Document ID: FAA-2020-0567-0002
Agency: faa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Airspace Designations and Reporting Points: Alaska and Establishment of Q-Routes
Posted Date: 2020-09-24T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 186 (Thursday, September 24, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 60108-60110]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-20954]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2020-0567; Airspace Docket No. 20-AAL-15]
RIN 2120-AA66

Proposed Amendment to Federal Airways Amber 15 (A-15), V-444, J-
502, and J-511; Alaska and Establishment of Q-Routes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to amend Federal airways J-502, and J-511 
in Alaska. It also proposes to establish 2 Q routes, Q-902, and Q-811. 
The modifications are necessary due to the decommissioning of the 
Burwash Non-Directional Beacon (NDB) in Yukon Territory, Canada, which 
provided navigation guidance for portions of the affected routes. The 
Burwash NDB was decommissioned effective March 26, 2020 due to ongoing 
maintenance problems and logistic issues.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before November 9, 2020.

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-2020-0567; Airspace Docket No. 20-AAL-15 at the beginning of your 
comments. You may also submit comments through the internet at https://www.regulations.gov.
    FAA Order 7400.11E, 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. The Order is also available for inspection at the National 
Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the 
availability of FAA Order 7400.11E at NARA, email: 
fedreg.legal@nara.gov or go to https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher McMullin, 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-2020-0567; Airspace Docket No. 20-AAL-15) 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

[[Page 60109]]

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-2020-0567; Airspace Docket No. 20-AAL-15.'' 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 Western Service Center, Operations 
Support Group, 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 7400.11E, Airspace 
Designations and Reporting Points, dated July 21, 2020, and effective 
September 15, 2020. FAA Order 7400.11D is publicly available as listed 
in the ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order 7400.11E lists 
Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and 
reporting points.

Background

    The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking for Docket No. 
FAA-2020-0567 in the Federal Register (85 FR 38799; June 29, 2020) 
proposing to amend and remove several Federal airways in Alaska to 
reflect route changes being made due to the decommissioning of the 
Burwash NDB. Interested parties were invited to participate in this 
rulemaking effort by submitting written comments on the proposal. No 
comments were received.
    Subsequent to publication of the NPRM, the FAA determined that 
further amendments to J-502 and J-511 were required. These amendments 
would remove the segments contained within Canada and would ensure a 
ground based method of navigation is available within the National 
Airspace System. Additionally, the FAA is in the process of 
transitioning to Next Generation Air Transportation (NEXTGEN). This 
process provides satellite based navigational routes to replace or 
augment the ground base navigation system. The FAA proposes to 
establish two Q routes, Q-811 and Q-902, which would overlay J-502 and 
J-511 to mitigate the route segments that cannot be supported by ground 
based navigational facilities.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to Title 14 Code of Federal 
Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 to amend Federal airways J-502, and J-511, 
and add Alaska Air Navigational routes Q-811 and Q-902. The proposed 
airway actions are described below.
    J-502: J-502 currently extends between Seattle, WA and Kotzebue, 
AK. The FAA proposes to remove the segment between Sister Island, AK, 
VORTAC and Northway, AK, VORTAC. The unaffected portions of the 
existing route would remain as charted.
    J-511: J-511 currently extends between Dillingham, AK and Burwash 
Landing, YT, Canada, NDB. The FAA proposes to remove the segment 
between Gulkana VORTAC and Burwash Landing, YT, Canada. The unaffected 
portions of the existing route would remain as charted.
    Q-811: The FAA proposes to establish Q-811 to overly the existing 
J-511 to mitigate the route segments that cannot be supported by ground 
navigational facilities. Q-811 would start at Dillingham, AK and 
terminate at the newly established waypoint of IGSOM, which was 
established to replace the Burwash NDB.
    Q-902: The FAA proposes to create Q-902 to overlay the existing J-
502 in its entirety, to mitigate route segments that cannot be 
supported by ground navigation facilities. Q-902 would start at 
Seattle, WA and terminate at Kotzebue, AK, excluding that airspace in 
Canada.
    Jet routes are published in paragraph 2004 and United States Area 
Navigation Routes are published in paragraph 2006, of FAA Order 
7400.11E dated July 21, 2020, and effective September 15, 2020, which 
is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR part 71.1. The Federal airways 
listed in this document will be subsequently published in the Order.
    FAA Order 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 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 7400.11E, 
Airspace Designations and Reporting

[[Page 60110]]

Points, dated July 21, 2020 and effective September 15, 2020, is 
amended as follows:

Paragraph 2004 Jet Routes.

* * * * *

J-502 [Amended]

    From Seattle, WA; via Victoria, BC, Canada; Port Hardy, BC, 
Canada; Annette Island, AK; Level Island, AK; Sisters Island; and 
then; Northway, AK; Fairbanks, AK; to Kotzebue, AK, excluding the 
airspace within Canada.
* * * * *

J-511 [Amended]

    From Dillingham, AK; via INT Dillingham 059[deg] and Anchorage, 
AK 247[deg] radials, to Anchorage, AK; Gulkana, AK.
* * * * *

Paragraph 2006 United States Area Navigation Routes.

