83_FR_47045 83 FR 46865 - Operating Limitations at John F. Kennedy International Airport

83 FR 46865 - Operating Limitations at John F. Kennedy International Airport

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 180 (September 17, 2018)

Page Range46865-46867
FR Document2018-20138

This action extends the Order Limiting Operations at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) published on January 18, 2008, and most recently amended on June 21, 2016. The Order remains effective until October 24, 2020.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 180 (Monday, September 17, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 180 (Monday, September 17, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 46865-46867]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-20138]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 93

[Docket No. FAA-2007-29320]


Operating Limitations at John F. Kennedy International Airport

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Extension to order.

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SUMMARY: This action extends the Order Limiting Operations at John F. 
Kennedy International Airport (JFK) published on January 18, 2008, and 
most recently amended on June 21, 2016. The Order remains effective 
until October 24, 2020.

DATES: This action is effective on September 17, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Requests may be submitted by mail to Slot Administration 
Office, System Operations Services, AJR-0, Room 300W, 800 Independence 
Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591, or by email to: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions concerning this Order 
contact: Bonnie C. Dragotto, Regulations Division, FAA Office of the 
Chief Counsel, AGC-240, Room 916N, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; telephone (202) 267-3808; 
email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Availability of Rulemaking Documents

    You may obtain an electronic copy using the internet by:
    (1) Searching the Federal eRulemaking Portal (http://www.regulations.gov);
    (2) Visiting the FAA's Regulations and Policies web page at http://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/; or
    (3) Accessing the Government Printing Office's web page at http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html.
    You also may obtain a copy by sending a request to the Federal 
Aviation Administration, Office of Rulemaking, ARM-1, 800 Independence 
Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591, or by calling (202) 267-9680. Make 
sure to identify the amendment number or docket number of this 
rulemaking.

Background

    The FAA historically limited the number of arrivals and departures 
at JFK through the implementation of the High Density Rule (HDR).\1\ By 
statute enacted in April 2000, operations were added at JFK through 
provisions permitting exemptions for new entrant carriers and flights 
to small and non-hub airports.\2\ The HDR's applicability to JFK 
operations terminated as of January 1, 2007.\3\ With the AIR-21 
exemptions and the HDR phase-out, some air carriers serving JFK 
significantly increased their scheduled operations throughout the day 
and retimed existing flights. This resulted in scheduled demand in peak 
hours that exceeded the airport's capacity and caused significant 
congestion and delay. In January 2008, the FAA placed temporary limits 
on scheduled operations at JFK to mitigate persistent congestion and 
delays at the airport.\4\ The FAA extended the January 18, 2008, Order 
placing temporary limits on scheduled operations at JFK on October 7, 
2009, April 4, 2011, May 14, 2013, March 26, 2014, and May 24, 2016, as 
corrected June 21, 2016.\5\
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    \1\ 33 FR 17896 (Dec. 3, 1968). The FAA codified the rules for 
operating at high density traffic airports in 14 CFR part 93, 
subpart K. The HDR required carriers to hold a reservation, which 
came to be known as a ``slot,'' for each takeoff or landing under 
instrument flight rules at the high density traffic airports.
    \2\ Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century 
(AIR-21), Public Law 106-181 (Apr. 5, 2000), 49 U.S.C. 41715(a)(2).
    \3\ Id.
    \4\ 73 FR 3510 (Jan. 18, 2008), as amended by 73 FR 8737 (Feb. 
14, 2008).
    \5\ 74 FR 51650; 76 FR 18620; 78 FR 28276; 79 FR 16854; 81 FR 
32636; and, 81 FR 40167.
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    Under the Order, as amended, the FAA (1) maintains the current 
hourly limits of 81 scheduled operations at JFK during the peak period; 
(2) imposes an 80 percent minimum usage requirement for Operating 
Authorizations (OAs) \6\ with defined exceptions; (3) provides a 
mechanism for withdrawal of OAs for FAA operational reasons; (4) 
establishes procedures to allocate withdrawn, surrendered, or 
unallocated OAs; and (5) allows for trades and leases of OAs for 
consideration for the duration of the Order.
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    \6\ Also referred to herein as ``slots.''
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    The reasons for issuing the Order have not changed appreciably 
since it was implemented. Demand for access to JFK remains high and the 
average weekday hourly flights in the busiest hours are generally at 
the limits under this Order. The FAA has reviewed the on-time and other 
performance metrics for the past two years in the peak months--May to 
August 2017 and 2018--and generally found continuing improvements 
relative to the same period in 2008. Year over year trends likewise 
show improved performance overall.\7\ However, the FAA has determined 
that the operational limitations imposed by this Order remain 
necessary. Without the operational limitations imposed by this Order, 
the FAA expects severe congestion-related delays would occur at JFK and 
at other airports throughout the National Airspace System (NAS). The 
FAA will continue to monitor performance and runway capacity at JFK to 
determine if changes are warranted. The FAA, in coordination with the 
Office of the Secretary of Transportation (OST), will also continue to 
consider potential rulemaking to codify policies for slot-controlled 
airports.
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    \7\ Docket No. FAA-2007-29320 includes a copy of the MITRE 
analysis completed for the FAA.
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Current Issues

    The FAA has received specific proposals for policy changes that 
would necessitate amending the Orders. For example, several carriers 
have requested a simplified process for the administrative management 
of temporary slot transfers, whereby the marketing and operating 
carriers would not be required to formally transfer slots for operation 
by carriers under common marketing control and whereby the slot holder 
could choose whether the holder or the operator would be responsible 
for reporting slot usage to the FAA. The FAA is considering proposing 
this and other potential changes in a future action taken on the LGA 
and JFK Orders.

