[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 104 (Tuesday, May 31, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 32378-32379]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-11503]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2022-0540; Airspace Docket No. 22-AAL-49]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Amendment of Alaskan Federal Airway V-531 Near Point 
Hope, AK

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to amend the Alaskan VHF Omnidirectional 
Range (VOR) Federal airway V-531 (hereinafter referred to as Alaskan V-
531) due to the planned decommissioning of the Point Hope, AK, (PHO) 
Non-directional Beacon (NDB) navigational aid (NAVAID).

DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 15, 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-2022-0540; Airspace Docket No. 22-AAL-49 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 modify the airway structure as necessary to 
preserve the safe and efficient flow of air traffic within the National 
Airspace System.

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-2022-0540; Airspace Docket No 22-AAL-49) 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-2022-0540; Airspace Docket No. 22-AAL-49.'' 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 Operations Support Group, Western 
Service Center, 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

    The aviation industry/users have indicated a desire for the FAA to 
transition the Alaskan en route navigation structure away from the

[[Page 32379]]

dependency on NDBs. The advances in technology have allowed for 
alternate navigation methods to support decommissioning of high cost 
ground navigation equipment. The FAA conducted a non-rulemaking study, 
in accordance with FAA Order JO 7400.2, Procedures for Handling 
Airspace Matters, in 2021 on the Point Hope, AK, (PHO) NDB due to the 
ongoing high cost of maintenance and repairs. As a result of the study, 
there were no objections received to remove the Point Hope, AK, (PHO) 
NDB. Therefore, the FAA proceeded to schedule the decommissioning of 
the Point Hope, AK, (PHO) NDB.
    With the planned decommissioning of the Point Hope, AK, (PHO) NDB, 
the remaining ground-based coverage in the area is insufficient to 
enable the continuity of a portion of the Alaskan V-531. As such, this 
proposal would result in Alaskan V-531 being shortened with a new end 
point. To overcome the loss of a portion of Alaskan V-531, pilots 
equipped with Area Navigation (RNAV) capabilities may use RNAV T-route, 
T-229, as an alternate route. A separate rule-making action proposes to 
extend RNAV T-229 and have it overlay the proposed shortened segment of 
Alaskan V-531; this proposed extension of T-229 would be effective 
prior to the shortening of V-531.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 to amend the 
Alaskan VOR Federal airway V-531, due to the planned decommissioning of 
the Point Hope, AK, (PHO) NDB. The proposed airway change is described 
below.
    Alaskan V-531. Alaskan V-531 currently navigates between the 
Fairbanks, AK, VHF Omnidirectional Range and Tactical Air Navigational 
System (VORTAC) and the Point Hope, AK, NDB. The FAA proposes to remove 
a portion of the airway between the Kotzebue, AK, VOR/Distance 
Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) and the Point Hope, AK, NDB. The Alaskan 
airway would then terminate at the Kotzebue, AK, VOR/DME. The 
unaffected portions of the existing airway would remain as charted.
    Alaskan VOR Federal airways are published in paragraph 6010(b) 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 Alaskan 
VOR Federal airway 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(b) Alaskan VOR Federal Airways

* * * * *

V-531 [Amended]

    From Fairbanks, AK, via Tanana, AK; Huslia, AK; Selawik, AK; to 
Kotzebue, AK
* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on May 23, 2022.
Scott M. Rosenbloom,
Manager, Airspace Rules and Regulations.
[FR Doc. 2022-11503 Filed 5-27-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P