AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION:

Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

SUMMARY:

This action proposes to amend VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airways V-91, V-123, V-431, V-489, and V-496 due to the planned decommissioning of the Glens Falls, NY, VORTAC navigation aid which provides navigation guidance for segments of the routes. The Glens Falls VORTAC is being decommissioned as part of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.

DATES:

Comments must be received on or before September 3, 2019.

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-2019-0474; Airspace Docket No. 19-AEA-2 at the beginning of your comments. You may also submit comments through the internet at http://www.regulations.gov.

FAA Order 7400.11C, 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 7400.11C at NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go to http://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:

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-2019-0474; Airspace Docket No. 19-AEA-2 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-2019-0474; Airspace Docket No. 19-AEA-2”. 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. A report summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA personnel concerned with this rulemaking will be filed in the docket.

Availability of NPRM's

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 7400.11C, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 13, 2018, and effective September 15, 2018. FAA Order 7400.11C is publicly available as listed in the ADDRESSES section of this proposed rule. FAA Order 7400.11C 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 amend VOR Federal airways V-91, V-123, V-431, V-489, and V-496 due to the planned decommissioning of the Glens Falls, NY, VORTAC. The proposed changes are described below.

V-91: V-91 currently extends between the intersection of the Calverton, NY, VOR/DME 180° radial, and the Hampton, NY, VORTAC 223° radial; and the Burlington, VT, VOR/DME. The FAA proposes to remove the route segments between the Albany, NY, VORTAC, and Burlington, VT. As amended, V-91 would extend between the intersection of the above Calverton and Hampton radials; and Albany, NY. Alternative routing between Albany and Burlington, VT, is available via V-542 from Albany to Cambridge, NY, then V-487 to Burlington.

V-123: V-123 currently extends between the intersection of the Washington, DC, VOR/DME 065° radial, and the Baltimore, MD, VORTAC 197° radial; and the Glens Falls, NY, VORTAC. This proposal would remove the segment between the Cambridge, NY, VOR/DME and Glens Falls. As amended, V-123 would extend between the intersection of the above Washington, DC, and the Baltimore, MD, radials; and the Cambridge, NY, VOR/DME.

V-431: V-431 currently extends between the intersection of the Boston, MA, VOR/DME 015° radial, and the Gardner, MA, VOR/DME 097° radial; and the intersection of the Glens Falls, NY, VORTAC 286° radial, and the Albany, NY, VORTAC 350° radial. This proposal would remove the segments between the Gardner, MA, VOR/DME, and the intersection of the Glens Falls, NY 286° and the Albany, NY 350° radials. The amended route would extend between the intersection of the Boston, MA, VOR/DME 015° radial, and the Gardner, MA, VOR/DME 097° radial; and Gardner, MA.

V-489: V-489 currently extends between the intersection of the Sparta, NJ, VORTAC 300° radial and the Huguenot, NY, VOR/DME 196° radial; and Glens Falls, NY VORTAC. This proposal would remove the segment between the Albany, NY, VORTAC and Glens Falls, NY. As amended V-489 would extend between the intersection of the Sparta, NJ, 300° radial and the Huguenot, NY, 196° radial; and Albany, NY.

V-496: V-496 currently extends between the Utica, NY, VORTAC, and the Kennebunk, ME, VOR/DME. This proposal would remove the segments between Utica, NY, and the Lebanon, NH VOR/DME. As amended, V-496 would extend between Lebanon, NH, and Kennebunk, ME. For alternative routing between Utica, NY, and Lebanon, NH, flights could use V-490 from Utica, to Cambridge, NY, then V-542 from Cambridge to Lebanon.

Domestic VOR Federal airways are published in paragraph 6010(a) of FAA Order 7400.11C, dated August 13, 2018, and effective September 15, 2018, 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 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

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.

2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of FAA Order 7400.11C, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 13, 2018, and effective September 15, 2018, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6010(a) Domestic VOR Federal Airways.

V-91 [Amended]

From INT Calverton, NY, 180° and Hampton, NY, 223° radials; Calverton; Bridgeport, CT; to Albany, NY.

V-123 [Amended]

From INT Washington, DC, 065° and Baltimore, MD, 197° radials, via INT Washington, DC, 065° and Woodstown, NJ, 230° radials; Woodstown; Robbinsville, NJ; INT Robbinsville 044° and LaGuardia, NY, 213° radials; LaGuardia; INT LaGuardia 032° and Carmel, NY, 157° radials; Carmel; INT Carmel 344° and Albany, NY, 181° radials; Albany; to Cambridge, NY.

V-431 [Amended]

From INT Boston, MA, 015°and Gardner, MA, 097° radials, to Gardner, MA.

V-489 [Amended]

From INT Sparta, NJ, 300° and Huguenot, NY, 196° radials; Huguenot; INT Huguenot 008° and Albany, NY, 209° radials; to Albany, NY.

V-496 [Amended]

From Lebanon, NH; to Kennebunk, ME.