80 FR 32464 - Amendment of VOR Federal Airways; Northeastern United States

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 110 (June 9, 2015)

This action amends VOR Federal Airways V-31, V-36, V-98, V-164 and V-252 by removing from the route descriptions, those segments that extend into and/or through Canadian airspace. This action is necessary to match route changes made by Canada as part of the Windsor-Toronto- Montreal (W-T-M) project. The route segments in Canada are no longer in effect; therefore, the United States has issued Notices to Airmen (NOTAM) identifying the affected segments as ``not authorized'' pending the deletion of the segments from the route descriptions through this rulemaking action.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 110 (Tuesday, June 9, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 32464-32465]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-13980]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2015-1650; Airspace Docket No. 14-AEA-8]
RIN 2120-AA66


Amendment of VOR Federal Airways; Northeastern United States

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action amends VOR Federal Airways V-31, V-36, V-98, V-164 
and V-252 by removing from the route descriptions, those segments that 
extend into and/or through Canadian airspace. This action is necessary 
to match route changes made by Canada as part of the Windsor-Toronto-
Montreal (W-T-M) project. The route segments in Canada are no longer in 
effect; therefore, the United States has issued Notices to Airmen 
(NOTAM) identifying the affected segments as ``not authorized'' pending 
the deletion of the segments from the route descriptions through this 
rulemaking action.

DATES: Effective date: 0901 UTC, August 20, 2015. The Director of the 
Federal Register approves this incorporation by reference action under 
1 CFR part 51, subject to the annual revision of FAA Order 7400.9 and 
publication of conforming amendments.

ADDRESSES: FAA Order 7400.9Y, Airspace Designations and Reporting 
Points, and subsequent amendments can be viewed online at http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/. The Order is also available for 
inspection at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). 
For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 
(202) 741-6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal-regulations/ibr_locations.html.
    FAA Order 7400.9, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, is 
published yearly and effective on September 15. For further 
information, you can contact the Airspace Policy and Regulations Group, 
Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW., 
Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267-8783.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Gallant, 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: 

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 is merely an editorial change to the legal descriptions 
of V-31, V-36, V-98, V-164 and V-252 to reflect changes in the Canadian 
route structure.

Background

    This action amends VOR Federal airways V-31, V-36, V-98, V-164 and 
V-252 as a result of the Windsor-Toronto-Montreal (W-T-M) and Northeast 
United States Cross-border Airspace Modernization and Redesign 
initiative. NavCanada, in an effort to transition to an Area Navigation 
(RNAV) route system, removed a number of conventional airways, many of 
which crossed the United States/Canadian border. The airways listed 
above with the exception of V-98 were part of that initiative that 
became effective on November 13, 2014 (79 FR 57758). Canadian segments 
of V-98 were subsequently removed by Canada in January 2015. 
Coordination for the modification of the Federal airways listed above 
was not completed in time for inclusion in the November 13, 2014, 
docket action. Currently, the United States has issued regulatory 
Notices to Airman (NOTAM) classifying the segments of the above listed 
airways lying within Canadian airspace as ``not authorized.''
    This action is required to match the changes in the Canadian route 
structure. It will enhance safety within the National Airspace System 
and will facilitate a seamless air traffic route system between the two 
countries.

Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference

    This document amends FAA Order 7400.9Y, Airspace Designations and 
Reporting Points, dated August 6, 2014, and effective September 15, 
2014. FAA Order 7400.9Y is publicly available as listed in the 
ADDRESSES section of this final rule. FAA Order 7400.9Y lists Class A, 
B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and 
reporting points.

The Rule

    This action amends Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 
part 71 by removing those former route segments in Canadian airspace 
from the descriptions of VOR Federal airways V-31, V-36, V-98, V-164 
and V-252. This action aligns the United States airways with route 
changes instituted by Canada as part of NavCanada's W-T-M project.
    The following is a summary of the specific changes by route. Where 
new navigation aid radials are designated, both True and Magnetic 
degrees are stated. Otherwise, only True degrees are shown.
    V-31 The segment between the intersection of the Rochester 279[deg] 
and the Toronto, Canada 150[deg] radials is removed and a new end point 
formed by the intersection of the Rochester 279[deg] and the Buffalo, 
NY 023[deg](T)/031[deg](M) radials is inserted.
    V-36 The segments between Thunder Bay, ON, Canada and the 
intersection of the Toronto and Buffalo radials is removed, The amended 
route extends between Buffalo, NY and the intersection of the 
LaGuardia, NY 310[deg] and the Stillwater, NJ 043[deg] radials as 
currently published.
    V-98 The segments between Windsor, ON, Canada and St. Jean, PQ, 
Canada are removed.
    V-164 The segment between Toronto, ON, Canada and Buffalo, NY is 
removed. The amended route extends