[[Page 46866]]

    The FAA is also reviewing the operational performance trends at 
JFK, assessing runway capacity, and modeling the impact of various 
demand scenarios on projected delays in light of the overall improved 
performance previously discussed. Preliminary information indicates 
that operational performance continues to trend upward, particularly 
when compared to performance when the FAA adopted the JFK scheduling 
limits in 2008. However, departure performance remains a concern. There 
is an indication of increased runway throughput in arrival capacity, 
while the departure capacity has remained fairly constant. The FAA is 
evaluating the schedule limits and operational performance goals to 
determine whether additional operations may be added to the current 
hourly limit while still managing delays at acceptable levels and is 
evaluating potential environmental impacts associated with such a 
change. The FAA is also evaluating the impacts of ongoing construction 
at JFK, which is expected to continue through the summer 2019 
scheduling season. The Orders expire at the end of the current summer 
scheduling season and carriers are already planning winter schedules. 
There is insufficient time to publish for comment proposed amendments, 
adjudicate comments, and issue a final Order before the Orders expire. 
The FAA has therefore determined to proceed with an extension of the 
Orders, without policy changes, to meet current operational needs and 
allow time to further develop any proposed changes to the Orders. The 
FAA, in coordination with OST, would publish for comment any proposed 
policy changes for JFK and LGA in a separate notice as soon as 
practicable.
    Accordingly, the FAA is extending the expiration date of this Order 
until October 24, 2020. This expiration date coincides with the 
extended expiration date for the Order limiting scheduled operations at 
LGA, as also extended by action published in today's Federal Register. 
The FAA finds that notice and comment procedures under 5 U.S.C. 553(b) 
are impracticable, unnecessary, and contrary to the public interest, as 
carriers have begun planning schedules for the winter 2018/2019 season 
and no significant substantive changes are included in this action. For 
these reasons, the FAA also finds that it is impracticable and contrary 
to the public interest to delay the effective date of this action under 
5 U.S.C. 553(d).
    The FAA has received multiple inquiries (both informal and formal) 
recently from carriers as well as the Port Authority of New York and 
New Jersey requesting information on the FAA's current process for 
establishing and allocating available capacity. The Order is the 
equivalent of limited local rules as referenced in the Worldwide Slot 
Guidelines (WSG) published by the International Air Transport 
Association and takes precedence over the WSG where there are 
differences. At JFK, the FAA follows the WSG in many respects such as 
new entrant priority \8\ and consideration of schedule constraints such 
as terminal, gate, parking, customs and immigration, curfews, and 
similar operational factors.
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    \8\ Under current policy and procedures, the FAA applies the 
definitions for ``new entrant'' as set forth in the WSG, which is 
``an airline requesting a series of slots at an airport on any day 
where, if the airline's request were accepted, it would hold fewer 
than 5 slots at that airport on that day.
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    Under current rules, the FAA uses an approach adapted from the WSG 
for reallocating available OAs at JFK.\9\ This includes applying 
priorities for new entrant airlines, the retiming of historic slots, 
and allocation of remaining available capacity. The FAA also considers 
factors such as delays or operational performance in certain hours or 
periods when the allocation is above the limits in adjacent hours. In 
general, the FAA reviews retiming requests to move from less congested 
hours to more congested hours in a similar manner to a new request. New 
entrants may receive a higher priority in the case of competing 
requests. The FAA also maintains a waiting list of carrier requests 
that could not be accommodated in prior scheduling seasons, if 
requested by the initial submission deadline, and prioritizes such 
requests over requests for new slots submitted after the initial 
submission deadline. Carriers that obtain temporary slot swaps to meet 
their operational needs do not lose priority on the waiting list for 
permanent slot allocations. The priorities considered by the FAA under 
established policy and practice when allocating OAs on a permanent or 
temporary basis are set forth in new paragraph 11 of the Amended Order.
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    \9\ In making allocation decisions, the FAA may not under its 
independent authority consider the markets to be served, the 
aircraft to be used, potential competition benefits associated with 
a carrier or service in particular markets, or the potential 
economic benefits of a particular flight.
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The Amended Order

