SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Authority for This Rulemaking

The FAA's authority to issue rules regarding aviation safety is found in Title 49 of the United States Code. Subtitle I, Section 106 describes the authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII, Aviation Programs, ( printed page 88287) describes in more detail the scope of the agency's authority. This rulemaking is promulgated under the authority described in Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart I, Section 40103. Under that section, the FAA is charged with prescribing regulations to assign the use of the airspace necessary to ensure the safety of aircraft and the efficient use of airspace. This regulation is within the scope of that authority as it would modify the National Airspace System as necessary to preserve the safe and efficient flow of air traffic.

Comments Invited

The FAA invites interested persons to participate in this rulemaking by submitting written comments, data, or views. Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory, aeronautical, economic, environmental, and energy-related aspects of the proposal. The most helpful comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. To ensure the docket does not contain duplicate comments, commenters should submit only one time if comments are filed electronically, or commenters should send only one copy of written comments if comments are filed in writing.

The FAA will file in the docket all comments it receives, as well as a report summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA personnel concerning this proposed rulemaking. Before acting on this proposal, the FAA will consider all comments it receives on or before the closing date for comments. The FAA will consider comments filed after the comment period has closed if it is possible to do so without incurring expense or delay. The FAA may change this proposal in light of the comments it receives.

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.

Availability of Rulemaking Documents

An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded through the internet at www.regulations.gov. Recently published rulemaking documents can also be accessed through the FAA's web page at www.faa.gov/​air_​traffic/​publications/​airspace_​amendments/​.

You may review the public docket containing the proposal, any comments received and any final disposition in person in the Dockets Operations office (see ADDRESSES section for address, phone number, and hours of operations). An informal docket may also be examined during normal business hours at the office of the Operations Support Group, Central Service Center, Federal Aviation Administration, 10101 Hillwood Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177.

Incorporation by Reference

VOR Federal Airways are published in paragraph 6010(a) of FAA Order JO 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 on an annual basis. This document proposes to amend the current version of that order, FAA Order JO 7400.11H, dated August 11, 2023, and effective September 15, 2023. These updates would be published in the next update to FAA Order JO 7400.11. That order is publicly available as listed in the ADDRESSES section of this document.

FAA Order JO 7400.11H lists Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and reporting points.

Background

The FAA is planning to decommission the VOR portion of the Hastings, NE, VOR/DME in September 2024. The Hastings VOR is one of the candidate VORs identified for discontinuance by the FAA's VOR MON program and listed in the Final policy statement notice, “Provision of Navigation Services for the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) Transition to Performance-Based Navigation (PBN) (Plan for Establishing a VOR Minimum Operational Network),” published in the Federal Register on July 26, 2016 (81 FR 48694), Docket No. FAA-2011-1082.

Although the VOR portion of the Hastings VOR/DME is planned for decommissioning, the co-located DME portion of the NAVAID is being retained to support current and future NextGen PBN flight procedure requirements.

The VOR Federal Airways affected by the planned decommissioning of the Hastings VOR are V-79, V-220, and V-380. With the planned decommissioning of the Hastings VOR, the remaining ground-based NAVAID coverage in the area is insufficient to enable the continuity of the affected airways. As such, proposed modifications to V-220 would result in the airway segments supported by the Hastings VOR being removed and to V-79 and V-380 would result in the airways being revoked.

To address the proposed amendment and revocation actions to the affected airways, instrument flight rules (IFR) traffic could use adjacent VOR Federal Airways V-6, V-8, or V-38, or request radar vectors from air traffic control (ATC) to fly around or through the affected area. Additionally, pilots with Area Navigation (RNAV) equipped aircraft could also navigate using RNAV routes T-286, T-413, and T-468, or navigate point-to-point using the existing fixes that would remain in place to support continued operations though the affected area. Visual flight rules pilots who elect to navigate via the affected VOR Federal Airways could also take advantage of the adjacent airways or routes, or the ATC services listed previously.

The Proposal

The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 to amend VOR Federal Airway V-220 and revoke VOR Federal Airways V-79 and V-380 due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Hastings, NE, VOR/DME. The proposed airway actions are described below.

V-79: V-79 currently extends between the Hastings, NE, VOR/DME and the Lincoln, NE, VOR/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC). The FAA proposes to remove the airway in its entirety.

V-220: V-220 currently extends between the Grand Junction, CO, VOR/DME and the Columbus, NE, VOR/DME. The FAA proposes to remove the airway segment between the Kearney, NE, VOR and the Columbus VOR/DME. As amended, the airway would be changed to extend between the Grand Junction VOR/DME and the Kearney VOR.

V-380: V-380 currently extends between the Grand Island, NE, VOR/DME and the Mankato, KS, VORTAC. The FAA proposes to remove the airway in its entirety.

The NAVAID radials listed in the V-220 description in the proposed regulatory text of this NPRM are unchanged and stated in degrees True north.

Regulatory Notices and Analyses

The FAA has determined that this proposed regulation only involves an established body of technical regulations for which frequent and routine amendments are necessary to keep them operationally current. It, therefore: (1) is not a “significant regulatory action” under Executive Order 12866; (2) is not a “significant rule” under DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034; February 26, 1979); and (3) does not warrant ( printed page 88288) preparation of a regulatory evaluation as the anticipated impact is so minimal. Since this is a routine matter that will only affect air traffic procedures and air navigation, it is certified that this proposed rule, when promulgated, will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

Environmental Review

This proposal will be subject to an environmental analysis in accordance with FAA Order 1050.1F, “Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures” prior to any FAA final regulatory action.

The Proposed Amendment

In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend 14 CFR part 71 as follows:

1. The authority citation for 14 CFR part 71 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(f), 106(g); 40103, 40113, 40120; E.O. 10854, 24 FR 9565, 3 CFR, 1959-1963 Comp., p. 389.

2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of FAA Order JO 7400.11H, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 11, 2023, and effective September 15, 2023, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6010(a) Domestic VOR Federal Airways.

V-79 [Removed]

V-220 [Amended]

From Grand Junction, CO; INT Grand Junction 075° and Rifle, CO, 163° radials; Rifle; Meeker, CO; Hayden, CO; Kremmling, CO; INT Kremmling 081° and Gill, CO, 234° radials; Gill; Akron, CO; INT Akron 094° and McCook, NE, 264° radials; McCook; INT McCook 072° and Kearney, NE, 237° radials; to Kearney.

V-380 [Removed]

88 FR 88286