[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 14 (Wednesday, January 22, 2014)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 3545-3547]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-01178]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2013-1062; Airspace Docket No. 13-ACE-3]
RIN 2120-AA66
Proposed Modification of Air Traffic Service (ATS) Routes; North
Central United States
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: This action proposes to modify three Jet Routes (J-45, J-151,
and J-233) and a high altitude area navigation (RNAV) route (Q-19). The
FAA is proposing this action due to a service restriction of the Des
Moines, IA (DSM), VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR)/Tactical Air
Navigation (VORTAC) facility that provides navigation guidance for a
portion of the ATS routes. This action would enhance the safety and
efficient management of aircraft flying within the National Airspace
System (NAS).
DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 10, 2014.
ADDRESSES: Send comments on this proposal to the U.S. Department of
Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE.,
West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001;
telephone: (202) 366-9826. You must identify FAA Docket No. FAA-2013-
1062 and Airspace Docket No. 13-ACE-3 at the beginning of your
comments. You may also submit comments through the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Colby Abbott, Airspace Policy and
Regulations Group, Office of Airspace Services, Federal Aviation
Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591;
telephone: (202) 267-8783.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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-2013-1062 and Airspace Docket No. 13-ACE-3) 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-2013-1062 and Airspace Docket No. 13-ACE-3.'' 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
[[Page 3546]]
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.
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 Central Service Center, Operations
Support Group, Federal Aviation Administration, 2601 Meacham Blvd.,
Fort Worth, TX 76137.
Persons interested in being placed on a mailing list for future
NPRMs should contact the FAA's Office of Rulemaking, (202) 267-9677,
for a copy of Advisory Circular No. 11-2A, Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking Distribution System, which describes the application
procedure.
Background
The DSM VOR was initially identified as unstable after a flight
check was conducted on the instrument approach procedures at Chariton
Municipal Airport, Chariton, IA, in September 2009. The VOR was
determined to be unusable from the 111 degree radial clockwise to the
169 degree radial and a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) was issued. In January
2012, another flight inspection was flown following Technical
Operations maintenance actions having been accomplished. Increased
radial restrictions were documented by that flight inspection and the
NOTAM was updated to reflect the DSM VOR 085 degree radial clockwise to
the 184 degree radial as unusable. The VOR antenna, antenna bridges,
and cabling were replaced and a special flight inspection conducted.
The flight inspection reduced the VOR restriction to reflect from the
095 degree radial clockwise to the 150 degree radial, which remains
published today.
The DSM VOR restrictions are caused by external structural signal
reflections that numerous maintenance corrective actions have failed to
correct. As a result, the ATS routes, fixes, and procedures that are
affected by the VOR restriction must be amended. Having exhausted
maintenance corrective action alternatives, the FAA is proposing to
reroute the NAS jet route structure that is affected by the DSM VOR
restriction and extend an existing high altitude RNAV route to retain
the direct routing between the St. Louis, MO (STL), and DSM VORTACs for
aircraft capable of flying RNAV.
The Proposal
The FAA is proposing an amendment to Title 14, Code of Federal
Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 to amend Jet Routes J-45, J-151, and J-
233, and high altitude RNAV route Q-19 to address route impacts caused
by the DSM VOR radials restricted from use. The Des Moines, IA, VORTAC
facility restriction has made this action necessary. The proposed route
modification actions are outlined below.
J-45: J-45 extends between Virginia Key, FL, and Aberdeen, SD. The
FAA proposes to amend the route segment between the STL and DSM VORTACs
by relocating it over the Kirksville, MO (IRK) VORTAC. The proposed
amendment would extend the route by approximately four nautical miles
(NM), but retains a route structure between STL and DSM.
J-151: J-151 extends between Cross City, FL and Whitehall, MT. The
FAA proposes to relocate the route segment between STL and the O'Neil,
NE (ONL) VORTAC further west from its current routing by overflying the
IRK and Omaha, NE (OVR), VORTACs. This would result in a near direct
route from STL to ONL; providing a 12.5 NM reduction in the route
length.
J-233: J-233 extends between Waterloo, IA (ALO), and STL.
