81 FR 2987 - Modification of VOR Federal Airway V-443; North Central United States

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 12 (January 20, 2016)

This action modifies VOR Federal airway V-443, which extends across the United States/Canadian border, in the north central United States. The FAA is taking this action to reflect and accommodate route changes made in Canadian airspace as part of Canada's Windsor-Toronto- Montreal (WTM) airspace redesign project.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 12 (Wednesday, January 20, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 2987-2988]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-00521]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2015-7611; Airspace Docket No. 15-AGL-20]
RIN 2120-AA66


Modification of VOR Federal Airway V-443; North Central United 
States

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action modifies VOR Federal airway V-443, which extends 
across the United States/Canadian border, in the north central United 
States. The FAA is taking this action to reflect and accommodate route 
changes made in Canadian airspace as part of Canada's Windsor-Toronto-
Montreal (WTM) airspace redesign project.

DATES: Effective date 0901 UTC, March 31, 2016. The Director of the 
Federal Register approves this incorporation by reference action under 
title 1, Code of Federal Regulations, part 51, subject to the annual 
revision of FAA, Order 7400.9 and publication of conforming amendments.

ADDRESSES: 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 FAA Order 7400.9Z 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 modifies the air traffic service route structure in the 
north central United States to maintain the efficient flow of air 
traffic.

History

    In 1962, the FAA published in the Federal Register a rule that 
extended V-443 from the Cleveland, OH, VHF Omnidirection Range Tactical 
Air Navigation (VORTAC) navigation aid (NAVAID) over the Aylmer, 
Ontario, Canada, Omnidirection Range/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/
DME) NAVAID to the Toronto, Ontario, Canada, VOR/DME NAVAID, excluding 
the airspace within Canada (27 FR 11497, November 22, 1962). The route 
extension was established in concert with the Canadian Department of 
Transport to provide a more direct route between Cleveland and Toronto.

[[Page 2988]]

    In 1989, the FAA published in the Federal Register a rule to amend 
V-443 (54 FR 39166, September 25, 1989). The amendment inserted an 
intersection fix between the Aylmer, ON, Canada, VOR/DME and the 
Toronto, ON, Canada, VOR/DME NAVAIDs to adjust the arrival/departure 
routes to/from Toronto, ON, Canada, and alleviate the congestion and 
compression of air traffic in that area. As a result, the V-433 
description was amended to reflect the route being realigned from the 
Aylmer, Ontario, Canada, VOR/DME, to an intersection fix defined by the 
Aylmer 051[deg] and Toronto 210[deg] radials, to the Toronto, ON, 
Canada, VOR/DME.
    In November 2014, Canada removed the V-443 route segment from the 
Aylmer, ON, Canada, VOR/DME, to the Toronto, ON, Canada, VOR/DME, as 
part of their WTM airspace redesign program; however, corresponding 
action amending the FAA's V-443 legal description was not accomplished. 
This disconnect led to the charted depiction of V-443 being amended in 
the Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) low altitude enroute charts and the 
FAA National Airspace System Repository (NASR) database being updated, 
but the V-443 legal description published in FAA Order 7400.9, Airspace 
Designations and Reporting Points, which is incorporated by reference 
in 14 CFR part 71, remaining unchanged.
    Since the basis for establishing the V-443 route segment between 
the Alymer, ON, Canada, VOR/DME to the Toronto, ON, Canada, VOR/DME no 
longer exists, the FAA is amending the route description in FAA Order 
7400.9 and 14 CFR part 71.
    VOR Federal airways are published in paragraph 2010 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 airway 
listed in this document will be subsequently amended in the Order.

Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference

    This document amends 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.

The Rule

    The FAA is amending Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 
CFR) part 71 by removing the route segment of V-443 that extends from 
Aylmer, ON, Canada, to Toronto, ON, Canada. The remaining portion of V-
443 is unchanged. This action responds to the route changes made by 
Canada as part of their WTM airspace redesign project. Canada has 
subsequently removed this route segment and it no longer exists on 
aeronautical charts. Therefore, notice and public procedure under 5 
U.S.C. 553(b) are unnecessary.
    All radials in the route description below are unchanged and stated 
in True degrees.

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. 
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 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.

Environmental Review

    The FAA has determined that this action qualifies for categorical 
exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act in accordance 
with FAA Order 1050.1F, Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures, 
paragraph 5-6.5a. This airspace action consists of modifying an airway 
and it is not expected to cause any potentially significant 
environmental impacts, and no extraordinary circumstances exists that 
warrant preparation of an environmental assessment.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71

    Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).

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 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 2010(a) Domestic VOR Federal Airways.

* * * * *

V-443 [Amended]

    From INT Newcomerstown, OH, 099[deg] and Bellaire, OH, 044[deg] 
radials; Newcomerstown; Tiverton, OH; Dryer, OH; INT Dryer 049[deg] 
and Aylmer, ON, Canada, 205[deg] radials; to Aylmer. The airspace 
within Canada is excluded.
* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on January 7, 2016.
Gary A. Norek,
Manager, Airspace Policy Group.
[FR Doc. 2016-00521 Filed 1-19-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P