[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 9 (Thursday, January 14, 1999)] [Proposed Rules] [Pages 2450-2451] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 99-854] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part 71 [Airspace Docket No. 98-AAL-15] RIN 2120-AA66 Proposed Establishment of Colored Federal Airways; AK
Agency
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
Action
Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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Summary
The FAA proposes to establish 17 colored Federal airways located in the State of Alaska (AK). The FAA is proposing this action to improve the management of air traffic operations in the State of Alaska and enhance safety.
Dates
Comments must be received on or before March 1, 1999.
Addresses
Send comments on the proposal in triplicate to: Manager, Air Traffic Division, AAL-500, Docket No. 98-AAL-15, Federal Aviation Administration, 222 West 7th Avenue, #14, Anchorage, AK 99533. The official docket may be examined in the Rules Docket, Office of the Chief Counsel, Room 916, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington DC, weekdays, except Federal holidays, between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. An informal docket may also be examined during normal business hours at the office of the Regional Air Traffic Division.
For Further Information Contact
Joseph C. White, Airspace and Rules Division, ATA-400, Office of Air Traffic Airspace Management, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267-8783.
Supplementary Information
Comments Invited
Interested parties are invited to participate in this proposed rulemaking by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as they may desire. Comments that provide the factual basis supporting the views and suggestions presented are particularly helpful in developing reasoned regulatory decisions on the proposal. Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory, aeronautical, economic, environmental, and energy-related aspects of the proposal. Communications should identify the airspace docket number and be submitted in triplicate to the address listed above. Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments on this notice must submit with those comments a self-addressed, stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments to Airspace Docket No. 98- AAL-15.'' The postcard will be date/time stamped and returned to the commenter. All communications received on or before the specified closing date for comments will be considered before taking action on the proposed rule. The proposal contained in this notice may be changed in light of comments received. All comments submitted will be available for examination in the Rules Docket both before and after the closing date for comments. A report summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA personnel concerned with this rulemaking will be filed in the docket.
Availability of NPRM's
Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request to the Federal Aviation Administration, Office of Air Traffic Airspace Management, ATA-400, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591, or by calling (202) 267-8783. Communications must identify the notice number of the NPRM. Persons interested in being placed on a mailing list for future NPRM's should call the FAA's Office of Rulemaking, (202) 267-9677, and request a copy of Advisory Circular No. 11-2A, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Distribution System, which describes the application procedure. An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded, using a modem and suitable communications software, from the FAA regulations section of the Fedworld electronic bulletin board service (telephone: 703-321-3339) or the Federal Register's electronic bulletin board service (telephone: 202-512-1661). Internet users may reach the FAA's web page at www.faa.gov or the Federal Register's web page at www.access.gpo.gov/nara/ index.html for access to recently published rulemaking documents.
www.faa.gov
www.access.gpo.gov/nara/The Proposal
The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 (part 71) to establish 17 colored Federal airways in AK, specifically, Green-1, Green-2, Green-3, Green-4, Green-16, Green-17, Green-18, Green-19, Red- 1, Red-2, Amber-7, Blue-1, Blue-2, Blue-4, Blue-5, Blue-7, and Blue-8. Presently, there are a number of uncharted nonregulatory routes that use the same routings as these proposed colored Federal airways, with the exception of Green-16, Green-17, Green-
18, and Green-19. Green-16, Green-17, Green-18, and Green-19 are being proposed as a result of the commissioning of nondirectional radio beacons at Atqasuk, AK, Wainwright, AK, and Nuiqsut, AK. These newly commissioned navigational facilities would provide a means to establish an airway structure to support the existing commercial air carrier services on the North Slope of Alaska, where currently no airway structure exists. The remaining uncharted nonregulatory routings are used daily by air carrier and general aviation aircraft. The FAA is proposing this action to establish these 17 colored Federal airways for the following reasons: (1) The conversion of these uncharted nonregulatory routes to colored Federal airways would add to the instrument flight rules (IFR) airway and route infrastructure in Alaska; (2) pilots would be provided with minimum en route altitudes and minimum obstruction clearance altitudes information; (3) this amendment would establish controlled airspace, thus eliminating some of the commercial IFR operations in uncontrolled airspace; and (4) addition of these routes would improve the management of air traffic operations and thereby enhance safety. The FAA has determined that this regulation only involves an established body of technical regulations for which frequent and routine amendments are necessary to keep them operationally current. Therefore, this proposed regulation: (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 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 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. Colored Federal airways are published in paragraph 6009 of FAA Order 7400.9F dated September 10, 1998, and effective September 16, 1998, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The colored Federal airways listed in this document would be published subsequently in the Order.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71
Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).
