82 FR 46738 - Criteria and Process for the Cancellation of Standard Instrument Approach Procedures as Part of the National Procedures Assessment (NPA)
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 193 (October 6, 2017)
Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 193 (October 6, 2017)
| Page Range | 46738-46739 | |
| FR Document | 2017-21626 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 193 (Friday, October 6, 2017)] [Proposed Rules] [Pages 46738-46739] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-21626] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part 97 [Docket No.: FAA-2017-0879] RIN 2120-AA65 Criteria and Process for the Cancellation of Standard Instrument Approach Procedures as Part of the National Procedures Assessment (NPA) AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of Transportation (DOT). ACTION: Proposed policy and request for comment. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: As new technology facilitates the introduction of area navigation (RNAV) instrument approach procedures over the past decade, the number of procedures available in the National Airspace System has nearly doubled. The complexity and cost to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of maintaining the instrument flight procedures inventory while expanding the new RNAV capability is not sustainable. The FAA is considering the cancellation of certain circling procedures (to include circling-only instrument approach procedures (IAPs) and circling minima charted on straight-in IAPs). The FAA proposes specific criteria to guide the identification and selection of appropriate circling procedures that can be considered for cancellation. The circling procedures associated with this cancellation initiative would be selected from the criteria outlined below. This document is not a part of the FAA's VOR minimum operating network (MON) initiative. DATES: Comments must be received on or before November 6, 2017. ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by docket number FAA-2017-0879 using any of the following methods:Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the online instructions for sending your comments electronically. Mail: Send comments to Docket Operations, M-30; U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Room W12-140, West Building Ground Floor, Washington, DC 20590-0001. Hand Delivery or Courier: Take comments to Docket Operations in Room W12-140 of the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC, between 9 and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Fax: Fax comments to Docket Operations at 202-493-2251. Privacy: In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits comments from the public to better inform its rulemaking process. DOT posts these comments, without edit, including any personal information the commenter provides, to www.regulations.gov, as described in the system of records notice (DOT/ALL- 14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at www.dot.gov/privacy. Docket: Background documents or comments received may be read at http://www.regulations.gov at any time. Follow the online instructions for accessing the docket or go to the Docket Operations in Room W12-140 of the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For technical questions concerning this action, contact Lonnie Everhart, Aeronautical Information Services AJV-5, Federal Aviation Administration, Air Traffic Organization, 6500 S. MacArthur Blvd, Oklahoma City, OK 73169; Telephone (405) 954-4576; Email [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Authority for This Rulemaking Under 49 U.S.C. 40103(a), the Administrator has broad authority to regulate the safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace. The Administrator is also authorized to issue air traffic rules and regulations to govern the flight, navigation, protection, and identification of aircraft for the protections of persons and property on the ground and for the efficient use of the navigable airspace. 49 U.S.C. 40103(b). Under Section 44701(a)(5), the Administrator promotes safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing regulations and minimum standards for other practices, methods, and procedures necessary for safety in air commerce and national security. This action is within the scope of that authority. IAPs are promulgated by rulemaking procedures and are incorporated by reference pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51 into Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations; Part 97 (14 CFR part 97), Subpart C--TERPS Procedures. Background The National Airspace System (NAS) is currently in transition to a ``NextGen NAS''. During this transition, the FAA is managing the technology and procedures to support both the Legacy NAS as well as the NextGen NAS. Managing two versions of the NAS requires excess manpower, infrastructure, and information management which is costly and unsupportable in the longterm. To mitigate these costs, the FAA has a number of efforts underway to effectively transition from the legacy to the NextGen NAS. One area of focus for this transition is instrument flight procedures (IFPs). The FAA seeks to ensure an effective transition from ground-based IFPs to greater availability and use of satellite-based IFPs while maintaining NAS safety. In early 2015, the FAA requested the RTCA's Tactical Operations Committee (TOC) with providing feedback and recommendations on criteria and processes for cancelling instrument flight procedures. Among the many recommendations provided by the TOC were criteria on how to identify circling procedures that would qualify as candidates for cancellation. As of the beginning of 2017, there are approximately 12,000 IAPs in publication, and there were nearly 10,600 circling lines of minima. Circling procedures account for approximately one-third of all lines of minima in the NAS. In its continued effort to right-size the NAS through optimization and elimination of redundant and unnecessary IAPs, the FAA proposes the following criteria to guide the identification and selection of appropriate circling procedures to be considered for cancellation. It should be noted that National Procedures Assessment (NPA) Instrument Flight Procedure (IFP) cancellation activities and associated criteria do not supersede similar activities being performed under the [[Page 46739]] FAA's VOR MON Program. See 81 FR 48694 (July 26, 2016). However, NPA IFP cancellation activities have been coordinated with the FAA office responsible for the VOR MON implementation program, and its input has been thoroughly considered. Proposed Policy All circling procedures will continue to be reviewed through the established IAP periodic review process.