[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 111 (Thursday, June 9, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 35133-35135]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-12322]



[[Page 35133]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2022-0712; Airspace Docket No. 22-ACE-1]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Amendment and Revocation of Multiple Air Traffic Service 
(ATS) Routes; Establishment of Area Navigation (RNAV) Route; and 
Revocation of the Pawnee City, NE, Low Altitude Reporting Point in the 
Vicinity of Pawnee City, NE

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to amend Jet Route J-64; amend VHF 
Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airways V-50, V-71, V-216, and V-
307; amend Area Navigation (RNAV) route T-286; establish RNAV route T-
468; and revoke J-130, J-192, V-553, and the Pawnee City, NE, low 
altitude reporting point. The FAA is proposing this action due to the 
planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Pawnee City, NE, VOR/
Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) navigational aid (NAVAID). The Pawnee 
City 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 25, 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-2022-0712; Airspace Docket No. 22-ACE-1 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-2022-0712 Airspace; Docket No. 22-ACE-1) 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-2022-0712; Airspace Docket No. 22-ACE-1.'' 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, air traffic service 
routes, and reporting points.

Background

    The FAA is planning to decommission the Pawnee City, NE, VOR in 
February 2023. The Pawnee City 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 Pawnee City, NE, VORTAC is planned 
for decommissioning, the co-located Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) 
portion of the NAVAID is being retained to support NextGen PBN flight 
procedure requirements.
    The air traffic service (ATS) routes effected by the Pawnee City 
VOR

[[Page 35134]]