The Proposed Amendment
In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend 14 CFR part 71 as follows:
PART 71--DESIGNATION OF CLASS A, CLASS B, CLASS C, CLASS D, AND CLASS E AIRSPACE AREAS; AIRWAYS; ROUTES; AND REPORTING POINTS
1. The authority citation for part 71 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40103, 40113, 40120; E.O. 10854, 24 FR 9565, 3 CFR, 1959-1963 Comp., p.389.
Sec. 71.1 [Amended]
2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of the Federal Aviation Administration Order 7400.9F, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated September 10, 1998, and effective September 16, 1998, is amended as follows:
Paragraph 6009(a)--Green Federal Airways
* * * * *
Green 1 [New]
From Adak, AK, NDB; to Elfee, AK, NDB.
Green 2 [New]
From Borland, AK, NDB; to Woody Island, AK, NDB.
Green 3 [New]
From Elfee, AK, NDB; to Woody Island, AK, NDB.
Green 4 [New]
From Wood River, AK, NDB; INT Illiamna, AK, NDB, 250 deg.T (228 deg.M) and Saldo, AK, 220 deg.T (341 deg.M); to Illiamna, AK, NDB. * * * * *
Green 16 [New]
From Point Lay, AK, NDB; Wainwright Village, AK, NDB; Browerville, AK, NDB; Nuiqsut Village, AK, NDB; to Put River, AK, NDB.
Green 17 [New]
From Wainwright Village, AK, NDB; Atqasuk, AK, NDB; to Nuiqsut Village, AK, NDB.
Green 18 [New]
From Point Lay, AK, NDB; to Atqasuk, AK, NDB.
Green 19 [New]
From Point Lay, AK, NDB; to Nuiqsut Village, AK, NDB. * * * * *
Paragraph 6009(b)--Red Federal Airways
* * * * *
Red 1 [New]
St. Paul Island, AK, NDB 20 AGL; INT Elfee, AK, NDB, 327 deg.T (310 deg.M) and St. Paul Island, AK, NDB, 073 deg.T (060 deg.M); INT Cape Newenham, AK NDB, 131 deg.T (113 deg.M) and Saldo, AK, NDB 262 deg.T (241 deg.M); to Saldo, AK, NDB.
Red 2 [New]
From Elfee, AK, NDB; Point Heiden, AK, NDB; to INT Homer, AK 237 deg.T (213 deg.M) radial and Iliamna, AK, NDB, 158 deg.T (136 deg.M) bearing. * * * * *
Paragraph 6009(c)--Amber Federal Airways
* * * * *
Amber 7 [New]
From Campbell Lake, AK, NDB; to Mineral Creek, AK, NDB. * * * * *
Paragraph 6009(d)--Blue Federal Airways
* * * * *
Blue 1 [New]
From Yukon River, AK, NDB; Evansville, AK, NDB; Utopia Creek, AK, NDB; Hotham, AK, NDB; to Point Lay, AK, NDB.
Blue 2 [New]
From Point Lay, AK, NDB; Cape Lisburne, AK, NDB; Hotham, AK, NDB; Tin City, AK, NDB; to Fort Davis, AK, NDB. * * * * *
Blue 4 [New]
From Bishop, AK, NDB; to Utopia Creek, AK, NDB.
Blue 5 [New]
From Cape Lisburne, AK, NDB; to Point Hope, AK, NDB. * * * * *
Blue 7 [New]
From Chena, AK, NDB; to Utopia Creek, AK, NDB.
Blue 8 [New]
From Shishmaref, AK, NDB; to Tin City, AK, NDB. * * * * * Issued in Washington, DC, on January 7, 1999. Reginald C. Matthews, Acting Program Director for Air Traffic Airspace Management. [FR Doc. 99-854 Filed 1-13-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-13-P