[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 214 (Monday, November 5, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 55308-55310]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-23891]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0713; Airspace Docket No. 18-AWP-10]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Amendment of Air Traffic Service (ATS) Routes; Western 
United States

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to amend two jet routes (J-65 and J-110), 
and three domestic VOR Federal airways (V-23, V-165, and V-230) in the 
western United States. These modifications are necessary due to the 
planned decommissioning of the Clovis, CA, VHF Omnidirectional Range 
(VOR) portion of the VOR/tactical air navigation (VORTAC) navigation 
aid (NAVAID), which provides navigation guidance for portions of the 
affected air traffic service (ATS) routes. The Clovis, CA, VOR is being 
decommissioned as part of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network 
(MON) program.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 20, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on this proposal to the U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Operations, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West 
Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590; telephone: 
1(800) 647-5527, or (202) 366-9826. You must identify FAA Docket No. 
FAA-2018-0713; Airspace Docket No. 18-AWP-10 at the beginning of your 
comments. You may also submit comments through the internet at http://www.regulations.gov.
    FAA Order 7400.11C, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, and 
subsequent amendments can be viewed online at http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/. For further information, you can contact the 
Airspace Policy Group, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267-
8783. The Order is also available for inspection at the National 
Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the 
availability of FAA Order 7400.11C at NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go 
to https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.
    FAA Order 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, is 
published yearly and effective on September 15.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kenneth Ready, Airspace Policy Group, 
Office of Airspace Services, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267-
8783.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Authority for This Rulemaking

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

Comments Invited

    Interested parties are invited to participate in this proposed 
rulemaking by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as they 
may desire. Comments that provide the factual basis supporting the 
views and suggestions presented are particularly helpful in developing 
reasoned regulatory decisions on the proposal. Comments are 
specifically invited on the overall regulatory, aeronautical, economic, 
environmental, and energy-related aspects of the proposal. 
Communications should identify both docket numbers (FAA Docket No. FAA-
2018-0713; Airspace Docket No. 18-AWP-10) and be submitted in 
triplicate to the Docket Management Facility (see ADDRESSES section for 
address and phone number). You may also submit comments through the 
internet at http://www.regulations.gov.
    Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments 
on this action must submit with those comments a self-addressed, 
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments 
to FAA Docket No. FAA-2018-0713; Airspace Docket No. 18-AWP-10.'' The 
postcard will be date/time stamped and returned to the commenter.
    All communications received on or before the specified comment 
closing date will be considered before taking action on the proposed 
rule. The proposal contained in this action may be changed in light of 
comments received. All comments submitted will be available for 
examination in the public docket both before and after the comment 
closing date. A report summarizing each substantive public contact with 
FAA personnel concerned with this rulemaking will be filed in the 
docket.

Availability of NPRMs

    An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded through the 
internet at http://www.regulations.gov. Recently published rulemaking 
documents can also be accessed through the FAA's web page at http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/airspace_amendments/.
    You may review the public docket containing the proposal, any 
comments received and any final disposition in person in the Dockets 
Office (see ADDRESSES section for address and phone number) between 
9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except federal 
holidays. An informal docket may also be examined during normal 
business hours at the office of the Western Service Center, Operations

[[Page 55309]]

Support Group, Federal Aviation Administration, 2200 South 216th 
Street, Des Moines, WA 98198.

Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference

    This document proposes to amend FAA Order 7400.11C, Airspace 
Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 13, 2018, and effective 
September 15, 2018. FAA Order 7400.11C is publicly available as listed 
in the ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order 7400.11C lists 
Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and 
reporting points.