\1\ As part of that review process, the FAA is proposing that each circling procedure would be evaluated against the following questions: --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ Section 2-8 of FAA Order 8260.19 (Flight Procedures and Airspace) sets forth the minimum frequency of review of instrument procedures. --Is this the only IAP at the airport? --Is this procedure a designated MON airport procedure? --If multiple IAPs serve a single runway end, is this the lowest circling minima for that runway? Note: If the RNAV circling minima is not the lowest, but is within 50' of the lowest, the FAA would give the RNAV preference. --Would cancellation result in removal of circling minima from all conventional NAVAID procedures at an airport? Note: If circling minima exists for multiple Conventional NAVAID procedures, preference would be to retain ILS circling minima. --Would cancellation result in all circling minima being removed from all airports within 20 NMs? --Will removal eliminate lowest landing minima to an individual runway? The following questions are applicable only to circling-only procedures: --Does this circling-only procedure exist because of high terrain or an obstacle that makes a straight-in procedure unfeasible or which would result in the straight-in minimums being higher than the circling minima? --Is this circling-only procedure (1) at an airport where not all runway ends have a straight-in IAP, and (2) does it have a Final Approach Course not aligned within 45 degrees of a runway which has a straight-in IAP? Further consideration for cancellation under this policy would be terminated if any of the aforementioned questions are answered in the affirmative. If all questions are answered in the negative, the procedure would be processed as described in the following paragraph. When a candidate has been identified, Aeronautical Information Services would send a notification of procedure cancellation memorandum and completed checklist to the appropriate Regional Service Area, Operations Support Group.\2\ The Regional Service Area, Operations Support Group would follow the same notification process used for standard IFP requests.\3\ Consistent with FAA procedures outlined in the procedure cancellation memorandum, comments regarding the aforementioned circling procedure would need to be submitted within 30 days of the timestamp on the communication media through which it was delivered. Comments would be directed to the Regional Service Area, Operations Support Group for dissemination to Aeronautical Information Services. Comments would be adjudicated by Aeronautical Information Services within 30 days of the timestamp on the communication media through which it was received. A final decision would be forwarded to Regional Service Area, Operations Support Group to disseminate to commenter(s). The cancellation of the part 97 instrument procedure will be published in the Federal Register. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \2\ The FAA has placed sample copies of the memorandum and checklist into the docket for this notice. \3\ FAA Order 8260.43 (Flight Procedures Management Program) and FAA Order 8260.26 (Establishing Submission Cutoff Dates for Civil Instrument Procedures) contain additional information on this process. These orders are available on the FAA Web site. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Invitation for Comments The FAA invites interested parties to submit written comments, data, or views. The agency also invites comments relating to the economic, environmental, energy, or federalism impacts that might result from implementation of the proposed policy. Comments should explain the reason for modifying or not implementing this proposed policy. To ensure the docket does not contain duplicate comments, commenters should send only one copy of written comments or, if comments are filed electronically, commenters should submit only one time. The FAA will consider all comments it receives on or before the closing date for comments before acting on proposed policy. The FAA will consider comments submitted after the comment period has closed if it is possible to do so without incurring expense or delay. The agency may change this proposal in light of the comments it receives. Issued in Washington, DC, on September 22, 2017. Steven L. Szukala, Manager, Instrument Flight Procedure Group, Aeronautical Information Services. [FR Doc. 2017-21626 Filed 10-5-17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
![46738 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 193 / Friday, October 6, 2017 / Proposed Rules
Renton, WA 98057–3356; telephone 425– DATES: Comments must be received on Administrator promotes safe flight of
227–1405; fax 425–227–1149. or before November 6, 2017. civil aircraft in air commerce by
(3) For service information identified in prescribing regulations and minimum
this AD, contact Airbus, Airworthiness ADDRESSES: Send comments identified
by docket number FAA–2017–0879 standards for other practices, methods,
Office—EIAS, 1 Rond Point Maurice
Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, France; using any of the following methods: and procedures necessary for safety in
telephone +33 5 61 93 36 96; fax +33 5 61 • Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to air commerce and national security.
