Document ID: FAA-2012-1295-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Amendment of Area Navigation (RNAV) Routes: T-266, Alaska
Posted Date: 2013-01-22T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 14 (Tuesday, January 22, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 4353-4354]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-01115]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2012-1295; Airspace Docket No. 12-AAL-10]
RIN 2120-AA66

Proposed Amendment of Area Navigation (RNAV) Route T-266; AK

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to modify low-altitude RNAV route T-266 
in the state of Alaska by removing two non-directional beacons (NDB) as 
the navigation signal source and replacing them with RNAV waypoints. 
This action would enhance the safety and efficiency of the National 
Airspace System (NAS).

DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 8, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on this proposal to the U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 
West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001; 
telephone: (202) 366-9826. You must identify FAA Docket No. FAA-2012-
1295 and Airspace Docket No. 12-AAL-10 at the beginning of your 
comments. You may also submit comments through the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Gallant, Airspace Policy and ATC 
Procedures Group, Office of Airspace Services, 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 both docket numbers (FAA Docket No. 
FAA-2012-1295 and Airspace Docket No. 12-AAL-10) 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 http://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-2012-1295 and Airspace Docket No. 12-AAL-10.'' 
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 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 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 through the 
Internet at http://www.regulations.gov.
    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 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. An 
informal docket may also be examined during normal business hours at 
the office of the Western Service Center, Operations Support Group, 
Federal Aviation Administration, 1601 Lind Ave. SW., Renton, WA 98057.
    Persons interested in being placed on a mailing list for future 
NPRM's should contact the FAA's Office of Rulemaking, (202) 267-9677, 
for 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 Title 14, Code of Federal 
Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 to modify RNAV route T-266 in Alaska. T-
266 is currently defined by the Coghland Island, AK, NDB; the 
Fredericks Point, AK, NDB; and the Annette Island, AK, VOR/DME. The 
Annette Island VOR/DME would remain as one end point of the route, but 
the two NDBs would be removed from the route description and replaced 
by the addition of eight RNAV waypoints (WP). The existing RADKY, AK, 
fix (near the Coghland Island NDB) would be relocated to the southeast 
of its current position and would serve as the other endpoint of the 
route. These changes would enhance safety by providing lower IFR 
minimum en route altitudes (MEA) on T-266, which would allow aircraft 
to fly at lower altitudes when inflight icing conditions are 
encountered. Additionally, the changes support the expanded use of RNAV 
within the NAS by reducing the reliance on ground-based NDBs for 
navigation guidance.
    RNAV routes are published in paragraph 6011 of FAA Order 7400.9W 
dated August 8, 2012, and effective September 15, 2012, which is 
incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The RNAV routes listed in 
this document would be subsequently published in the Order.
    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 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

[[Page 4354]]

promulgated, will not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities under the criteria of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act.
    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 modifies the route structure in Alaska as required to preserve 
the safe and efficient flow of air traffic.

Environmental Review

    This proposal will be subject to an environmental analysis in 
accordance with FAA Order 1050.1E, ``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 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]

0
2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of FAA Order 7400.9V, 
Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, Dated August 9, 2011, and 
effective September 15, 2011, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6011 United States Area Navigation Routes

* * * * *

 T-266 RADKY, AK to Annette Island, AK (ANN) [Amended]
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RADKY, AK                     Fix                 (Lat. 58[deg]08'00'' N., long. 134[deg]29'56'' W.)
XADZY, AK                     WP                  (Lat. 57[deg]01'00'' N., long. 133[deg]00'00'' W.)
VULHO, AK                     WP                  (Lat. 56[deg]49'05'' N., long. 132[deg]49'30'' W.)
FOGID, AK                     WP                  (Lat. 56[deg]43'31'' N., long. 132[deg]42'02'' W.)
YICAX, AK                     WP                  (Lat. 56[deg]39'45'' N., long. 132[deg]37'00'' W.)
NEREE, AK                     WP                  (Lat. 56[deg]32'36'' N., long. 132[deg]30'34'' W.)
VAZPU, AK                     WP                  (Lat. 56[deg]27'24'' N., long. 132[deg]25'56'' W.)
DOOZI, AK                     Fix                 (Lat. 55[deg]37'57'' N., long. 132[deg]10'29'' W.)
Annette Island, AK (ANN)      VOR/DME             (Lat. 55[deg]03'37'' N., long. 131[deg]34'42'' W.)
 

    Issued in Washington, DC, on December 12, 2012.
Gary A. Norek,
Manager, Airspace Policy and ATC Procedures Group.
[FR Doc. 2013-01115 Filed 1-18-13; 8:45 am]
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