82 FR 25559 - Proposed Amendment VOR Federal Airways V-66, V-189, V-260, and V-266; in the Vicinity of Franklin, VA

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 105 (June 2, 2017)

This action proposes to modify VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airways V-66, V-189, V-260, and V-266 in the Vicinity of Franklin, VA. The modifications are required due to the planned decommissioning of the Franklin, VA, VORTAC navigation aid which provides navigation guidance for portions of the above routes.

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 105 (Friday, June 2, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 25559-25561]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-11080]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0438; Airspace Docket No. 17-AEA-6]


Proposed Amendment VOR Federal Airways V-66, V-189, V-260, and V-
266; in the Vicinity of Franklin, VA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to modify VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) 
Federal airways V-66, V-189, V-260, and V-266 in the Vicinity of 
Franklin, VA. The modifications are required due to the planned 
decommissioning of the Franklin, VA, VORTAC navigation aid which 
provides navigation guidance for portions of the above routes.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 17, 2017.

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-
2017-0438 and Airspace Docket No. 17-AEA-6 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 7400.11A, 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 7400.11A at NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go 
to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal-regulations/ibr_locations.html.
    FAA Order 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, is 
published yearly and effective on September 15.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Gallant, 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

[[Page 25560]]

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 modify the VOR Federal airway route structure in the 
eastern United States to maintain the efficient flow of air traffic.

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-2017-0438 and Airspace Docket No. 17-AEA-6) 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-2017-0438 and Airspace Docket No. 17-AEA-6.'' 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 NPRMs

    An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded through the 
Internet at http://www.regulations.gov. Recently published rulemaking 
documents can also be accessed through the FAA's Web page at http://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 7400.11A, Airspace 
Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 3, 2016 and effective 
September 15, 2016. FAA Order 7400.11A is publicly available as listed 
in the ADDRESSES section of this proposed rule. FAA Order 7400.11A 
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 modify the descriptions of VOR Federal 
airways V-66, V-189, V-260, and V-266 due to the planned 
decommissioning of the Franklin, VA, VORTAC. The proposed route changes 
are described below.
    V-66: V-66 currently extends between the Mission Bay, CA, VORTAC 
and the Franklin, VA, VORTAC. The amended route would be terminated on 
the east end at the Raleigh-Durham, NC, VORTAC instead of Franklin, VA.
    V-189: V-189 currently extends between the Wright Brothers, NC, 
VOR/DME and the Hopewell, VA, VORTAC. The amended route would be 
terminated at the Tar River, NC, VORTAC eliminating the segments to 
Franklin, VA and Hopewell, VA.
    V-260: V-260 currently extends between the Charleston, WV, VORTAC 
and the Cofield, NC, VORTAC. The amended route would be terminated at 
the Hopewell, VA, VORTAC, eliminating the segments to Franklin, VA and 
Cofield, NC.
    V-266: V-266 currently extends between the Electric City, SC, 
VORTAC and the Wright Brothers, NC, VOR/DME. The proposed amendment 
would remove the route segment between the South Boston, VA, VORTAC and 
the Elizabeth City, NC, VORTAC. The amended route would, therefore, 
extend between the Electric City, SC, VORTAC and the South Boston, VA, 
VORTAC; and between the Elizabeth City, NC, VORTAC and the Wright 
Brothers, NC, VOR/DME. Consequently, there would be a gap in the route 
between the South Boston, VA, VORTAC and the Elizabeth City, NC, 
VORTAC.
    Domestic VOR Federal airways are published in paragraph 6010(a) of 
FAA Order 7400.11A, dated August 3, 2016 and effective September 15, 
2016, 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 1050.1F, ``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

0
1. The authority citation for part 71 continues to read as follows:


[[Page 25561]]


    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 7400.11A, 
Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 3, 2016 and 
effective September 15, 2016, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6010(a) Domestic VOR Federal Airways.

* * * * *

V-66 [Amended]

    From Mission Bay, CA; Imperial, CA; 13 miles, 24 miles, 25 MSL; 
Bard, AZ; 12 miles, 35 MSL; INT Bard 089[deg] and Gila Bend, AZ, 
261[deg] radials; 46 miles, 35 MSL; Gila Bend; Tucson, AZ, 7 miles 
wide (3 miles south and 4 miles north of centerline); Douglas, AZ; 
INT Douglas 064[deg] and Columbus, NM, 277[deg] radials; Columbus; 
El Paso, TX; 6 miles wide; INT El Paso 109[deg] and Hudspeth, TX, 
287[deg] radials; 6 miles wide; Hudspeth; Pecos, TX; Midland, TX; 
INT Midland 083[deg] and Abilene, TX, 252[deg] radials; Abilene; to 
Millsap, TX. From Crimson, AL, Brookwood, AL; LaGrange, GA; INT 
LaGrange 120[deg] and Columbus, GA, 068[deg] radials; INT Columbus 
068[deg] and Athens, GA, 195[deg] radials; Athens; Greenwood, SC; 
Sandhills, NC; to Raleigh-Durham, NC.

V-189 [Amended]

    From Wright Brothers, NC; to Tar River, NC. The airspace within 
R-5302 and R-5314 is excluded when activated.

V-260 [Amended]

    From Charleston, WV, Rainelle, WV; Roanoke, VA, Lynchburg, VA; 
Flat Rock, VA; Richmond, VA; to Hopewell, VA.

V-266 [Amended]

    From Electric City, SC, to Spartanburg, SC. From Greensboro, NC; 
to South Boston, VA. From Elizabeth City, NC; to Wright Brothers, 
NC.
* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on May 23, 2017.
Rodger A. Dean Jr.,
Manager, Airspace Policy Group.
[FR Doc. 2017-11080 Filed 6-1-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P