93 44 51; email account.airworth-eas@ http://www.regulations.gov and follow This action is within the scope of that
airbus.com; Internet http://www.airbus.com. the online instructions for sending your authority.
You may view this service information at the comments electronically. IAPs are promulgated by rulemaking
FAA, Transport Standards Branch, 1601 Lind procedures and are incorporated by
• Mail: Send comments to Docket
Avenue SW., Renton, WA. For information reference pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552(a)
on the availability of this material at the Operations, M–30; U.S. Department of
Transportation (DOT), 1200 New Jersey and 1 CFR part 51 into Title 14 of the
FAA, call 425–227–1221.
Avenue SE., Room W12–140, West Code of Federal Regulations; Part 97 (14
Issued in Renton, Washington, on CFR part 97), Subpart C—TERPS
September 21, 2017. Building Ground Floor, Washington, DC
20590–0001. Procedures.
Dionne Palermo,
• Hand Delivery or Courier: Take Background
Acting Director, System Oversight Branch,
comments to Docket Operations in
Aircraft Certification Service. The National Airspace System (NAS)
Room W12–140 of the West Building
[FR Doc. 2017–21221 Filed 10–5–17; 8:45 am] is currently in transition to a ‘‘NextGen
Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey
BILLING CODE 4910–13–P NAS’’. During this transition, the FAA
Avenue SE., Washington, DC, between 9
is managing the technology and
and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
procedures to support both the Legacy
except Federal holidays.
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NAS as well as the NextGen NAS.
• Fax: Fax comments to Docket
Managing two versions of the NAS
Federal Aviation Administration Operations at 202–493–2251.
requires excess manpower,
Privacy: In accordance with 5 U.S.C.
infrastructure, and information
14 CFR Part 97 553(c), DOT solicits comments from the
management which is costly and
public to better inform its rulemaking
[Docket No.: FAA–2017–0879] unsupportable in the longterm. To
process. DOT posts these comments,
mitigate these costs, the FAA has a
RIN 2120–AA65 without edit, including any personal number of efforts underway to
information the commenter provides, to effectively transition from the legacy to
Criteria and Process for the www.regulations.gov, as described in the NextGen NAS. One area of focus for
Cancellation of Standard Instrument the system of records notice (DOT/ALL– this transition is instrument flight
Approach Procedures as Part of the 14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at procedures (IFPs). The FAA seeks to
National Procedures Assessment www.dot.gov/privacy. ensure an effective transition from
(NPA) Docket: Background documents or ground-based IFPs to greater availability
comments received may be read at and use of satellite-based IFPs while
AGENCY: Federal Aviation
http://www.regulations.gov at any time. maintaining NAS safety.