decommissioning are Jet Routes J-64, J-130, and J-192; VOR Federal 
airways V-50, V-71, V-216, V-307, and V-553; and RNAV route T-286. With 
the planned decommissioning of the Pawnee City VOR, the remaining 
ground-based NAVAID coverage in the area is insufficient to enable the 
continuity of the affected ATS routes. As such, proposed modifications 
to J-64, V-71, and V-216 would result in a gap being created in the ATS 
routes; to V-50 and V-307 would result in the airways being shortened; 
and to T-286 would result in one route point being changed and one 
route point being removed from the description, without affecting the 
route structure. Additionally, proposed actions to J-130, J-192, V-553, 
and the Pawnee City, NE, low altitude reporting point would result in 
the ATS routes and low altitude reporting point being revoked.
    To overcome the proposed modifications and revocations to the 
affected ATS routes, instrument flight rules (IFR) traffic could use 
portions of adjacent ATS routes, including Jet Routes J-21, J-25, J-41, 
J-60, J-80, and J-146 in the high altitude enroute structure and V-77, 
V-159, and V-532 in the low altitude enroute structure, or receive air 
traffic control (ATC) radar vectors to fly around or through the 
affected area. Pilots equipped with RNAV capabilities could also 
navigate using Q-90 and Q-136 in the high altitude enroute structure; 
T-286, T-411, or T-468 being established in the low altitude enroute 
structure; or point to point using the existing NAVAIDs and fixes that 
would remain in place 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.
    Additionally, the FAA proposes to amend the T-286 RNAV route by 
replacing the Pawnee City, NE, VORTAC with a waypoint (WP) being 
established in close proximity of the Pawnee City VORTAC, as well as 
removing an unnecessary fix from the route description, and extending 
the existing T-286 RNAV route northward to the FONIA, ND, Fix.
    The FAA also proposes to establish RNAV route T-468 between the 
Hill City, KS, VORTAC and the LEWRP, MO, WP located near the 
Kirksville, MO, area. The new T-route would, in part, mitigate the 
proposed removal of the V-216 airway segment affected by the planned 
Pawnee City VOR decommissioning, reduce ATC sector workload and 
complexity, and reduce pilot-to-controller communication. The new T-
route also would provide RNAV equipped aircraft an ATS route 
alternative and support the FAA's NextGen efforts to modernize the NAS 
navigation system from a ground-based system to a satellite-based 
system.
    Finally, the Pawnee City, NE, low altitude reporting point would no 
longer be required by ATC after the Pawnee City VOR is decommissioned 
and the proposed route amendments implemented; hence, the reporting 
point is proposed to be removed as well.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 to amend Jet 
Route J-64; amend VOR Federal airways V-50, V-71, V-216, and V-307; 
amend RNAV route T-286; establish RNAV route T-468; and revoke J-130, 
J-192, V-553, and the Pawnee City, NE, low altitude reporting point. 
The ATS route and reporting point amendments and revocations are due to 
the planned decommissioning of the Pawnee City, NE, VOR. The proposed 
ATS route and low altitude reporting point actions are described below.
    J-64: J-64 currently extends between the Los Angeles, CA, VORTAC 
and the intersection of the Ravine, PA, VORTAC 102[deg] and Lancaster, 
PA, VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) 044[deg] radials (SARAA 
Fix). The FAA proposes to remove the route segment overlying the Pawnee 
City, NE, VORTAC between the Hill City, KS, VORTAC and the Lamoni, IA, 
VOR/DME. The unaffected portions of the existing route would remain as 
charted.
    J-130: J-130 currently extends between the Mc Cook, NE, VOR/DME and 
the Pawnee City, NE, VORTAC. The FAA proposes to remove the route in 
its entirety.
    J-192: J-192 currently extends between the Goodland, KS, VORTAC and 
the Iowa City, IA, VOR/DME. The FAA proposes to remove the route in its 
entirety.
    V-50: V-50 currently extends between the Hastings, NE, VOR/DME and 
the Dayton, OH, VOR/DME. The FAA proposes to remove the airway segment 
overlying the Pawnee City VORTAC between the Hastings, NE, VOR/DME and 
the St Joseph, MO, VORTAC. The unaffected portions of the existing 
airway would remain as charted.
    V-71: V-71 currently extends between the Fighting Tiger, LA, VORTAC 
and the O'Neill, NE, VORTAC; and between the Pierre, SD, VORTAC and the 
Williston, ND, VOR/DME. The FAA proposes to remove the airway segment 
overlying the Pawnee City VORTAC between the Topeka, KS, VORTAC and the 
Lincoln, NE, VORTAC. The unaffected portions of the existing airway 
would remain as charted.
    V-216: V-216 currently extends between the Lamar, CO, VOR/DME and 
the Janesville, WI, VOR/DME. The FAA proposes to remove the airway 
segment overlying the Pawnee City VORTAC between the Mankato, KS, 
VORTAC and the Lamoni, IA, VOR/DME. The unaffected portions of the 
existing airway would remain as charted.
    V-307: V-307 currently extends between the Chanute, KS, VORTAC and 
the Omaha, IA, VORTAC. The FAA proposes to remove the airway segment 
overlying the Pawnee City VORTAC between the Emporia, KS, VORTAC and 
the Omaha, IA, VORTAC. The unaffected portion of the existing airway 
would remain as charted.
    V-553: V-553 currently extends between the Salina, KS, VORTAC and 
the Pawnee City, KS, VORTAC. The FAA proposes to remove the airway in 
its entirety.
    T-286: T-286 currently extends between the Rapid City, SD, VORTAC 
and the BOWLR, KS, Fix. The FAA proposes to replace the Pawnee City, 
NE, VORTAC with the HTHWY, NE, WP being established in close proximity 
of the Pawnee City VORTAC; remove the EFFEX, NE, Fix from the route 
description since it does not denote a route turn point; and extend the 
route northward to the FONIA, ND, Fix via the JELRO, SD, Fix and the 
Dickenson, ND, VORTAC. The amended route would provide RNAV routing 
between the Williston, ND, area and the Atchison, KS, area. The full 
RNAV T-route description is listed in ``The Proposed Amendment'' 
section, below.
    T-468: T-468 is a new RNAV route proposed to extend between the 
Hill City, KS, VORTAC and the LEWRP, MO, WP. This new T-route would 
provide RNAV routing from the Hill City, KS, area eastward to the 
Kirksville, MO, area via the KNSAS, KS, WP being established and the 
Lamoni, IA, VOR/DME. The full RNAV T-route description is listed in 
``The Proposed Amendment'' section, below.
    Pawnee City, NE: The FAA proposes to remove the Pawnee City, NE, 
low altitude reporting point as it would no longer be required by ATC 
as a result of the Pawnee City VOR being decommissioned.
    All NAVAID radials listed in the ATS route descriptions below are 
unchanged and stated in True degrees.
    Jet Routes are published in paragraph 2004, VOR Federal airways are 
published in paragraph 6010(a), RNAV

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T-routes are published in paragraph 6011, and Domestic Low Altitude 
Reporting Points are published in paragraph 7001 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 and 
reporting point 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 2004 Jet Routes.

