AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION:

Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

SUMMARY:

This action proposes to amend two existing low altitude RNAV routes (T-routes), and establish nine new T-routes in support of the South-Central Florida Metroplex Project. The proposed changes would reduce the dependency of the National Airspace System (NAS) on ground-based navigational systems, and assist with the transition to a more efficient Performance Based Navigation (PBN) route structure.

DATES:

Comments must be received on or before July 31, 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-2020-0525; Airspace Docket No. 20-ASO-7 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:

Paul Gallant, 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 expand the availability of RNAV in Florida to improve the efficiency of the NAS by lessening the dependency on ground-based navigation aids.

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-2020-0525; Airspace Docket No. 20-ASO-7 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-2020-0525; Airspace Docket No. 20-ASO-7.” 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 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 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 7400.11D, 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 proposed rule. FAA Order 7400.11D 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 two existing low altitude RNAV routes (T-routes), and establish nine new T-routes in support of the South-Central Florida Metroplex Project. The purpose of the routes is to expand the availability of RNAV and improve the efficiency of the NAS by reducing the dependency on ground-based navigation systems. The following is a general description of the proposed amended and new routes.

T-208: T-208 is an existing route that currently extends from the Gators, FL (GNV), VORTAC eastward to the CARRA, FL, fix, then to the Ormond Beach (OMN) VORTAC. This action proposes to remove the Gators VORTAC, the CARRA fix, and the Ormond Beach VORTAC from the route. T-208 would be realigned to start at the WALEE, FL, waypoint (WP) (located to the east of the current Gators VORTAC). The route would then proceed eastward to the MMKAY, FL and the FOXAM, FL, WPs, (near the Florida east coast), then it would turn southward through the SUUGR, FL, WP, the SMYRA, FL, OAKIE, FL, MALET, FL, TICCO, FL, and INDIA, FL, fixes, then continue southward through the DIMBY, FL, WP, the VALKA, FL, fix, the SULTY, FL, WIXED, FL, CLEFF, FL, DURRY, FL, and BOBOE, FL, WPs, and terminating at the SHANC, FL, fix (located about 17 nautical miles (NM) northwest of the Fort Lauderdale, FL, VOR/DME). The amended route would extend between the WALEE, FL, WP, and the SHANC, FL, fix.

T-210: T-210 is an existing route that currently extends from the Taylor, FL (TAY), VORTAC, to the OHLEE, FL, WP, to the BRADO, FL, fix. The FAA proposes to remove the Taylor VORTAC from the route and add the MARQO, FL, WP (in the vicinity of the Taylor VORTAC) as the new start point. From the MARQO WP, the route would proceed southeastward through the OHLEE, FL, WP, and BRADO, FL, fix (as currently charted). After the BRADO fix, the route would turn southward through the MMKAY, FL, WP, the MRUTT, FL, WP, the GUANO, FL, fix, and the KIZER, FL, fix (located about 23 NM north of the Orlando, FL (ORL), VORTAC). After KIZER, the route would turn southwestward through the EMSEE, FL, DAIYL, FL, AKOJO, FL, and PUNQU, FL, WPs, and terminating at the VARZE, FL, WP.

T-336: T-336 is a proposed new route that would extend between the TROYR, FL, WP, and the WIXED, FL, WP.

T-337: T-337 is a proposed new route that would extend between the SWENY, FL, WP, and the WEZER, FL, WP.

T-339: T-339 is a proposed new route that would extend between the KARTR, FL, WP, and the ODDEL, FL, WP.

T-341: T-341 is a proposed new route that would extend between the MEAGN, FL, WP, and the MARQO, FL, WP.

T-343: T-343 is a proposed new route that would extend between the WORPP, FL, WP, and the INDIA, FL, WP.

T-345: T-345 is a proposed new route that would extend between the MARKT, FL, WP, and the DEARY, FL, WP.

T-347: T-347 is a proposed new route that would extend between the CLEFF, FL, WP, and the SEBAG, FL, WP.

T-349: T-349 is a proposed new route that would extend between the VARZE, FL, WP, and the TROYR, FL, WP.

T-353: T-353 is a proposed new route that would extend between the FEBRO, FL, WP, and the ASTOR, FL, WP.

United States Area Navigation routes are published in paragraph 6011 of FAA Order 7400.2D, dated August 8, 2019, and effective September 15, 2019, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The RNAV routes listed in this document would 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.

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

Paragraph 6011 United States Navigation Routes.