    The Order, as amended, is recited below in its entirety.
    1. This Order continues the process for assigning operating 
authority to conduct an arrival or a departure at JFK during the 
affected hours to any certificated U.S. air carrier or foreign air 
carrier. The FAA will not assign operating authority under this Order 
to any person or entity other than a certificated U.S. or foreign air 
carrier with appropriate economic authority and FAA operating authority 
under 14 CFR part 121, 129, or 135. This Order applies to the 
following:
    a. All U.S. air carriers and foreign air carriers conducting 
scheduled operations at JFK as of the date of this Order, any U.S. air 
carrier or foreign air carrier that operates under the same designator 
code as such a carrier, and any air carrier or foreign-flag carrier 
that has or enters into a codeshare agreement with such a carrier.
    b. All U.S. air carriers or foreign air carriers initiating 
scheduled or regularly conducted commercial service to JFK while this 
Order is in effect.
    c. The Chief Counsel of the FAA, in consultation with the Vice 
President, System Operations Services, is the final decision maker for 
determinations under this Order.
    2. This Order governs scheduled arrivals and departures at JFK from 
6 a.m. through 10:59 p.m., Eastern Time, Sunday through Saturday.
    3. This Order takes effect on March 30, 2008, and will expire 
October 24, 2020.
    4. Under the authority provided to the Secretary of Transportation 
and the FAA Administrator by 49 U.S.C. 40101, 40103 and 40113, we 
hereby order that:
    a. No U.S. air carrier or foreign air carrier initiating or 
conducting scheduled or regularly conducted commercial service at JFK 
may conduct such operations without an Operating Authorization assigned 
by the FAA.
    b. Except as otherwise authorized by the FAA based on historic 
precedence, scheduled U.S. air carrier and foreign air carrier arrivals 
and departures will not exceed 81 per hour from 6 a.m. through 10:59 
p.m., Eastern Time.
    c. The Administrator may change the limits if he determines that 
capacity exists to accommodate additional operations without a 
significant increase in delays.
    5. For administrative tracking purposes only, the FAA will assign 
an identification number to each Operating Authorization.
    6. A carrier holding an Operating Authorization may request the 
Administrator's approval to move any arrival or departure scheduled 
from 6 a.m. through 10:59 p.m. to another half hour within that period. 
Except as provided in paragraph 7, the carrier must receive the written 
approval of the Administrator, or his delegate, prior to conducting any 
adjusted arrival or departure. All requests to move an

[[Page 46867]]

allocated Operating Authorization must be submitted to the FAA Slot 
Administration Office, facsimile (202) 267-7277 or email 7-AWA-
[email protected], and must come from a designated representative of 
the carrier. If the FAA cannot approve a carrier's request to move a 
scheduled arrival or departure, the carrier may then apply for a trade 
in accordance with paragraph 7.
    7. For the duration of this Order, a carrier may enter into a lease 
or trade of an Operating Authorization to another carrier for any 
consideration. Notice of a trade or lease under this paragraph must be 
submitted in writing to the FAA Slot Administration Office, facsimile 
(202) 267-7277 or email [email protected], and must come from a 
designated representative of each carrier. The FAA must confirm and 
approve these transactions in writing prior to the effective date of 
the transaction. The FAA will approve transfers between carriers under 
the same marketing control up to five business days after the actual 
operation, but only to accommodate operational disruptions that occur 
on the same day of the scheduled operation. The FAA's approval of a 
trade or lease does not constitute a commitment by the FAA to grant the 
associated historical rights to any operator in the event that slot 
controls continue at JFK after this order expires.
    8. A carrier may not buy, sell, trade, or transfer an Operating 
Authorization, except as described in paragraph 7.
    9. Historical rights to Operating Authorizations and withdrawal of 
those rights due to insufficient usage will be determined on a seasonal 
basis and in accordance with the schedule approved by the FAA prior to 
the commencement of the applicable season.