* * * * *

J-64 [Amended]

    From Los Angeles, CA; INT Los Angeles 083[deg] and Hector, CA, 
226[deg] radials; Hector; Peach Springs, AZ; Tuba City, AZ; 
Rattlesnake, NM; Pueblo, CO; to Hill City, KS. From Lamoni, IA; 
Bradford, IL; INT Bradford 089[deg] and Fort Wayne, IN, 280[deg] 
radials; Fort Wayne; Ellwood City, PA; Ravine, PA; to INT Ravine 
102[deg] and Lancaster, PA, 044[deg] radials.
* * * * *

J-130 [Removed]

* * * * *

J-192 [Removed]

* * * * *

Paragraph 6010(a) Domestic VOR Federal Airways.

* * * * *

V-50 [Amended]

    From St. Joseph, MO; Kirksville, MO; Quincy, IL; Spinner, IL; 
Adders, IL; Terre Haute, IN; Brickyard, IN; to Dayton, OH.
* * * * *

V-71 [Amended]

    From Fighting Tiger, LA; Natchez, MS; Monroe, LA; El Dorado, AR; 
Hot Springs, AR; INT Hot Springs 358[deg] and Harrison, AR, 176[deg] 
radials; Harrison; Springfield, MO; Butler, MO; to Topeka, KS. From 
Lincoln, NE; Columbus, NE; to O'Neill, NE. From Pierre, SD; 
Bismarck, ND; to Williston, ND.
* * * * *

V-216 [Amended]

    From Lamar, CO; Hill City, KS; to Mankato, KS. From Lamoni, IA; 
Ottumwa, IA; Iowa City, IA; INT Iowa City 062[deg] and Janesville, 
WI, 240[deg] radials; to Janesville.
* * * * *

V-307 [Amended]

    From Chanute, KS; to Emporia, KS.
* * * * *

V-553 [Removed]

* * * * *

Paragraph 6011 United States Area Navigation Routes.

* * * * *

T-286 FONIA, ND to BOWLR, KS [Amended]
 
FONIA, ND                                       FIX                            (Lat. 48[deg]15'35.07'' N, long. 103[deg]10'37.54'' W)
Dickinson, ND (DIK)                             VORTAC                         (Lat. 46[deg]51'36.14'' N, long. 102[deg]46'24.60'' W)
JELRO, SD                                       FIX                            (Lat. 45[deg]48'43.83'' N, long. 102[deg]51'46.96'' W)
Rapid City, SD (RAP)                            VORTAC                         (Lat. 43[deg]58'33.74'' N, long. 103[deg]00'44.38'' W)
Gordon, NE (GRN)                                NDB                            (Lat. 42[deg]48'03.90'' N, long. 102[deg]10'45.82'' W)
Thedford, NE (TDD)                              VOR/DME                        (Lat. 41[deg]58'53.99'' N, long. 100[deg]43'08.52'' W)
BOKKI, NE                                       FIX                            (Lat. 41[deg]39'54.99'' N, long. 099[deg]52'17.00'' W)
Grand Island, NE (GRI)                          VOR/DME                        (Lat. 40[deg]59'02.50'' N, long. 098[deg]18'53.20'' W)
HTHWY, NE                                       WP                             (Lat. 40[deg]12'01.96'' N, long. 096[deg]12'22.51'' W)
Robinson, KS (RBA)                              DME                            (Lat. 39[deg]51'03.00'' N, long. 095[deg]25'23.00'' W)
BOWLR, KS                                       FIX                            (Lat. 39[deg]37'21.29'' N, long. 095[deg]11'00.26'' W)
 
                                                                     * * * * * * *
T-468 Hill City, KS (HLC) to LEWRP, MO [New]
 
Hill City, KS (HLC)                             VORTAC                         (Lat. 39[deg]15'31.49'' N, long. 100[deg]13'33.06'' W)
KNSAS, KS                                       WP                             (Lat. 39[deg]48'22.62'' N, long. 098[deg]15'36.62'' W)
Lamoni, IA (LMN)                                VOR/DME                        (Lat. 40[deg]35'48.35'' N, long. 093[deg]58'03.33'' W)
LEWRP, MO                                       WP                             (Lat. 40[deg]08'06.06'' N, long. 092[deg]35'30.15'' W)
 

Paragraph 7001 Domestic Low Altitude Reporting Points.

* * * * *

Pawnee City, NE [Removed]

* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on June 3, 2022.
Scott M. Rosenbloom,
Manager, Airspace Rules and Regulations.
[FR Doc. 2022-12322 Filed 6-8-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P