Document ID: FAA-2018-0195-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Amendment of Air Traffic Service Routes: Q-5; Western United States
Posted Date: 2018-03-21T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 55 (Wednesday, March 21, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 12290-12292]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-05584]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0195; Airspace Docket No. 17-AWP-15]

Proposed Amendment of Air Traffic Service (ATS) Route Q-5; 
Western United States

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to amend United States Area Navigation 
(RNAV) route Q-5 in the western United States. The route will now 
terminate at a waypoint (WP) that connects to an Oakland International 
Airport (OAK), Standard Terminal Arrival Route (STAR) near Oakland CA.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 7, 2018.

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-2018-0195 and Airspace Docket No. 17-AWP-15 at the beginning of 
your comments. You may also submit comments through the internet at 
http://www.regulations.gov.
    FAA Order 7400.11B, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, and 
subsequent amendments can be viewed online at http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/. For further information, 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 7400.11B at NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go 
to https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.
    FAA Order 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, is 
published yearly and effective on September 15.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kenneth Ready, 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 route structure as necessary to 
support 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

[[Page 12291]]

regulatory, aeronautical, economic, environmental, and energy-related 
aspects of the proposal.
    Communications should identify both docket numbers (FAA Docket No. 
FAA-2018-0195 and Airspace Docket No. 17-AWP-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 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-2018-0195, and Airspace Docket No. 17-AWP-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 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 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 7400.11B, airspace 
Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 3, 2017, and effective 
September 15, 2017. FAA Order 7400.11B is publicly available as listed 
in the ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order 7400.11B lists 
Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and 
reporting points.

Background

    Route Q-5 was one of the original RNAV routes developed ushering in 
performance based navigation (PBN) into the United States. Route Q-5 
provided a high altitude route from Seattle into the bay area of San 
Francisco and Oakland, CA. Route Q-5 tied in OAK airport via the RAIDR 
STAR from STIKM WP, which is the current southern boundary point on the 
route. The STAR was removed in 2017 and Q-5 no longer tied into the bay 
area. The FAA proposes to add a new boundary point of SPAMY, CA, WP, 
which serves two STARs; WNDSR TWO ARRIVAL and the AANET ONE ARRIVAL, 
with both serving OAK. Lastly, policy states odd numbered ATS routes 
list points south to north. Currently Q-5 lists the route north to 
south. This proposal corrects the direction and will be in line with 
current policy.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to Title 14, Code of Federal 
Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 to modify RNAV route Q-5. The proposed 
route changes are outlined below. Q-5: Route Q-5 currently extends from 
HAROB, WA to STIKM, CA. The FAA proposes to start the route at SPAMY, 
CA, WP, thereby eliminating the STIKM, CA, WP and the HUPTU, CA, WP, to 
support STARs into OAK. Additionally, ATS route policy states, odd 
numbered routes will be listed south to north. Route Q-5 was originally 
listed north to south, and is proposed south to north. The amended 
route would, therefore, extend from SPAMY, CA to HAROB, WA.
    United States Area Navigation Routes are published in paragraph 
2006 of FAA Order 7400.11B dated August 3, 2017, and effective 
September 15, 2017, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. 
The United States Area Navigation Routes listed in this document will 
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 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 7400.11B, 
Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 3, 2017 and 
effective September 15, 2017, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 2006 United States Area Navigation Routes

[[Page 12292]]

Q-5 SPAMY, CA to HAROB, WA [Amended]
 
SPAMY, CA               WP                     (Lat. 39[deg]11'57.00'' N, long. 122[deg]37'58.00'' W)
HOMEG, CA               WP                     (Lat. 41[deg]20'09.00'' N, long. 122[deg]51'05.00'' W)
HARPR, OR               WP                     (Lat. 42[deg]28'50.00'' N, long. 122[deg]53'01.54'' W)
HISKU, OR               WP                     (Lat. 44[deg]30'00.00'' N, long. 122[deg]56'39.00'' W)
HAROB, WA               WP                     (Lat. 47[deg]14'36.00'' N, long. 123[deg]02'27.00'' W)
 

    Issued in Washington, DC, on March 13, 2018.
Rodger A. Dean Jr.,
Manager, Airspace Policy Group.
[FR Doc. 2018-05584 Filed 3-20-18; 8:45 am]
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