    a. For each day of the week that the FAA has approved an operating 
schedule, any Operating Authorization not used at least 80% of the time 
over the time-frame authorized by the FAA under this paragraph will be 
withdrawn by the FAA for the next applicable season except:
    i. The FAA will treat as used any Operating Authorization held by a 
carrier on Thanksgiving Day, the Friday following Thanksgiving Day, and 
the period from December 24 through the first Saturday in January.
    ii. The Administrator of the FAA may waive the 80% usage 
requirement in the event of a highly unusual and unpredictable 
condition which is beyond the control of the carrier and which affects 
carrier operations for a period of five consecutive days or more.
    b. Each carrier holding an Operating Authorization must forward in 
writing to the FAA Slot Administration Office a list of all Operating 
Authorizations held by the carrier along with a listing of the 
Operating Authorizations and:
    i. The dates within each applicable season it intends to commence 
and complete operations.
    A. For each winter scheduling season, the report must be received 
by the FAA no later than August 15 during the preceding summer.
    B. For each summer scheduling season, the report must be received 
by the FAA no later than January 15 during the preceding winter.
    ii. The completed operations for each day of the applicable 
scheduling season:
    A. No later than September 1 for the summer scheduling season.
    B. No later than January 15 for the winter scheduling season.
    iii. The completed operations for each day of the scheduling season 
within 30 days after the last day of the applicable scheduling season.
    10. In the event that a carrier surrenders to the FAA any Operating 
Authorization assigned to it under this Order or if there are 
unallocated Operating Authorizations, the FAA will determine whether 
the Operating Authorizations should be reallocated. The FAA may 
temporarily allocate an Operating Authorization at its discretion. Such 
temporary allocations will not be entitled to historical status for the 
next applicable scheduling season under paragraph 9.
    11. The FAA considers the following factors and priorities in 
allocating Operating Authorizations, which the FAA has determined are 
available for reallocation--
    a. Historical requests for allocation of an Operating Authorization 
in the same time;
    b. New entrant status;
    c. Retiming of historic Operating Authorizations;
    d. Extension of a seasonal Operating Authorization to year-round 
service;
    e. The effective period of operation;
    f. The extent and regularity of intended use with priority given to 
year-round services;
    g. The operational impacts of scheduled demand, including the 
hourly and half-hour demand and the mix of arrival and departure 
flights; and
    h. Airport facility constraints.
    Any carrier that is not approved for allocation of an Operating 
Authorization by the FAA may request it be placed on a waiting list for 
consideration should an Operating Authorization in the requested time 
become available during that scheduling season.
    12. If the FAA determines that an involuntary reduction in the 
number of allocated Operating Authorizations is required to meet 
operational needs, such as reduced airport capacity, the FAA will 
conduct a weighted lottery to withdraw Operating Authorizations to meet 
a reduced hourly or half-hourly limit for scheduled operations. The FAA 
will provide at least 45 days' notice unless otherwise required by 
operational needs. Any Operating Authorization that is withdrawn or 
temporarily suspended will, if reallocated, be reallocated to the 
carrier from which it was taken, provided that the carrier continues to 
operate scheduled service at JFK.
    13. The FAA may enforce this Order through an enforcement action 
seeking a civil penalty under 49 U.S.C. 46301(a). The FAA also could 
file a civil action in U.S. District Court, under 49 U.S.C. 46106, 
46107, seeking to enjoin any carrier from violating the terms of this 
Order.
    14. The FAA may modify or withdraw any provision in this Order on 
its own or on application by any carrier for good cause shown.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on September 11, 2018.
Jeffrey Planty,
Deputy Vice President, System Operations Services.
[FR Doc. 2018-20138 Filed 9-14-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P