[[Page 32465]]

between Buffalo and East Texas, PA as currently published.
    V-252 The segment between Toronto, ON, Canada and the intersection 
of the Toronto 116[deg] and the Geneseo, NY 305[deg] radials is 
removed. A new start point formed by the intersection of the Buffalo, 
NY 023[deg](T)/031[deg](M) and the Geneseo 305[deg] radials is 
inserted. The remainder of the route to Dupont, DE, is unchanged,
    In the regulatory text, below, only True degrees are listed when 
defining radials.
    Since this action involves removing from the descriptions of VOR 
Federal airways V-31, V-36, V-98, V-164 and V-252, those route segments 
in Canada that have previously been cancelled, I find that notice and 
public procedures under 5 U.S.C. 553(b) are unnecessary.

Regulatory Notices and Analyses

    The FAA has determined that this regulation only involves an 
established body of technical regulations for which frequent and 
routine amendments are necessary to keep them operationally current. 
Therefore, this regulation: (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory 
action'' under Executive Order 12866; (2) is not a ``significant rule'' 
under 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 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.
    Domestic VOR Federal Airways are published in paragraph 6010(a) of 
FAA Order 7400.9Y, dated August 6, 2014, and effective September 15, 
2014, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The VOR 
Federal Airways listed in this document will be published subsequently 
in the Order.

Environmental Review

    The FAA has determined that this action qualifies for categorical 
exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act in accordance 
with FAA Order 1050.1E, Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures, 
paragraph 311k. This airspace action consists of editorial changes only 
and is not expected to cause any potentially significant environmental 
impacts, and no extraordinary circumstances exist that warrant 
preparation of an environmental assessment.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71

    Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).

Adoption of the Amendment

    In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation 
Administration amends 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 14 CFR 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.


Sec.  71.1  [Amended]

0
2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of the Federal 
Aviation Administration Order 7400.9Y, Airspace Designations and 
Reporting Points, dated August 6, 2014, and effective September 15, 
2014, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6010(a)--Domestic VOR Federal Airways

* * * * *

V-31 [Amended]

    From Patuxent River, MD; INT Patuxent River 338[deg] and 
Nottingham, MD, 128[deg] radials; Nottingham. From Baltimore, MD; 
INT Baltimore 004[deg] and Harrisburg, PA, 147[deg] radials; 
Harrisburg; Selinsgrove, PA; Williamsport, PA; Elmira, NY; INT 
Elmira 002[deg] and Rochester, NY, 120[deg] radials; Rochester; to 
INT Rochester 279[deg] and Buffalo, NY 023[deg] radials.

V-36 [Amended]

    From Buffalo, NY; Elmira, NY; INT Elmira 110[deg] and LaGuardia, 
NY, 310[deg] radials; to INT LaGuardia 310[deg] and Stillwater, NJ, 
043[deg] radials.

V-98 [Amended]

    From Dayton, OH; INT Dayton 358[deg] and Carleton, MI, 243[deg] 
radials; to INT Carleton 243[deg] and Waterville, OH, 321[deg] 
radials.

V-164 [Amended]

    From Buffalo, NY; Wellsville, NY; Stonyfork, PA; Williamsport, 
PA; INT Williamsport 129[deg] and East Texas, PA, 315[deg] radials; 
to East Texas.

V-252 [Amended]

    From INT Buffalo, NY 023[deg] and Geneseo, NY, 305[deg] radials; 
Geneseo; Binghamton, NY; Huguenot, NY; INT Huguenot 196[deg] and 
Robbinsville, NJ, 351[deg] radials; Robbinsville; to Dupont, DE.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on June 2, 2015.
Gary A. Norek,
Manager, Airspace Policy and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2015-13980 Filed 6-8-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P