Document ID: FAA-2020-0504-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Proposed Removal of Colored Federal Airways Amber 7 (A-7), Green 11 (G-11), and Amendment of Amber 1 (A-1): Alaska
Posted Date: 2020-06-12T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 114 (Friday, June 12, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 35818-35820]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-12700]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2020-0504; Airspace Docket No. 20-AAL-4]
RIN 2120-AA66

Proposed Removal of Colored Federal Airways Amber 7 (A-7), Green 
11 (G-11), and Amendment of Amber 1 (A-1); Alaska

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to remove two Colored Federal airways, A-
7 and G-11, and amend one Colored Federal airway, A-1 in Alaska. The 
modifications are necessary due to the planned decommissioning of to 
the Campbell Lake Non-Directional Beacon (NDB) in Anchorage, AK, which 
provides navigation guidance for portions of the affected routes. The 
Campbell Lake NDB is to be decommissioned effective November 5, 2020 
due to ongoing maintenance problems.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 27, 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-2020-0504; Airspace Docket No. 20-AAL-4 at the beginning of your 
comments. You may also submit comments through the internet at https://www.regulations.gov.
    FAA Order 7400.11D, 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 7400.11D 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,

[[Page 35819]]

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-2020-0504; Airspace Docket No. 20-AAL-4) 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 
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-2020-0504; Airspace Docket No. 20-AAL-4.'' 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 7400.11D, Airspace 
Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 8, 2019, and effective 
September 15, 2019. FAA Order 7400.11D is publicly available as listed 
in the ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order 7400.11D lists 
Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and 
reporting points.

Background

    The upcoming decommissioning of the Campbell Lake NDB (CMQ) will 
require removal of Federal Colored airways A-7 and G-11, and amendment 
of A-1 to remove associated airway segments.
    Colored Federal airway A-7 has only one segment that runs from the 
Campbell Lake, AK, NDB; to the Mineral Creek, AK, NDB. The airway is 
seldom used and can be mitigated by utilizing V-481, or T-226, to the 
Johnstone Point, AK, Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Radio Range 
(VOR); then V-319, or T-269 to the Anchorage, AK, VOR.
    Colored Federal airway G-11 navigates aircraft from the Campbell 
Lake, AK, NDB, to the Glennallen, AK, NDB, and ends at the Nabesna, AK, 
NDB. The portion of the airway from the Glennallen, AK, NDB to the 
Nebesna, AK, NDB is not affected by the Campbell Lake, AK, NDB, 
however, due to the planned decommissioning of the Glennallen, AK, NDB, 
this section will also be removed. Loss of this airway can be mitigated 
by utilizing V-456 to the Big Lake, AK, VOR, to the Gulkana, AK, VOR, 
then to the Northway, AK, VOR. Furthermore, there is a proposal to 
realign Federal airway V-456 to match the current route of G-11, which 
allows for a lower Minimum En Route Altitude for pilots to navigate. 
This will give pilots an option to navigate at an altitude that does 
not require the use of supplemental oxygen, since the anticipated MEA 
will be 9,000 feet Mean Sea Level.
    Colored Federal airway A-1 will require removal of the segment 
between the Orca Bay, AK, NDB and the Takotna River, AK, NDB. Loss of 
this section can be mitigated by utilizing V-319 or T-269 from the 
Johnstone Point, AK, VOR to the Anchorage, AK, VOR, then V-440 or T-246 
to the McGrath, AK, VOR.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to Title 14 Code of Federal 
Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 to remove Colored Federal airways A-7 and 
G-11, and amend Colored Federal airway A-1. The proposed Colored 
Federal airway actions are described below.
    A-7: A-7 currently extends between the Campbell Lake, AK, NDB and 
the Mineral Creek, AK, NDB. This action proposes to remove the entire 
route.
    G-11: G-11 currently extends between the Campbell Lake, AK, NDB and 
the Nabesna, AK, NDB. This action proposes to remove the entire route.
    A-1: A-1 currently extends from the Abbotsford, BC, Canada, NDB and 
the Fort Davis, AK, NDB. The FAA proposes to remove the segment between 
the Orca Bay, AK, NDB and the Takotna River, AK, NDB. The unaffected 
portions of the existing route would remain as charted. The portion 
within Canada is excluded.
    Colored Federal airways are published in paragraph 6009 of FAA 
Order 7400.11D dated August 8, 2019, and effective September 15, 2019, 
which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR part 71.1. The Colored 
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.

[[Page 35820]]

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 7400.11D, 
Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 8, 2019 and 
effective September 15, 2019, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6009 Colored Federal Airways.

* * * * *

A-1 [Amended]

    From Abbotsford, BC Canada NDB, to Victoria, BC Canada NDB, 
Sandspit, BC, Canada, NDB 96 miles 12 AGL, 102 miles 35 MSL, 57 
miles 12 AGL, via Sitka, AK, NDB; 31 miles 12 AGL, 50 miles 47 MSL, 
88 miles 20 MSL, 40 miles 12 AGL, Ocean Cape, AK, NDB; INT Ocean 
Cape NDB 283[deg] and Orca Bay, AK, NDB 106[deg] bearings; Orca Bay 
NDB; From Takotna River, AK, NDB; 24 miles 12 AGL, 53 miles 55 MSL; 
51 miles 40 MSL, 25 miles 12 AGL, North River, AK, NDB; 17 miles 12 
AGL, 89 miles 25 MSL, 17 miles 12 AGL, to Fort Davis, AK, NDB. 
Excluding that airspace within Canada.
* * * * *

G-7 [Removed]

* * * * *

G-11 [Removed]

* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on June 3, 2020.
Scott M. Rosenbloom,
Acting Manager, Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2020-12700 Filed 6-11-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P