                                                              Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 180 / Monday, September 17, 2018 / Rules and Regulations                                              46865

                                             the airport name in the preamble, as                    DC 20591; telephone (202) 267–3808;                      limits of 81 scheduled operations at JFK
                                             well as in the header of the legal                      email Bonnie.Dragotto@faa.gov.                           during the peak period; (2) imposes an
                                             description. This correction changes the                SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                               80 percent minimum usage requirement
                                             airport name in the Summary section,                                                                             for Operating Authorizations (OAs) 6
                                             History section, and Rules section, and                 Availability of Rulemaking Documents                     with defined exceptions; (3) provides a
                                             the legal description from Lyons-Rice                     You may obtain an electronic copy                      mechanism for withdrawal of OAs for
                                             Municipal Airport’’ to read ‘‘Lyons-Rice                using the internet by:                                   FAA operational reasons; (4) establishes
                                             County Municipal Airport’’.                               (1) Searching the Federal                              procedures to allocate withdrawn,
                                                                                                     eRulemaking Portal (http://                              surrendered, or unallocated OAs; and
                                             Correction to Final Rule                                www.regulations.gov);                                    (5) allows for trades and leases of OAs
                                               Accordingly, pursuant to the                            (2) Visiting the FAA’s Regulations and                 for consideration for the duration of the
                                             authority delegated to me, in the                       Policies web page at http://                             Order.
                                             Federal Register of August 1, 2018 (83                  www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/; or
                                                                                                       (3) Accessing the Government                              The reasons for issuing the Order
                                             FR 37422) FR Doc. 2018–16363,                                                                                    have not changed appreciably since it
                                             Amendment of Class E Airspace; Lyons,                   Printing Office’s web page at http://
                                                                                                     www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html.                         was implemented. Demand for access to
                                             KS, is corrected as follows:                                                                                     JFK remains high and the average
                                                                                                       You also may obtain a copy by
                                             § 71.1   [Amended]                                      sending a request to the Federal                         weekday hourly flights in the busiest
                                                                                                     Aviation Administration, Office of                       hours are generally at the limits under
                                             ACE KS E5 Lyons, KS [Corrected]                                                                                  this Order. The FAA has reviewed the
                                                                                                     Rulemaking, ARM–1, 800 Independence
                                                On page 37422, column 2, lines 3 and 4;              Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591, or                      on-time and other performance metrics
                                             column 3, line 15 and 48; and on page 37423,                                                                     for the past two years in the peak
                                             column 1, line 60, remove ‘‘Lyons-Rice
                                                                                                     by calling (202) 267–9680. Make sure to
                                                                                                     identify the amendment number or                         months—May to August 2017 and
                                             Municipal Airport, KS’’ and add in its place
                                                                                                     docket number of this rulemaking.                        2018—and generally found continuing
                                             ‘‘Lyons-Rice County Municipal Airport, KS’’.
                                                                                                                                                              improvements relative to the same
                                                Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on September            Background                                               period in 2008. Year over year trends
                                             7, 2018.                                                   The FAA historically limited the                      likewise show improved performance
                                             Walter Tweedy,                                          number of arrivals and departures at JFK                 overall.7 However, the FAA has
                                             Acting Manager, Operations Support Group,               through the implementation of the High                   determined that the operational
                                             Central Service Center.                                 Density Rule (HDR).1 By statute enacted                  limitations imposed by this Order
                                             [FR Doc. 2018–19977 Filed 9–14–18; 8:45 am]             in April 2000, operations were added at                  remain necessary. Without the
                                             BILLING CODE 4910–13–P                                  JFK through provisions permitting                        operational limitations imposed by this
                                                                                                     exemptions for new entrant carriers and                  Order, the FAA expects severe
                                                                                                     flights to small and non-hub airports.2                  congestion-related delays would occur
                                             DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION                            The HDR’s applicability to JFK                           at JFK and at other airports throughout
                                                                                                     operations terminated as of January 1,                   the National Airspace System (NAS).
