Document ID: FAA-2017-0733-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Rule
Title: Removal of References to Obsolete Navigation Systems; Technical Amendment
Posted Date: 2017-07-25T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 141 (Tuesday, July 25, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 34397-34400]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-15517]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Parts 1, 63, 121, 125, 135, 147, and 170

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0733; Amdt. Nos. 1-71, 63-39, 121-379, 125-67, 
135-137, 147-8, 170-4]
RIN 2120-AL10

Removal of References to Obsolete Navigation Systems; Technical 
Amendment

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; technical amendment.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is removing 
references to the obsolete navigation systems Loran, Omega and Consol 
that currently appear in FAA regulations.

DATES: Effective July 25, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kevin C. Kelley, Flight Technologies 
and Procedures Division, Flight Standards Service, 470 L'Enfant Plaza 
SW., Washington, DC 20591; telephone: 202-267-8854; email: 
kevin.c.kelley@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Good Cause for Immediate Adoption Without Prior Notice

    Section 553(b)(3)(B) of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (5 
U.S.C. 551 et seq.) authorizes agencies to dispense with notice and 
comment procedures for rules when the agency for ``good cause'' finds 
that those procedures are ``impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to 
the public interest.'' Under this section, an agency, upon finding good 
cause, may issue a final rule without seeking comment prior to the 
rulemaking. Further, section 553(d)(3) of the APA requires that 
agencies publish a rule not less than 30 days before its effective 
date, except as otherwise provided by the agency for good cause found 
and published with the rule.
    This technical amendment removes obsolete references in title 14 
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) parts 1, 63, 121, 125, 135, 147, and 
170. Loran, Consol, and Omega ground stations have ceased operations, 
which makes these avionics receivers obsolete and useless. Continued 
mention of these obsolete navigation aids in title 14 of the CFR serves 
no purpose, and could only confuse the public. Any additional delay in 
correcting the regulations would be unnecessary because the

[[Page 34398]]

changes affect terms referencing navigation aids that ceased operations 
over 6 years ago and as such, are not in use. Further, these 
corrections will not impose any additional restrictions on the persons 
affected by these regulations because the amendments merely align the 
CFR with the current state of affairs regarding operational navigation 
aids.
    Based on the foregoing, public comment and a 30-day effective date 
would be unnecessary and thus, the FAA finds good cause to forgo public 
comment and to make the amendment effective in less than 30 days.

Technical Amendment

    Loran, Consol, and Omega ground stations ceased operations over six 
years ago and are no longer in use. See 75 FR 22674 (April 29, 2010); 
75 FR 42819 (July 22, 2010); 73 FR 26465 (May 9, 2008); 73 FR 46345 
(August 8, 2008) and Amendment 71 to ICAO Annex 10, Volume 1, 
Aeronautical Telecommunications (adopted 12 March 1996). Therefore, 
with this technical amendment, the FAA is removing all references to 
these obsolete navigation systems from title 14 of the CFR.

List of Subjects

14 CFR Part 1

    Air transportation.

14 CFR Part 63

    Aircraft, Airman, Aviation Safety, Navigation (air).

14 CFR Part 121

    Air carriers, Aircraft, Airmen, Aviation safety, Safety.

14 CFR Part 125

    Aircraft, Airmen, Aviation safety.

14 CFR Part 135

    Air taxis, Aircraft, Airmen, Aviation safety.

14 CFR Part 147

    Aircraft, Airmen, Schools.

14 CFR Part 170

    Air traffic control, Airports.

The Amendment

    In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation 
Administration amends chapter I of title 14, Code of Federal 
Regulations as follows:

PART 1--DEFINITIONS AND ABBREVIATIONS

0
 1. The authority citation for part 1 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(f), 106(g), 40113, 44701.

0
2. Amend Sec.  1.1 by revising the definition of ``Long-range 
navigation system (LRNS)'' to read as follows:

Sec.  1.1  General definitions.

* * * * *
    Long-range navigation system (LRNS). An electronic navigation unit 
that is approved for use under instrument flight rules as a primary 
means of navigation, and has at least one source of navigational input, 
such as inertial navigation system or global positioning system.
* * * * *

 Sec.  1.2  [Amended]

0
3. Amend Sec.  1.2 by removing the entry ``CONSOL or CONSOLAN''.

PART 63--CERTIFICATION: FLIGHT CREWMEMBERS OTHER THAN PILOTS

0
4. The authority citation for part 63 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701-44703, 44707, 44709-
44711, 45102-45103, 45301-45302.

0
5. Amend appendix A to part 63 as follows:
0
a. Remove and reserve paragraphs (e)(26), (27), and (28); and
0
b. Revise paragraphs (e)(37) and (44).
    The revisions read as follows:

Appendix A to Part 63--Test Requirements for Flight Navigator 
Certificate

* * * * *
    (e) * * *
    (37) Take celestial fixes at hourly intervals when conditions 
permit. The accuracy of these fixes shall be checked by means of a 
radio or visual fix whenever practicable. After allowing for the 
probable error of a radio or visual fix, a celestial fix under 
favorable conditions should plot within 10 miles of the actual 
position.
* * * * *
    (44) Work with sufficient speed to determine the aircraft's 
position hourly by celestial means and also make all other 
observations and records pertinent to the navigation. The applicant 
should be able to take the observation, compute, and plot a 
celestial LOP within a time limit of 8 minutes; observe the absolute 
and pressure altimeters and compute the drift or lateral 
displacement within a time limit of 3 minutes.
* * * * *

0
6. In appendix B to part 63, the table in paragraph (a)(2)(iii) is 
amended by revising the entry for ``Radio and long-range navigational 
aids'' to read as follows:

Appendix B to Part 63--Flight Navigator Training Course Requirements

    (a) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (iii) * * *

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Classroom
                         Subject                               hours
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                * * * * *
Radio and long-range navigational aids..................              35
    To include:
    Principles of radio transmission and reception......  ..............
    Radio aids to navigation............................  ..............
    Government publications.............................  ..............
    Airborne D/F equipment..............................  ..............
    Errors of radio bearings............................  ..............
    Quadrantal correction...............................  ..............
Plotting radio bearings.................................  ..............
    ICAO Q code for direction finding...................  ..............
 
