Document ID: FAA-2017-0107-0002
Agency: faa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Proposed Amendment and Removal of VOR Federal Airways; Eastern 
United States
Posted Date: 2017-03-06T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 42 (Monday, March 6, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 12523-12525]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-04185]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0107; Airspace Docket No. 16-AEA-11]
RIN 2120-AA66

Proposed Amendment and Removal of VOR Federal Airways; Eastern 
United States

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to modify VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) 
Federal airways V-14, V-265, V-464, and V-522; and to remove airway V-
90, in the eastern United States. The modifications are required due to 
the planned decommissioning of the Dunkirk, NY, VORTAC navigation aid 
which provides navigation guidance for portions of the above routes.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 20, 2017.

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-
2017-0107 and Airspace Docket No. 16-AEA-11 at the beginning of your 
comments. You may also submit comments 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 between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays. The Docket Office (telephone 1 (800) 
647-5527), is on the ground floor of the building at the above address.
    FAA Order 7400.11A, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, and 
subsequent amendments can be viewed online at http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/. For further information,

[[Page 12524]]

you can contact the Airspace Policy 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 7400.11A at NARA, call 
(202) 741-6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal-regulations/ibr_locations.html.
    FAA Order 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, is 
published yearly and effective on September 15.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Gallant, Airspace Policy Group, 
Office of Airspace Services, 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 VOR Federal airway route structure in 
the eastern United States to maintain the 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-2017-0107 and Airspace Docket No. 16-AEA-11) 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-2017-0107 and Airspace Docket No. 16-AEA-11.'' 
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 http://www.regulations.gov. Recently published rulemaking 
documents can also be accessed through the FAA's Web page at http://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 Eastern Service Center, Federal 
Aviation Administration, Room 210, 1701 Columbia Ave., College Park, GA 
30337.

Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference

    This document proposes to amend FAA Order 7400.11A, Airspace 
Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 3, 2016 and effective 
September 15, 2016. FAA Order 7400.11A is publicly available as listed 
in the ADDRESSES section of this proposed rule. FAA Order 7400.11A 
lists Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service 
routes, and reporting points.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to Title 14, Code of Federal 
Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 to modify the descriptions of VOR Federal 
airways V-14, V-265, V-464, and V-522; and to remove V-90, due to the 
planned decommissioning of the Dunkirk, NY, VORTAC. The proposed route 
changes are described below.
    V-14: V-14 extends between Chisum, NM and Norwich, CT. The FAA 
proposes to remove the segments between Erie, PA, and Buffalo, NY, thus 
eliminating Dunkirk, NY from the route. The amended route would extend 
between Chisum, NM, and Erie, PA, and between Buffalo, NY, and Norwich, 
CT.
    V-90: V-90 extends between Salem, MI, and Dunkirk, NY. The FAA 
proposes to remove V-90 in its entirety.
    V-265: V-265 extends between the intersection of the Washington, 
DC, 043[deg] and the Westminster, MD, 179[deg] radials and Toronto, ON, 
Canada. The FAA proposes to remove the segments between Jamestown, NY, 
and Toronto, ON, Canada, thus terminating the northern end of the route 
at Jamestown, NY.
    V-464: V-464 extends from Salem, MI, through Aylmer, Ontario, 
Canada to Geneseo, NY. The FAA proposes to remove the segment between 
Aylmer, Ontario, Canada and Geneseo, NY, thus terminating the route at 
Aylmer, Ontario, Canada.
    V-522: V-522 extends between Dryer, OH, and Toronto, Ontario, 
Canada. The FAA proposes to eliminate the route segments between Erie, 
PA, and Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The amended route would extend 
between Dryer, OH, and Erie, PA.
    Domestic VOR Federal airways are published in paragraph 6010(a) of 
FAA Order 7400.11A, dated August 3, 2016 and effective September 15, 
2016, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The VOR 
Federal airways listed in this document would be subsequently published 
in the Order.

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

[[Page 12525]]

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 
7400.11A, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 3, 
2016 and effective September 15, 2016, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6010(a) Domestic VOR Federal Airways.

* * * * *

V-14 [Amended]

    From Chisum, NM; Lubbock, TX; Childress, TX; Hobart, OK; Will 
Rogers, OK; INT Will Rogers 052[deg] and Tulsa, OK 246[deg] radials; 
Tulsa; Neosho, MO; Springfield, MO; Vichy, MO; INT Vichy 067[deg] 
and St. Louis, MO, 225[deg] radials; St. Louis; Vandalia, IL; Terre 
Haute, IN; Brickyard, IN; Muncie, IN; Flag City, OH; INT Flag City 
079[deg] and Dryer, OH, 240[deg] radials; Dryer; Jefferson, OH; to 
Erie, PA. From Buffalo, NY; Geneseo, NY; Georgetown, NY; INT 
Georgetown 093[deg] and Albany, NY, 270[deg] radials; Albany; INT 
Albany 084[deg] and Gardner, MA, 284[deg] radials; Gardner; to 
Norwich, CT.

V-90 [Removed]

V-265 [Amended]

    From INT Washington, DC, 043[deg] and Westminster, MD, 179[deg] 
radials; via Westminster;
    Harrisburg, PA; Philipsburg, PA; Keating, NY; Bradford, PA; to 
Jamestown, NY.

V-464 [Amended]

    From Salem, MI; via INT Salem 082[deg] and Aylmer, ON, Canada, 
261[deg] radials; to Aylmer, ON. The airspace within Canada is 
excluded.

V-522 [Amended]

    From Dryer, OH; INT Dryer 049[deg] and Erie, PA, 258[deg] 
radials; to Erie.
* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on February 27, 2017.
Rodger A. Dean Jr.,
Manager, Airspace Policy Group.
[FR Doc. 2017-04185 Filed 3-3-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P