                                             Federal Aviation Administration                         2007.3 With the AIR–21 exemptions and                    The FAA will continue to monitor
                                                                                                     the HDR phase-out, some air carriers                     performance and runway capacity at
                                             14 CFR Part 93                                          serving JFK significantly increased their                JFK to determine if changes are
                                             [Docket No. FAA–2007–29320]                             scheduled operations throughout the                      warranted. The FAA, in coordination
                                                                                                     day and retimed existing flights. This                   with the Office of the Secretary of
                                             Operating Limitations at John F.                        resulted in scheduled demand in peak                     Transportation (OST), will also continue
                                             Kennedy International Airport                           hours that exceeded the airport’s                        to consider potential rulemaking to
                                                                                                     capacity and caused significant                          codify policies for slot-controlled
                                             AGENCY:  Federal Aviation                               congestion and delay. In January 2008,
                                             Administration (FAA), DOT.                                                                                       airports.
                                                                                                     the FAA placed temporary limits on
                                             ACTION: Extension to order.                             scheduled operations at JFK to mitigate                  Current Issues
                                                                                                     persistent congestion and delays at the                     The FAA has received specific
                                             SUMMARY:  This action extends the Order                 airport.4 The FAA extended the January
                                             Limiting Operations at John F. Kennedy                                                                           proposals for policy changes that would
                                                                                                     18, 2008, Order placing temporary                        necessitate amending the Orders. For
                                             International Airport (JFK) published on                limits on scheduled operations at JFK
                                             January 18, 2008, and most recently                                                                              example, several carriers have requested
                                                                                                     on October 7, 2009, April 4, 2011, May                   a simplified process for the
                                             amended on June 21, 2016. The Order                     14, 2013, March 26, 2014, and May 24,
                                             remains effective until October 24, 2020.                                                                        administrative management of
                                                                                                     2016, as corrected June 21, 2016.5                       temporary slot transfers, whereby the
                                             DATES: This action is effective on                         Under the Order, as amended, the
                                             September 17, 2018.                                                                                              marketing and operating carriers would
                                                                                                     FAA (1) maintains the current hourly
                                                                                                                                                              not be required to formally transfer slots
                                             ADDRESSES: Requests may be submitted
                                                                                                        1 33 FR 17896 (Dec. 3, 1968). The FAA codified
                                                                                                                                                              for operation by carriers under common
                                             by mail to Slot Administration Office,                                                                           marketing control and whereby the slot
                                                                                                     the rules for operating at high density traffic
                                             System Operations Services, AJR–0,                      airports in 14 CFR part 93, subpart K. The HDR           holder could choose whether the holder
                                             Room 300W, 800 Independence Avenue                      required carriers to hold a reservation, which came      or the operator would be responsible for
                                             SW, Washington, DC 20591, or by email                   to be known as a ‘‘slot,’’ for each takeoff or landing
                                                                                                                                                              reporting slot usage to the FAA. The
                                             to: 7-awa-slotadmin@faa.gov.                            under instrument flight rules at the high density
                                                                                                     traffic airports.                                        FAA is considering proposing this and
                                             FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with RULES




                                                                                                        2 Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st     other potential changes in a future
                                             questions concerning this Order contact:                Century (AIR–21), Public Law 106–181 (Apr. 5,            action taken on the LGA and JFK
                                             Bonnie C. Dragotto, Regulations                         2000), 49 U.S.C. 41715(a)(2).
                                                                                                        3 Id.
                                                                                                                                                              Orders.
                                             Division, FAA Office of the Chief                          4 73 FR 3510 (Jan. 18, 2008), as amended by 73
                                             Counsel, AGC–240, Room 916N, Federal                    FR 8737 (Feb. 14, 2008).                                  6 Alsoreferred to herein as ‘‘slots.’’
                                             Aviation Administration, 800                               5 74 FR 51650; 76 FR 18620; 78 FR 28276; 79 FR         7 Docket No. FAA–2007–29320 includes a copy of
                                             Independence Avenue SW, Washington,                     16854; 81 FR 32636; and, 81 FR 40167.                    the MITRE analysis completed for the FAA.