* * * * *

Q-811 Dillingham, AK to IGSOM [New]
 
DILLINGHAM, AK (DLG)                            VOR/DME                        (Lat. 58[deg]59'39.24'' N, long. 158[deg]33'07.99'' W)
KOWOK, AK                                       FIX                            (Lat. 59[deg]12'31.22'' N, long. 157[deg]50'52.40'' W)
SAHOK, AK                                       FIX                            (Lat. 59[deg]34'38.92'' N, long. 156[deg]35'01.99'' W)
FAGIN, AK                                       WP                             (Lat. 59[deg]51'56.15'' N, long. 155[deg]32'43.30'' W)
NONDA, AK                                       WP                             (Lat. 60[deg]19'15.50'' N, long. 153[deg]47'57.60'' W)
AMOTT, AK                                       WP                             (Lat. 60[deg]52'26.59'' N, long. 151[deg]22'23.60'' W)
GASTO, AK                                       WP                             (Lat. 60[deg]56'38.36'' N, long. 151[deg]02'43.16'' W)
ANCHORAGE, AK (TED)                             VOR/DME                        (Lat. 61[deg]10'04.32'' N, long. 149[deg]57'36.51'' W)
GULKANA, AK (GKN)                               VOR/DME                        (Lat. 62[deg]09'13.51'' N, long. 145[deg]26'50.51'' W)
TOVAD, CAN                                      FIX                            (Lat. 61[deg]37'45.02'' N, long. 140[deg]58'54.31'' W)
IGSOM, CAN                                      WP                             (Lat. 61[deg]22'14.38'' N, long. 139[deg]02'23.81'' W)
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
Q-902 SEATTLE, WA to KOTZEBUE, AK [New]
 
SEATTLE, WA (SEA)                               VORTAC                         (Lat. 47[deg]26'07.34'' N, long. 122[deg]18'34.62'' W)
ORCUS, WA                                       WP                             (Lat. 48[deg]20'39.54'' N, long. 123[deg]07'44.01'' W)
VICTORIA, CAN (YYJ)                             VOR/DME                        (Lat. 48[deg]43'37.34'' N, long. 123[deg]29'03.69'' W)
ARRUE, CAN                                      INT                            (Lat. 49[deg]04'23.00'' N, long. 124[deg]07'47.00'' W)
ROYST, CAN                                      INT                            (Lat. 49[deg]35'29.00'' N, long. 125[deg]07'35.00'' W)
PORT HARDY, CAN (YZT)                           VOR/DME                        (Lat. 50[deg]41'02.90'' N, long. 127[deg]21'55.10'' W)
PRYCE, CAN                                      INT                            (Lat. 52[deg]14'17.00'' N, long. 128[deg]45'00.00'' W)
DUGGS, CAN                                      INT                            (Lat. 53[deg]02'05.00'' N, long. 129[deg]30'12.00'' W)
HANRY, CAN                                      INT                            (Lat. 54[deg]36'23.00'' N, long. 131[deg]05'36.00'' W)
ANNETTE ISLAND, AK (ANN)                        VOR/DME                        (Lat. 55[deg]03'37.47'' N, long. 131[deg]34'42.24'' W)
GESTI, AK                                       INT                            (Lat. 55[deg]25'57.47'' N, long. 131[deg]57'50.40'' W)
DOOZI, AK                                       WP                             (Lat. 55[deg]37'57.14'' N, long. 132[deg]10'28.73'' W)
LEVEL ISLAND, AK (LVD)                          VOR/DME                        (Lat. 56[deg]28'03.75'' N, long. 133[deg]04'59.21'' W)
HOODS, AK                                       WP                             (Lat. 57[deg]44'34.56'' N, long. 134[deg]40'53.66'' W)
SISTERS ISLAND, AK (SSR)                        VORTAC                         (Lat. 58[deg]10'39.58'' N, long. 135[deg]15'31.91'' W)
IGSOM, CAN                                      WP                             (Lat. 61[deg]22'14.38'' N, long. 139[deg]02'23.81'' W)
AYZOL, AK                                       WP                             (Lat. 62[deg]28'16.15'' N, long. 141[deg]00'00.00'' W)
NORTHWAY, AK (ORT)                              VORTAC                         (Lat. 62[deg]56'49.92'' N, long. 141[deg]54'45.39'' W)
RDFLG, AK                                       WP                             (Lat. 63[deg]35'27.26'' N, long. 143[deg]51'00.14'' W)
HRDNG, AK                                       WP                             (Lat. 64[deg]18'04.42'' N, long. 146[deg]12'01.50'' W)
FAIRBANKS, AK (FAI)                             VORTAC                         (Lat. 64[deg]48'00.25'' N, long. 148[deg]00'43.11'' W)
KOTZEBUE, AK (OTZ)                              VOR/DME                        (Lat. 66[deg]53'08.46'' N, long. 162[deg]32'23.77'' W)
 

* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on September 18, 2020.
Scott M. Rosenbloom,
Acting Manager, Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2020-20954 Filed 9-23-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P