Unfortunately, a portion of the route between STL and the intersection
of the STL 318[deg] and ALO 184[deg] radials (COLIE to SKBOZ fixes)
failed an extended service volume flight check and is not usable. The
FAA proposes to replace the route intersection noted above with the IRK
VORTAC to overcome the extended service volume issue. This would move
the existing dogleg in the route approximately 26 NM south of its
current position, but only add approximately 10 NM to the route's
length.
Q-19: Q-19 extends between Nashville, TN (BNA), and the PLESS fix,
overlying a portion of J-45. The FAA proposes to extend Q-19 northeast
from the PLESS fix to DSM to retain a direct routing capability between
STL and DSM for aircraft capable of flying RNAV routes. This proposed
RNAV route extension would replace the portion of J-45 between STL and
DSM, addressed above, that is proposed to be relocated and furthers the
transition within the NAS to an RNAV route structure in support of the
NextGen initiative.
The navigation aid radials cited in the proposed Jet Route and high
altitude RNAV route descriptions, below, are stated relative to True
north.
Jet Routes are published in paragraph 2004 and high altitude RNAV
routes (Q) are published in paragraph 2006, respectively, of FAA Order
7400.9X dated August 7, 2013, and effective September 15, 2013, which
is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Jet Routes and high
altitude RNAV route listed in this document would be subsequently
published in the Order.
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.
Therefore, this proposed regulation: (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
only affects air traffic procedures and air navigation, it is certified
that this proposed rule, when promulgated, does not have a significant
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities under the
criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
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 modifies the route structure as necessary to preserve the safe
and efficient flow of air traffic within the NAS.
Environmental Review
This proposal will be subject to an environmental analysis in
accordance with FAA Order 1050.1E, ``Environmental Impacts: Policies
and Procedures'' prior to any FAA final regulatory action.
[[Page 3547]]
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(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 7400.9X,
Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 7, 2013 and
effective September 15, 2013, is amended as follows:
Paragraph 2004 Jet Routes
J-45 [Amended]
From Virginia Key, FL; INT Virginia Key 014[deg] and Treasure, FL,
143[deg] radials; Treasure; INT Treasure 330[deg] and Ormond Beach,
FL, 183[deg] radials; Ormond Beach; Craig, FL; Alma, GA; Macon, GA;
Atlanta, GA; Nashville, TN; St Louis, MO; Kirksville, MO; Des
Moines, IA; Sioux Falls, SD; to Aberdeen, SD.
* * * * *
J-151 [Amended]
From Cross City, FL; Vulcan, AL; Farmington, MO; St. Louis, MO;
Kirksville, MO; Omaha, NE; O'Neil, NE; Rapid City, SD; Billings, MT;
INT Billings 266[deg] and Whitehall, MT, 103[deg] radials; to
Whitehall.
* * * * *
J-233 [Amended]
From Waterloo, IA; Kirksville, MO; to St. Louis, MO.
* * * * *
Paragraph 2006 United States Area Navigation Routes
Q-19 Nashville, TN (BNA) to Aberdeen, SD (ABR) [Amended]
Nashville, TN (BNA) VORTAC (Lat. 36[deg]08'13'' N., long. 86[deg]41'05'' W.)
PLESS, IL Fix (Lat. 37[deg]48'35'' N., long. 88[deg]57'48'' W.)
St. Louis, MO (STL) VORTAC (Lat. 38[deg]51'38'' N., long. 90[deg]28'57'' W.)
Des Moines, IA (DSM) VORTAC (Lat. 41[deg]26'15'' N., long. 93[deg]38'55'' W.)
Sioux Falls, SD (FSD) VORTAC (Lat. 43[deg]38'58'' N., long. 96[deg]46'52'' W.)
Aberdeen, SD (ABR) VOR/DME (Lat. 45[deg]25'02'' N., long. 98[deg]22'07'' W.)
* * * * *
Issued in Washington, DC, on January 15, 2014.
Gary A. Norek,
Manager, Airspace Policy and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2014-01178 Filed 1-21-14; 8:45 am]
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