg]47'28.76'' W)
GMINI, NC               WP                     (Lat. 35[deg]12'23.01'' N, long. 079[deg]34'01.98'' W)
 

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    Issued in Washington, DC, on May 18, 2022.
Scott M. Rosenbloom,
Manager, Airspace Rules and Regulations.
[FR Doc. 2022-11013 Filed 5-23-22; 8:45 am]
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