Administration (FAA), Department of
Follow the online instructions for In early 2015, the FAA requested the
Transportation (DOT).
accessing the docket or go to the Docket RTCA’s Tactical Operations Committee
ACTION: Proposed policy and request for
Operations in Room W12–140 of the (TOC) with providing feedback and
comment. West Building Ground Floor at 1200 recommendations on criteria and
SUMMARY: As new technology facilitates New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, processes for cancelling instrument
the introduction of area navigation DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday flight procedures. Among the many
(RNAV) instrument approach through Friday, except Federal holidays. recommendations provided by the TOC
procedures over the past decade, the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For were criteria on how to identify circling
number of procedures available in the technical questions concerning this procedures that would qualify as
National Airspace System has nearly action, contact Lonnie Everhart, candidates for cancellation. As of the
doubled. The complexity and cost to the Aeronautical Information Services AJV– beginning of 2017, there are
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) 5, Federal Aviation Administration, Air approximately 12,000 IAPs in
of maintaining the instrument flight Traffic Organization, 6500 S. MacArthur publication, and there were nearly
procedures inventory while expanding Blvd, Oklahoma City, OK 73169; 10,600 circling lines of minima. Circling
the new RNAV capability is not Telephone (405) 954–4576; Email AMC- procedures account for approximately
sustainable. The FAA is considering the ATO-IFP-Cancellations@faa.gov. one-third of all lines of minima in the
cancellation of certain circling SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NAS.
procedures (to include circling-only In its continued effort to right-size the
instrument approach procedures (IAPs) Authority for This Rulemaking NAS through optimization and
and circling minima charted on straight- Under 49 U.S.C. 40103(a), the elimination of redundant and
in IAPs). The FAA proposes specific Administrator has broad authority to unnecessary IAPs, the FAA proposes the
criteria to guide the identification and regulate the safe and efficient use of the following criteria to guide the
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with PROPOSALS
selection of appropriate circling navigable airspace. The Administrator is identification and selection of
procedures that can be considered for also authorized to issue air traffic rules appropriate circling procedures to be
cancellation. The circling procedures and regulations to govern the flight, considered for cancellation.
associated with this cancellation navigation, protection, and It should be noted that National
initiative would be selected from the identification of aircraft for the Procedures Assessment (NPA)
criteria outlined below. This document protections of persons and property on Instrument Flight Procedure (IFP)
is not a part of the FAA’s VOR the ground and for the efficient use of cancellation activities and associated
minimum operating network (MON) the navigable airspace. 49 U.S.C. criteria do not supersede similar
initiative. 40103(b). Under Section 44701(a)(5), the activities being performed under the
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![Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 193 / Friday, October 6, 2017 / Proposed Rules 46739
FAA’s VOR MON Program. See 81 FR cancellation memorandum and Issued in Washington, DC, on September
48694 (July 26, 2016). However, NPA completed checklist to the appropriate 22, 2017.
IFP cancellation activities have been Regional Service Area, Operations Steven L. Szukala,
coordinated with the FAA office Support Group.2 The Regional Service Manager, Instrument Flight Procedure Group,
responsible for the VOR MON Area, Operations Support Group would Aeronautical Information Services.
implementation program, and its input follow the same notification process [FR Doc. 2017–21626 Filed 10–5–17; 8:45 am]
has been thoroughly considered. used for standard IFP requests.3 BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
Proposed Policy Consistent with FAA procedures
outlined in the procedure cancellation
All circling procedures will continue DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
memorandum, comments regarding the
to be reviewed through the established
aforementioned circling procedure
IAP periodic review process.1 As part of Bureau of the Census
would need to be submitted within 30
that review process, the FAA is
proposing that each circling procedure days of the timestamp on the
15 CFR Part 30
would be evaluated against the communication media through which it
was delivered. Comments would be [Docket Number: 170606545–7857–01]
following questions:
directed to the Regional Service Area, RIN 0607–AA56
—Is this the only IAP at the airport?
Operations Support Group for
—Is this procedure a designated MON
airport procedure? dissemination to Aeronautical Foreign Trade Regulations (FTR):
—If multiple IAPs serve a single runway Information Services. Comments would Request for Public Comments
end, is this the lowest circling minima be adjudicated by Aeronautical Regarding Standard and Routed
for that runway? Note: If the RNAV Information Services within 30 days of Export Transactions
circling minima is not the lowest, but the timestamp on the communication AGENCY: Bureau of the Census,
is within 50’ of the lowest, the FAA media through which it was received. A Commerce Department.
would give the RNAV preference. final decision would be forwarded to ACTION: Advance notice of proposed
—Would cancellation result in removal Regional Service Area, Operations rulemaking.
