80 FR 28538 - Prohibition of Fixed-Wing Special Visual Flight Rules Operations at Washington-Dulles International Airport; Withdrawal

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 96 (May 19, 2015)

The FAA is withdrawing a previously published direct final rule that would have prohibited fixed-wing special visual flight rules operations at Washington-Dulles International Airport. The FAA is withdrawing this action because it has received an adverse comment.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 96 (Tuesday, May 19, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 28538-28539]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-12047]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 91

[Docket No. FAA-2015-0190; Amdt. No. 91-337]
RIN 2120-AK69


Prohibition of Fixed-Wing Special Visual Flight Rules Operations 
at Washington-Dulles International Airport; Withdrawal

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Direct final rule; withdrawal.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is withdrawing a previously published direct final 
rule that would have prohibited fixed-wing special visual flight rules 
operations at Washington-Dulles International Airport. The FAA is 
withdrawing this action because it has received an adverse comment.

DATES: The direct final rule published on March 26, 2015, at 80 FR 
15887, is withdrawn, effective May 19, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For technical questions concerning 
this action, contact David Maddox, Airspace Policy and Regulation 
Group, AJV-113, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence 
Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591; telephone (202) 267-8783; email 
[email protected].
    For legal questions concerning this action, contact Robert Frenzel, 
Office of the Chief Counsel, AGC-200, Federal Aviation Administration, 
800 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591; telephone (202) 267-
3073; email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On March 26, 2015 (80 FR 15887), the FAA published in the Federal 
Register a direct final rule prohibiting fixed-wing special visual 
flight rules (SVFR) operations at Washington-Dulles International 
Airport (IAD). The direct final rule was to become effective on May 26, 
2015.

Reason for Withdrawal

    The FAA is withdrawing the direct final rule because the agency 
received

[[Page 28539]]

an adverse comment to the rule and is required by 14 CFR 11.31(c) to 
withdraw a direct final rule if the agency receives any adverse comment 
or notice of intent to file any adverse comment. We received a comment 
from an individual pilot who objected to the prohibition of fixed-wing 
SVFR operations at IAD. The commenter stated that the blanket 
prohibition of SVFR was inappropriate and unnecessary. The commenter 
further stated that he had personally used SVFR twice in the last few 
years to land at IAD to participate in an event at the Smithsonian 
National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, which is 
located adjacent to IAD. The commenter further suggested that the IAD 
control tower should approve or disapprove SVFR operations on a case-
by-case basis.
    The FAA has determined that the comment meets the requirements for 
consideration as an adverse comment per Sec.  11.31(a). In accordance 
with the provisions of Sec.  11.31(c), the FAA withdraws the direct 
final rule.

Conclusion

    Withdrawal of Amendment No. 91-337 does not preclude the FAA from 
issuing rulemaking on the subject in the future, nor does it commit the 
agency to any future course of action. The agency may also make any 
future necessary changes to the Code of Federal Regulations through a 
notice of proposed rulemaking with opportunity for public comment. 
Therefore, the FAA withdraws Amendment No. 91-337 published at 80 FR 
15887, March 26, 2015.

    Issued under authority provided by 49 U.S.C. 106(f), 44701(a), 
and 44703 in Washington, DC, on May 13, 2015.
Jodi S. McCarthy,
Director, Airspace Services.
[FR Doc. 2015-12047 Filed 5-18-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P