[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 113 (Monday, June 13, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 35692-35693]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-12588]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2022-0765; Airspace Docket No. 22-AAL-22]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Revocation of Colored Federal Airway Red-1 (R-1) 
Vicinity of King Salmon, AK

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to revoke the Colored Federal airway Red-
1 (R-1) in the vicinity of King Salmon, AK, due to the airway no longer 
being utilized by pilots as the overlaying United States Area 
Navigation (RNAV) route, T-230, provides better navigation capability 
with lower minimum enroute altitudes (MEA).

DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 28, 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-2022-0765; Airspace Docket No 22-AAL-22 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 route 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-2022-0765; Airspace Docket No. 22-AAL-22) 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-2022-0765; Airspace Docket No. 22-AAL-22.'' 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

[[Page 35693]]

    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 Alaska aviation industry/users have indicated a desire for the 
FAA to transition the Alaskan en route navigation structure away from 
the dependency on Non-Directional Beacon (NDB) navigational aids. The 
advances in technology have allowed for pilots to utilize alternate 
satellite-based navigation methods that are more precise for navigating 
the tough Alaska terrain.
    During a recent study conducted by the FAA for a one year period, 
the FAA analyzed the utilization of the Colored Federal airway R-1 and 
determined it is not being utilized. Pilots prefer to use the RNAV T-
route, T-230, to navigate the same airspace area. The RNAV route T-230 
has been in place for many years and runs parallel to R-1 from the King 
Salmon, AK, VHF Omni-directional Range (VOR) to the St Paul Island, AK, 
NDB/Distance Measuring Equipment (NDB/DME). The satellite-based T-230 
offers a lower flying altitude and more precise navigation than the 
NDB-based airway R-1. A radar study of R-1 usage for the past 12 months 
revealed no aircraft flew this airway. Air traffic control verified 
this study. The FAA, therefore, concluded that the use of the R-1 
airway was abandoned. As such, this proposal would result in the 
removal of the Colored Federal airway R-1, since the air traffic 
service provided by this airway is no longer utilized.
    To overcome the loss of the R-1 airway, alternate routings for non-
global positioning system (GPS)-equipped aircraft are available from 
the King Salmon, AK, VOR to the St Paul Island, AK, NDB/DME using VOR 
Federal airway V-321, and the Colored Federal airway G-10 via the Cape 
Newenham NDB/DME.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 to revoke 
Colored Federal airway R-1, due to the airway no longer being utilized 
by pilots as the overlaying RNAVroute, T-230, provides better 
navigation capability with lower MEA.
    The proposed airway amendment is described below.
    R-1: R-1 currently extends between the St Paul Island, AK, NDB/DME 
and the Chinook AK, NDB. The FAA proposes to revoke the route in its 
entirety.
    Colored Federal airways are published in paragraph 6009(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 Colored 
Federal airway listed in this document would be removed subsequently 
from 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 6009(a) Colored Federal Airways.

* * * * *

R-1 [Remove]

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    Issued in Washington, DC, on June 6, 2022.
Scott M. Rosenbloom,
Manager, Airspace Rules and Regulations.
[FR Doc. 2022-12588 Filed 6-10-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P