of circling minima from all Support Group to disseminate to
conventional NAVAID procedures at commenter(s). The cancellation of the SUMMARY: The Bureau of the Census
an airport? Note: If circling minima part 97 instrument procedure will be (U.S. Census Bureau) is seeking public
exists for multiple Conventional published in the Federal Register. comments to perform a review of the
NAVAID procedures, preference requirements governing routed export
would be to retain ILS circling Invitation for Comments transactions. In particular, the Census
minima. Bureau is interested in comments
The FAA invites interested parties to
—Would cancellation result in all regarding the definition of a routed
submit written comments, data, or
circling minima being removed from export transaction as well as the
views. The agency also invites responsibilities of parties in routed
all airports within 20 NMs?
comments relating to the economic, export transactions. Routed export
—Will removal eliminate lowest landing
environmental, energy, or federalism transactions are transactions in which
minima to an individual runway?
impacts that might result from the Foreign Principal Party in Interest
The following questions are implementation of the proposed policy.
applicable only to circling-only (FPPI) controls the movement of the
Comments should explain the reason for goods out of the country. There are a
procedures:
modifying or not implementing this variety of reasons why the FPPI assumes
—Does this circling-only procedure proposed policy. To ensure the docket this responsibility such as the use of a
exist because of high terrain or an does not contain duplicate comments, preferred carrier and the desire to not
obstacle that makes a straight-in commenters should send only one copy disclose the ultimate consignee to the
procedure unfeasible or which would of written comments or, if comments are U.S. Principal Party in Interest (USPPI),
result in the straight-in minimums
filed electronically, commenters should although the ultimate consignee is
being higher than the circling
submit only one time. properly identified to the U.S.
minima?
The FAA will consider all comments Government. Because the FPPI controls
—Is this circling-only procedure (1) at
it receives on or before the closing date the movement of the goods in a routed
an airport where not all runway ends
for comments before acting on proposed transaction and cannot file Electronic
have a straight-in IAP, and (2) does it
Export Information (EEI), the Census
have a Final Approach Course not policy. The FAA will consider
Bureau requires the FPPI to authorize a
aligned within 45 degrees of a runway comments submitted after the comment
U.S. authorized agent or the USPPI to
which has a straight-in IAP? period has closed if it is possible to do file the EEI on its behalf. This ensures
Further consideration for cancellation so without incurring expense or delay. that the Census Bureau collects the
under this policy would be terminated The agency may change this proposal in statistical information.
if any of the aforementioned questions light of the comments it receives. DATES: Written comments must be
are answered in the affirmative. If all received on or before December 5, 2017.
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with PROPOSALS
questions are answered in the negative,
ADDRESSES: Please direct all written
the procedure would be processed as 2 The FAA has placed sample copies of the
comments on this advance notice of
described in the following paragraph. memorandum and checklist into the docket for this proposed rulemaking to the Chief,
When a candidate has been identified, notice.
International Trade Management
Aeronautical Information Services 3 FAA Order 8260.43 (Flight Procedures
Division, U.S. Census Bureau, Room
would send a notification of procedure Management Program) and FAA Order 8260.26
(Establishing Submission Cutoff Dates for Civil
5K158, Washington, DC 20233–6010.
1 Section 2–8 of FAA Order 8260.19 (Flight Instrument Procedures) contain additional You may also submit comments,
Procedures and Airspace) sets forth the minimum information on this process. These orders are identified by RIN number 0607–AA56,
frequency of review of instrument procedures. available on the FAA Web site. to the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal:
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Document Created: 2017-10-06 00:09:24
Document Modified: 2017-10-06 00:09:24
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Proposed Rules | |
| Action | Proposed policy and request for comment. | |
| Dates | Comments must be received on or before November 6, 2017. | |
| Contact | For technical questions concerning this action, contact Lonnie Everhart, Aeronautical Information Services AJV-5, Federal Aviation Administration, Air Traffic Organization, 6500 S. MacArthur Blvd, Oklahoma City, OK 73169; Telephone (405) 954-4576; Email [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 46738 | |
| RIN Number | 2120-AA65 |
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