80 FR 63473 - Proposed Amendment of Air Traffic Service (ATS) Routes; Southwest Oklahoma

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 202 (October 20, 2015)

This action proposes to modify 3 VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airways (V-140, V-272, and V-440) in the vicinity of Sayre, OK. The FAA is proposing this action due to the scheduled decommissioning of the Sayre, OK (SYO), VOR/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) facility that provides navigation guidance for a portion of the airways listed. This action would enhance the route structure within the National Airspace System.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 202 (Tuesday, October 20, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 63473-63474]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-26498]


========================================================================
Proposed Rules
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.

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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 202 / Tuesday, October 20, 2015 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 63473]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2015-3835; Airspace Docket No. 14-ASW-13]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Amendment of Air Traffic Service (ATS) Routes; Southwest 
Oklahoma

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to modify 3 VHF Omnidirectional Range 
(VOR) Federal airways (V-140, V-272, and V-440) in the vicinity of 
Sayre, OK. The FAA is proposing this action due to the scheduled 
decommissioning of the Sayre, OK (SYO), VOR/Tactical Air Navigation 
(VORTAC) facility that provides navigation guidance for a portion of 
the airways listed. This action would enhance the route structure 
within the National Airspace System.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 4, 2015.

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-2015-
3835 and Airspace Docket No. 14-ASW-13 at the beginning of your 
comments. You may also submit comments 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 between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays. The Docket Office (telephone 1-800-
647-5527), is on the ground floor of the building at the above address.
    FAA Order 7400.9Z, 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 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 CONTACT: Colby Abbott, 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 amend the route structure as required to preserve the safe 
and efficient flow of air traffic in the vicinity of Sayre, OK.

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-2015-3835 and Airspace Docket No. 14-ASW-13) 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-2015-3835 and Airspace Docket No. 14-ASW-13.'' 
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. 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 NPRM's

    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 
NPRM's should contact the FAA's Office of Rulemaking, (202) 267-9677, 
for a copy of Advisory Circular No. 11-2A, Notice of Proposed

[[Page 63474]]

Rulemaking Distribution System, which describes the application 
procedure.

Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference

    This document proposes to amend FAA Order 7400.9Z, airspace 
Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 6, 2015, and effective 
September 15, 2015. FAA Order 7400.9Z is publicly available as listed 
in the ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order 7400.9Z lists 
Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and 
reporting points.

Background

    The SYO VORTAC facility is scheduled to be decommissioned. With the 
decommissioning of the SYO VORTAC, the remaining ground-based 
navigation aid (NAVAID) coverage is insufficient to enable the 
continuity of the affected airways. The proposed modifications to VOR 
Federal airways V-140, V-272, and V-440 would result in slightly 
realigned routes through the Sayre, OK, area by using the Burns Flat, 
OK (BFV), VORTAC located approximately 22 nautical miles southeast of 
the SYO VORTAC to replace it. Route segments supported by other NAVAIDs 
would remain unchanged.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to Title 14, Code of Federal 
Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 to modify VOR Federal airways V-140, V-
272, and V-440 in the vicinity of Sayre, OK. These proposed 
modifications are necessary due to the scheduled decommissioning of the 
SYO VORTAC. The proposed route modifications are outlined below.
    V-140: V-140 extends from the Panhandle, TX (PNH), VORTAC to the 
Casanova, VA (CSN), VORTAC. The route segment between the PNH VORTAC 
and Kingfisher, OK (IFI), VORTAC would be realigned to proceed over the 
BFV VORTAC instead of the SYO VORTAC.
    V-272: V-272 extends from the Dalhart, TX (DHT), VORTAC to the Fort 
Smith, AR (FSM), VORTAC. The route segment between the Borger, TX 
(BGD), VORTAC and Will Rogers, OK (IRW), VORTAC would be realigned to 
proceed over the BFV VORTAC instead of the SYO VORTAC.
    V-440: V-440 extends from the PNH VORTAC to the IRW VORTAC. The 
intersecting NAVAID radial information used to describe the BRISC and 
CARFF fixes would be updated using BFV VORTAC radials instead of SYO 
VORTAC radials, and the route segment between the BRISC and CARFF fixes 
would be realigned to proceed over the BFV VORTAC instead of the SYO 
VORTAC.
    All radials in the route descriptions below that do not reflect 
True (T)/Magnetic (M) degree radial information are unchanged and 
stated in True degrees.
    VOR Federal airways are published in paragraph 6010 of FAA Order 
7400.9Z dated August 6, 2015, and effective September 15, 2015, 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 1050.1E, ``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

0
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.


Sec.  71.1  [Amended]

0
2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of FAA Order 7400.9Z, 
Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 6, 2015, and 
effective September 15, 2015, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6010(a) Domestic VOR Federal Airways.

* * * * *

V-140 [Amended]

    From Panhandle, TX; Burns Flat, OK; Kingfisher, OK; INT 
Kingfisher 072[deg] and Tulsa, OK, 261[deg] radials; Tulsa; 
Razorback, AR; Harrison, AR; Walnut Ridge, AR; Dyersburg, TN; 
Nashville, TN; Livingston, TN; London, KY; Hazard, KY; Bluefield, 
WV; INT Bluefield 071[deg] and Montebello, VA, 250[deg] radials; 
Montebello; to Casanova, VA.
* * * * *

V-272 [Amended]

    From Dalhart, TX; Borger, TX; Burns Flat, OK; Will Rogers, OK; 
INT Will Rogers 113[deg] and McAlester, OK, 286[deg] radials; 
McAlester; to Fort Smith, AR.
* * * * *

V-440 [Amended]

    From Panhandle, TX; INT Panhandle 070[deg](T)/062[deg](M) and 
Burns Flat, OK, 288[deg](T)/280[deg](M) radials; Burns Flat; INT 
Burns Flat 103[deg](T)/095[deg](M) and Will Rogers, OK, 248[deg](T)/
241[deg](M) radials; to Will Rogers.
* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on October 8, 2015.
Gary A. Norek,
Manager, Airspace Policy Group.
[FR Doc. 2015-26498 Filed 10-19-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P