[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 30 (Tuesday, February 13, 2001)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 9990-9991]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-3641]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 00-AAL-08]

RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Establishment of Colored Federal Airways; AK

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to establish two colored Federal airways, 
Amber-5 (A-5) and Amber-6 (A-6) in Alaska. The FAA is proposing this 
action to improve the management of air traffic operations in Alaska 
and enhance safety.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 30, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on the proposal in triplicate to: Manager, Air 
Traffic Division, AAL-500, Docket No. 00-AAL-08, Federal Aviation 
Administration, 222 West 7th Avenue, #14, Anchorage, AK 99533.
    The official docket may be examined in the Rules Docket, Office of 
the Chief Counsel, Room 916, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington 
DC, weekdays, except Federal holidays, between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
    An informal docket may also be examined during normal business 
hours at the office of the Regional Air Traffic Division.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ken McElroy, Airspace and Rules 
Division, ATA-400, Office of Air Traffic Airspace Management, Federal 
Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 
20591; telephone: (202) 267-8783.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

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 the airspace docket number and be 
submitted in triplicate to the address listed above. Commenters wishing 
the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments on this notice must 
submit with those comments a self-addressed, stamped postcard on which 
the following statement is made: ``Comments to Airspace Docket No. 00-
AAL-08.'' The postcard will be date/time stamped and returned to the 
commenter. All communications received on or before the specified 
closing date for comments will be considered before taking action on 
the proposed rule. The proposal contained

[[Page 9991]]

in this notice may be changed in light of comments received. All 
comments submitted will be available for examination in the Rules 
Docket both before and after the closing date for comments. A report 
summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA personnel 
concerned with this rulemaking will be filed in the docket.

Availability of NPRM's

    An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded, using a 
modem and suitable communications software, from the FAA regulations 
section of the Fedworld electronic bulletin board service (telephone: 
703-321-3339) or the Federal Register's electronic bulletin board 
service (telephone: 202-512-1661).
    Internet users may reach the FAA's web page at http://www.faa.gov 
or the Superintendent of Document's web page at http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara for access to recently published rulemaking 
documents.
    Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request 
to the Federal Aviation Administration, Office of Air Traffic Airspace 
Management, ATA-400, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 
20591, or by calling (202) 267-8783. Communications must identify the 
notice number of the NPRM. Persons interested in being placed on a 
mailing list for future NPRM's should call the FAA's Office of 
Rulemaking, (202) 267-9677, and request a copy of Advisory Circular No. 
11-2A, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Distribution System, which 
describes the application procedure.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 (part 71) to 
establish two colored Federal airways, A-5 and A-6, in Alaska. 
Presently there is an uncharted nonregulatory route that uses the same 
routing as the proposed Colored Federal Airway, A-6. This uncharted 
nonregulatory route is used daily by commercial and general aviation 
aircraft. The FAA is proposing to convert this uncharted nonregulatory 
route to the Colored Federal Airways to add to the instrument flight 
rules (IFR) airway and route structure in Alaska.
    Colored Federal Airway A-5 is being proposed as a result of a 
request from Northern Air Cargo to establish a low altitude route 
between Evansville NDB and Point Lay NDB. This change is necessary to 
improve the IFR airway structure that supports existing commercial 
services.
    These routes would provide a means to establish an airway structure 
to support the existing commercial services in Alaska, where currently 
a limited airway structure exists. Additionally, adoption of these 
Federal airways would: (1) Provide pilots with minimum en route 
altitudes and minimum obstruction clearance altitudes information; (2) 
establish controlled airspace thus eliminating some of the commercial 
IFR operations in uncontrolled airspace; and (3) improve the management 
of air traffic operations and thereby enhance safety.
    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. 
Therefore, this proposed regulation: (1) is not a ``significant 
regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866; (2) is not a 
``significant rule'' under 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.
    Colored Federal airways are published in paragraph 6009 of FAA 
Order 7400.9H dated September 1, 2000, and effective September 16, 
2000, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The colored 
Federal airways listed in this document would be published subsequently 
in the order.

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, CLASS B, CLASS C, CLASS D, AND 
CLASS E AIRSPACE AREAS; AIRWAYS; ROUTES; AND REPORTING POINTS

    1. The authority citation for part 71 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40103, 40113, 40120; E.O. 10854, 24 
FR 9565, 3 CFR, 1959-1963 Comp., p.389.


Sec. 71.1  [Amended]

    2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of the FAA Order 
7400.9H, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated September 1, 
2000, and effective September 16, 2000, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6009(c)  Amber Federal Airways

* * * * *

A-5  [New]

From Evansville, AK, NDB to Point Lay, AK, NDB.

A-6  [New]

From Evansville, AK, NDB to Ambler, AK, NDB.
* * * * *


    Issued in Washington, DC, on January 23, 2001.
Reginald C. Matthews,
Manager, Airspace and Rules Division.
[FR Doc. 01-3641 Filed 2-12-01; 8:45 am]
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