                                * * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *

PART 121--OPERATING REQUIREMENTS: DOMESTIC, FLAG, AND SUPPLEMENTAL 
OPERATIONS

0
7. The authority citation for part 121 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(f), 106(g), 40103, 40113, 40119, 41706, 
42301 preceding note added by Pub. L. 112-95, sec. 412, 126 Stat. 
89, 44101, 44701-44702, 44705, 44709-44711, 44713, 44716-44717, 
44722, 44729, 44732; 46105; Pub. L. 111-216, 124 Stat. 2348 (49 
U.S.C. 44701 note); Pub. L. 112-95, 126 Stat 62 (49 U.S.C. 44732 
note).

Appendix G to Part 121 [Amended]

0
8. Amend appendix G to part 121 by removing the words ``Loran, 
Consol,'' from paragraph 4.(c).

Appendix M to Part 121 [Amended]

0
9. Amend the table in appendix M to part 1211 by revising entry 60 to 
read as follows:

Appendix M to Part 121--Airplane Flight Recorder Specifications

* * * * *

[[Page 34399]]

 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            Accuracy       Seconds  per
               Parameters                             Range                  (sensor         sampling       Resolution                Remarks
                                                                             input)          interval
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
60. Primary Navigation System Reference  Discrete GPS, INS, VOR/DME,     ..............               4   ..............  A suitable combination of
                                          MLS, Localizer Glideslope.                                                       discretes to determine the
                                                                                                                           Primary Navigation System
                                                                                                                           reference.
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *

PART 125--CERTIFICATION AND OPERATIONS: AIRPLANES HAVING A SEATING 
CAPACITY OF 20 OR MORE PASSENGERS OR A MAXIMUM PAYLOAD CAPACITY OF 
6,000 POUNDS OR MORE; AND RULES GOVERNING PERSONS ON BOARD SUCH 
AIRCRAFT

0
10. The authority citation for part 125 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(f), 106(g), 40113, 44701-44702, 44705, 
44710-44711, 44713, 44716-44717, 44722.

Appendix E to Part 125 [Amended]

0
11. Amend the table in appendix E to part 125 by revising entry 60 to 
read as follows:

Appendix E to Part 125--Airplane Flight Recorder Specifications

* * * * *

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            Accuracy       Seconds  per
               Parameters                             Range                  (sensor         sampling       Resolution                Remarks
                                                                             input)          interval
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
60. Primary Navigation System Reference  Discrete GPS, INS, VOR/DME,     ..............               4   ..............  A suitable combination of
                                          MLS, Localizer Glideslope.                                                       discretes to determine the
                                                                                                                           Primary Navigation System
                                                                                                                           reference.
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *

PART 135--OPERATING REQUIREMENTS: COMMUTER AND ON DEMAND OPERATIONS 
AND RULES GOVERNING PERSONS ON BOARD SUCH AIRCRAFT

0
12. The authority citation for part 135 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  49 U.S.C. 106(f), 106(g), 41706, 40113, 44701-44702, 
44705, 44709, 44711-44713, 44715-44717, 44722, 44730, 45101-45105; 
Pub. L. 112-95, 126 Stat. 58 (49 U.S.C. 44730).

0
13. Amend the table in appendix F to part 135 by revising entry 60 to 
read as follows:

Appendix F to Part 135--Airplane Flight Recorder Specifications

* * * * *

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                           Seconds per
               Parameters                             Range                 Accuracy         sampling       Resolution                Remarks
                                                                         (sensor input)      interval
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
60. Primary Navigation System Reference  Discrete GPS, INS, VOR/DME,     ..............               4   ..............  A suitable combination of
                                          MLS, Localizer Glideslope.                                                       discretes to determine the
                                                                                                                           Primary Navigation System
                                                                                                                           reference.
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *

PART 147--AVIATION MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN SCHOOLS

0
14. The authority citation for part 147 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701-44702, 44707-44709.

0
15. Amend the second table in appendix C to part 147 by revising entry 
39 to read as follows:

Appendix C to Part 147--Airframe Curriculum Subjects

* * * * *

[[Page 34400]]

------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Teaching level
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                              * * * * * * *
(1)..........................  39. Inspect, check, and service aircraft
                                electronic communication and navigation
                                systems, including VHF passenger address
                                interphones and static discharge
                                devices, aircraft VOR, ILS, Radar beacon
                                transponders, flight management
                                computers, and GPWS.
 
                              * * * * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------

PART 170--ESTABLISHMENT AND DISCONTINUANCE CRITERIA FOR AIR TRAFFIC 
CONTROL SERVICES AND NAVIGATIONAL FACILITIES

0
16. The authority citation for part 170 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40103-40107, 40113, 44502, 44701-
44702, 44708-44709, 44719, 44721-44722, 46308.

Sec.  170.3   [Amended]

0
17. Amend Sec.  170.3 by removing the definition of ``LORAN-C''.

Subpart C [Removed and Reserved]

0
18. Remove and Reserve subpart C.

    Issued under the authority provided by 49 U.S.C. 106(f) and 
44701(a) in Washington, DC on July 18, 2017.
Lirio Liu,
Director, Office of Rulemaking.
[FR Doc. 2017-15517 Filed 7-24-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P