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                                             46866            Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 180 / Monday, September 17, 2018 / Rules and Regulations

                                                The FAA is also reviewing the                        requesting information on the FAA’s                    carrier. The FAA will not assign
                                             operational performance trends at JFK,                  current process for establishing and                   operating authority under this Order to
                                             assessing runway capacity, and                          allocating available capacity. The Order               any person or entity other than a
                                             modeling the impact of various demand                   is the equivalent of limited local rules               certificated U.S. or foreign air carrier
                                             scenarios on projected delays in light of               as referenced in the Worldwide Slot                    with appropriate economic authority
                                             the overall improved performance                        Guidelines (WSG) published by the                      and FAA operating authority under 14
                                             previously discussed. Preliminary                       International Air Transport Association                CFR part 121, 129, or 135. This Order
                                             information indicates that operational                  and takes precedence over the WSG                      applies to the following:
                                             performance continues to trend upward,                  where there are differences. At JFK, the                 a. All U.S. air carriers and foreign air
                                             particularly when compared to                           FAA follows the WSG in many respects                   carriers conducting scheduled
                                             performance when the FAA adopted the                    such as new entrant priority 8 and                     operations at JFK as of the date of this
                                             JFK scheduling limits in 2008. However,                 consideration of schedule constraints                  Order, any U.S. air carrier or foreign air
                                             departure performance remains a                         such as terminal, gate, parking, customs               carrier that operates under the same
                                             concern. There is an indication of                      and immigration, curfews, and similar                  designator code as such a carrier, and
                                             increased runway throughput in arrival                  operational factors.                                   any air carrier or foreign-flag carrier that
                                             capacity, while the departure capacity                     Under current rules, the FAA uses an                has or enters into a codeshare agreement
                                             has remained fairly constant. The FAA                   approach adapted from the WSG for                      with such a carrier.
                                             is evaluating the schedule limits and                   reallocating available OAs at JFK.9 This                 b. All U.S. air carriers or foreign air
                                             operational performance goals to                        includes applying priorities for new                   carriers initiating scheduled or regularly
                                             determine whether additional                            entrant airlines, the retiming of historic             conducted commercial service to JFK
                                             operations may be added to the current                  slots, and allocation of remaining                     while this Order is in effect.
                                             hourly limit while still managing delays                available capacity. The FAA also                         c. The Chief Counsel of the FAA, in
                                             at acceptable levels and is evaluating                  considers factors such as delays or                    consultation with the Vice President,
                                             potential environmental impacts                         operational performance in certain                     System Operations Services, is the final
                                             associated with such a change. The FAA                  hours or periods when the allocation is                decision maker for determinations
                                             is also evaluating the impacts of ongoing               above the limits in adjacent hours. In                 under this Order.
                                             construction at JFK, which is expected                  general, the FAA reviews retiming                        2. This Order governs scheduled
                                             to continue through the summer 2019                     requests to move from less congested                   arrivals and departures at JFK from 6
                                             scheduling season. The Orders expire at                 hours to more congested hours in a                     a.m. through 10:59 p.m., Eastern Time,
                                             the end of the current summer                           similar manner to a new request. New                   Sunday through Saturday.
                                             scheduling season and carriers are                      entrants may receive a higher priority in                3. This Order takes effect on March
                                             already planning winter schedules.                      the case of competing requests. The                    30, 2008, and will expire October 24,
                                             There is insufficient time to publish for               FAA also maintains a waiting list of                   2020.
                                             comment proposed amendments,                            carrier requests that could not be                       4. Under the authority provided to the
                                             adjudicate comments, and issue a final                  accommodated in prior scheduling                       Secretary of Transportation and the
                                             Order before the Orders expire. The                     seasons, if requested by the initial                   FAA Administrator by 49 U.S.C. 40101,
                                             FAA has therefore determined to                         submission deadline, and prioritizes                   40103 and 40113, we hereby order that:
                                             proceed with an extension of the                        such requests over requests for new                      a. No U.S. air carrier or foreign air
                                             Orders, without policy changes, to meet                 slots submitted after the initial                      carrier initiating or conducting
                                             current operational needs and allow                     submission deadline. Carriers that                     scheduled or regularly conducted
                                             time to further develop any proposed                    obtain temporary slot swaps to meet                    commercial service at JFK may conduct
                                             changes to the Orders. The FAA, in                      their operational needs do not lose                    such operations without an Operating
                                             coordination with OST, would publish                    priority on the waiting list for                       Authorization assigned by the FAA.
                                             for comment any proposed policy                         permanent slot allocations. The                          b. Except as otherwise authorized by
                                             changes for JFK and LGA in a separate                   priorities considered by the FAA under                 the FAA based on historic precedence,
                                             notice as soon as practicable.                          established policy and practice when                   scheduled U.S. air carrier and foreign
                                                Accordingly, the FAA is extending                    allocating OAs on a permanent or                       air carrier arrivals and departures will
                                             the expiration date of this Order until                 temporary basis are set forth in new                   not exceed 81 per hour from 6 a.m.
                                             October 24, 2020. This expiration date                  paragraph 11 of the Amended Order.                     through 10:59 p.m., Eastern Time.
                                             coincides with the extended expiration                                                                           c. The Administrator may change the
                                             date for the Order limiting scheduled                   The Amended Order                                      limits if he determines that capacity
                                             operations at LGA, as also extended by                    The Order, as amended, is recited                    exists to accommodate additional
                                             action published in today’s Federal                     below in its entirety.                                 operations without a significant increase
                                             Register. The FAA finds that notice and                   1. This Order continues the process                  in delays.
                                             comment procedures under 5 U.S.C.                       for assigning operating authority to                     5. For administrative tracking
                                             553(b) are impracticable, unnecessary,                  conduct an arrival or a departure at JFK               purposes only, the FAA will assign an
                                             and contrary to the public interest, as                 during the affected hours to any                       identification number to each Operating
                                             carriers have begun planning schedules                  certificated U.S. air carrier or foreign air           Authorization.
                                             for the winter 2018/2019 season and no                                                                           6. A carrier holding an Operating
                                             significant substantive changes are                        8 Under current policy and procedures, the FAA      Authorization may request the
                                             included in this action. For these                      applies the definitions for ‘‘new entrant’’ as set     Administrator’s approval to move any
                                                                                                     forth in the WSG, which is ‘‘an airline requesting     arrival or departure scheduled from 6
                                             reasons, the FAA also finds that it is                  a series of slots at an airport on any day where, if
                                                                                                                                                            a.m. through 10:59 p.m. to another half
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                                             impracticable and contrary to the public                the airline’s request were accepted, it would hold
                                             interest to delay the effective date of this            fewer than 5 slots at that airport on that day.        hour within that period. Except as
                                             action under 5 U.S.C. 553(d).                              9 In making allocation decisions, the FAA may       provided in paragraph 7, the carrier
                                                The FAA has received multiple                        not under its independent authority consider the       must receive the written approval of the
                                                                                                     markets to be served, the aircraft to be used,
                                             inquiries (both informal and formal)                    potential competition benefits associated with a
                                                                                                                                                            Administrator, or his delegate, prior to
                                             recently from carriers as well as the Port              carrier or service in particular markets, or the       conducting any adjusted arrival or
                                             Authority of New York and New Jersey                    potential economic benefits of a particular flight.    departure. All requests to move an


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                                                              Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 180 / Monday, September 17, 2018 / Rules and Regulations                                             46867

                                             allocated Operating Authorization must                     b. Each carrier holding an Operating                  12. If the FAA determines that an
                                             be submitted to the FAA Slot                            Authorization must forward in writing                 involuntary reduction in the number of
                                             Administration Office, facsimile (202)                  to the FAA Slot Administration Office a               allocated Operating Authorizations is
                                             267–7277 or email 7-AWA-Slotadmin@                      list of all Operating Authorizations held             required to meet operational needs,
                                             faa.gov, and must come from a                           by the carrier along with a listing of the            such as reduced airport capacity, the
                                             designated representative of the carrier.               Operating Authorizations and:                         FAA will conduct a weighted lottery to
                                             If the FAA cannot approve a carrier’s                      i. The dates within each applicable                withdraw Operating Authorizations to
                                             request to move a scheduled arrival or                  season it intends to commence and                     meet a reduced hourly or half-hourly
                                             departure, the carrier may then apply                   complete operations.                                  limit for scheduled operations. The FAA
                                             for a trade in accordance with paragraph                   A. For each winter scheduling season,              will provide at least 45 days’ notice
                                             7.                                                      the report must be received by the FAA                unless otherwise required by
                                                7. For the duration of this Order, a                 no later than August 15 during the                    operational needs. Any Operating
                                             carrier may enter into a lease or trade of              preceding summer.                                     Authorization that is withdrawn or
                                             an Operating Authorization to another                      B. For each summer scheduling                      temporarily suspended will, if
                                             carrier for any consideration. Notice of                season, the report must be received by                reallocated, be reallocated to the carrier
                                             a trade or lease under this paragraph                   the FAA no later than January 15 during               from which it was taken, provided that
                                             must be submitted in writing to the FAA                 the preceding winter.                                 the carrier continues to operate
                                             Slot Administration Office, facsimile                      ii. The completed operations for each              scheduled service at JFK.
                                             (202) 267–7277 or email 7-AWA-                          day of the applicable scheduling season:                 13. The FAA may enforce this Order
                                             Slotadmin@faa.gov, and must come                           A. No later than September 1 for the               through an enforcement action seeking
                                             from a designated representative of each                summer scheduling season.                             a civil penalty under 49 U.S.C. 46301(a).
                                             carrier. The FAA must confirm and                          B. No later than January 15 for the                The FAA also could file a civil action
                                             approve these transactions in writing                   winter scheduling season.                             in U.S. District Court, under 49 U.S.C.
                                             prior to the effective date of the                         iii. The completed operations for each             46106, 46107, seeking to enjoin any
                                             transaction. The FAA will approve                       day of the scheduling season within 30                carrier from violating the terms of this
                                             transfers between carriers under the                    days after the last day of the applicable             Order.
                                             same marketing control up to five                       scheduling season.                                       14. The FAA may modify or withdraw
                                             business days after the actual operation,                  10. In the event that a carrier                    any provision in this Order on its own
                                             but only to accommodate operational                     surrenders to the FAA any Operating                   or on application by any carrier for good
                                             disruptions that occur on the same day                  Authorization assigned to it under this               cause shown.
                                             of the scheduled operation. The FAA’s                   Order or if there are unallocated
                                                                                                     Operating Authorizations, the FAA will                  Issued in Washington, DC, on September
                                             approval of a trade or lease does not                                                                         11, 2018.
                                             constitute a commitment by the FAA to                   determine whether the Operating
                                                                                                     Authorizations should be reallocated.                 Jeffrey Planty,
                                             grant the associated historical rights to                                                                     Deputy Vice President, System Operations
                                             any operator in the event that slot                     The FAA may temporarily allocate an
                                                                                                     Operating Authorization at its                        Services.
                                             controls continue at JFK after this order                                                                     [FR Doc. 2018–20138 Filed 9–14–18; 8:45 am]
                                             expires.                                                discretion. Such temporary allocations
                                                                                                     will not be entitled to historical status             BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
                                                8. A carrier may not buy, sell, trade,
                                                                                                     for the next applicable scheduling
                                             or transfer an Operating Authorization,
                                                                                                     season under paragraph 9.
                                             except as described in paragraph 7.                                                                           DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
                                                                                                        11. The FAA considers the following
                                                9. Historical rights to Operating                    factors and priorities in allocating
                                             Authorizations and withdrawal of those                                                                        Office of the Secretary
                                                                                                     Operating Authorizations, which the
                                             rights due to insufficient usage will be                FAA has determined are available for
                                             determined on a seasonal basis and in                                                                         14 CFR Parts 295 and 298
                                                                                                     reallocation—
                                             accordance with the schedule approved                      a. Historical requests for allocation of           RIN No. 2105–AD66
                                             by the FAA prior to the commencement                    an Operating Authorization in the same
                                             of the applicable season.                                                                                     [Docket No. DOT–OST–2007–27057]
                                                                                                     time;
                                                a. For each day of the week that the                    b. New entrant status;
                                             FAA has approved an operating                                                                                 Increasing Charter Air Transportation
                                                                                                        c. Retiming of historic Operating                  Options
                                             schedule, any Operating Authorization                   Authorizations;
                                             not used at least 80% of the time over                     d. Extension of a seasonal Operating               AGENCY:  Office of the Secretary (OST),
                                             the time-frame authorized by the FAA                    Authorization to year-round service;                  Department of Transportation (DOT).
                                             under this paragraph will be withdrawn                     e. The effective period of operation;              ACTION: Final rule.
                                             by the FAA for the next applicable                         f. The extent and regularity of
                                             season except:                                          intended use with priority given to year-             SUMMARY:   The Department of
                                                i. The FAA will treat as used any                    round services;                                       Transportation (DOT or Department) is
                                             Operating Authorization held by a                          g. The operational impacts of                      issuing a final rule to facilitate
                                             carrier on Thanksgiving Day, the Friday                 scheduled demand, including the                       innovation and growth in the air charter
                                             following Thanksgiving Day, and the                     hourly and half-hour demand and the                   industry while strengthening the legal
                                             period from December 24 through the                     mix of arrival and departure flights; and             protections provided to consumers of
                                             first Saturday in January.                                 h. Airport facility constraints.                   charter air transportation. First, this rule
                                                ii. The Administrator of the FAA may                    Any carrier that is not approved for               allows ‘‘air charter brokers’’ as
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                                             waive the 80% usage requirement in the                  allocation of an Operating Authorization              principals or bona fide agents to provide
                                             event of a highly unusual and                           by the FAA may request it be placed on                single entity charter air transportation of
                                             unpredictable condition which is                        a waiting list for consideration should               passengers. Second, it requires air
                                             beyond the control of the carrier and                   an Operating Authorization in the                     charter brokers to make certain
                                             which affects carrier operations for a                  requested time become available during                disclosures including those responsive
                                             period of five consecutive days or more.                that scheduling season.                               to a National Transportation Safety


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Document Created: 2018-09-15 01:37:34
Document Modified: 2018-09-15 01:37:34
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionRules and Regulations
ActionExtension to order.
DatesThis action is effective on September 17, 2018.
ContactFor questions concerning this Order contact: Bonnie C. Dragotto, Regulations Division, FAA Office of the Chief Counsel, AGC-240, Room 916N, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; telephone (202) 267-3808; email [email protected]
FR Citation83 FR 46865 

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