Background

    The FAA is planning decommissioning activities for the Clovis, CA, 
VOR in 2019 as 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 of July 26, 2016 (81 FR 
48694), Docket No. FAA-2011-1082. Although the VOR portion of the 
Clovis, CA, VORTAC NAVAID is planned for decommissioning, the tactical 
air navigation (TACAN) portion is being retained. The ATS routes 
effected by the Clovis VOR decommissioning are VOR Federal airways V-
23, V-165, V-230 and jet routes J-65 and J-110.
    With the planned decommissioning of the Clovis 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-23, J-65, and J-110 would result in gaps in the route structures.
    To overcome the gap in V-23, instrument flight rules (IFR) traffic 
could use adjacent VOR Federal airways V-113 and V-107 between the 
Modesto VOR/DME through Panoche VORTAC down to Avenal VOR/DME to the 
west and V-459 between Linden VOR/DME and Shafter VORTAC further east.
    To overcome the gap in J-65, IFR traffic could use VOR Federal 
airways J-189 between the Linden VOR/DME and Avenal VOR/DME.
    To overcome the loss of a portion of J-110, IFR traffic could file 
point to point from Oakland and then use Q-160 and Q-158 between the 
Clovis, VORTAC, decommissioned area and the Boulder City VORTAC area. 
Additionally, IFR traffic could file point to point through the 
affected area using fixes that will remain in place, or receive air 
traffic control (ATC) radar vectors through the area. Visual flight 
rules pilots who elect to navigate via the airways through the affected 
area could also take advantage of the adjacent VOR Federal airways or 
ATC services previously listed.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to Title 14 Code of Federal 
Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 by modifying jet routes (J-65 and J-110) 
and domestic VOR Federal airways (V-23, V-165 and V-230). The proposed 
route changes are outlined below.
    J-65: J-65 currently extends between the San Antonio TX, VORTAC to 
the Seattle WA, VORTAC. The FAA would remove the segments between the 
Shafter, CA, VORTAC and the Sacramento, CA, VORTAC causing a gap in the 
route. The new route would stop at the Shafter, CA, VORTAC and resume 
at the Sacramento, CA, VORTAC. The unaffected portion of the existing 
route would remain as charted.
    J-110: J-110 currently extends between the Oakland, CA, VOR/DME to 
the Coyle, NJ, VORTAC. The FAA would remove the segments between the 
Oakland, CA, VOR/DME and the Boulder City, NV, VORTAC. The route would 
now begin at the Boulder City, NV, VORTAC. The unaffected portion of 
the existing route would remain as charted.
    V-23: V-23 currently extends between the Mission Bay CA, VORTAC and 
the Whatcom WA, VORTAC, and then to the Canadian border (approximately 
7 miles northwest of the Whatcom WA, VORTAC). The FAA would amend the 
segment between the Shafter, CA, VORTAC and the Linden, CA, VOR/DME. 
The new route would stop at the FRAME intersection (INT Shafter 
338[deg](T) 324[deg](M) and Panoche 096[deg](T) 080[deg](M) radials) 
and resume at the EBTUW intersection (INT Panoche 035[deg](T) 
019[deg](M) and Linden 141[deg](T) 124[deg](M) radials) causing a gap 
in the route. The unaffected portion of the existing route would remain 
as charted.
    V-165: V-165 currently extends between the Mission Bay, CA, VORTAC 
and the Whatcom WA, VORTAC. The FAA would amend the segment between the 
Tule, CA, VOR/DME and the Mustang, NV, VORTAC. The new route follows V-
459 from the Tule, CA, VOR/DME to the Friant VORTAC and then to the 
DARBY intersection (INT Linden, CA 077[deg](T) 060[deg](M) and Mustang, 
NV, 183[deg](T) 167[deg](M) radials) which rejoins the original V-165 
enroute to Mustang, NV, VORTAC. The unaffected portion of the existing 
route would remain as charted.
    V-230: V-230 currently extends between the intersection of the Big 
Sur, CA, VORTAC 325[deg] and the Salinas, CA, VORTAC 281[deg] radials 
to the Mina, NV, VORTAC. The FAA will amend the segment between the 
Panoche, CA, VORTAC and the Friant, CA, VORTAC. The new route proceeds 
from the Panoche CA, VORTAC to the BLEAR intersection (Panoche 
077[deg](T) 061[deg](M) and Friant 239[deg](T) 222[deg](M) radials) to 
the Friant VORTAC. The unaffected portion of the existing route would 
remain as charted.
    Jet routes are published in paragraph 2004 and domestic VOR Federal 
airways in paragraph 6010 of FAA Order 7400.11C dated August 13, 2018, 
and effective September 15, 2018, which is incorporated by reference in 
14 CFR 71.1. The jet routes and Domestic VOR Federal airways listed in 
this document will be subsequently published in the Order.

Regulatory Notices and Analyses

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

Environmental Review

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

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71

    Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).

The Proposed Amendment

    In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation 
Administration

[[Page 55310]]

proposes to amend 14 CFR part 71 as follows:

PART 71--DESIGNATION OF CLASS A, B, C, D, AND E AIRSPACE AREAS; AIR 
TRAFFIC SERVICE ROUTES; AND REPORTING POINTS

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

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


Sec.  71.1   [Amended]

0
2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of FAA Order 7400.11C, 
Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 13, 2018 and 
effective September 15, 2018, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 2004 Jet Routes

J-65 [Amended]

    From San Antonio, TX, INT San Antonio 323[deg](T) 315[deg](M) 
and Abilene, TX, 180[deg](T) 170[deg](M) radials; Abilene; Chisum, 
NM; Truth or Consequences, NM; Phoenix, AZ; INT Phoenix 272[deg](T) 
259[deg](M) and Blythe, CA, 096[deg](T) 082[deg](M) radials; Blythe; 
Palmdale, CA; INT Palmdale 310[deg](T) 295[deg](M) and Shafter, CA, 
140[deg](T) 126[deg](M) radials; to Shafter, CA. From Sacramento, 
CA; Red Bluff, CA; Klamath Falls, OR; to Seattle, WA.
* * * * *

J-110 [Amended]

    From Boulder City, NV; Rattlesnake, NM; Alamosa, CO; Garden 
City, KS; Butler, MO; St. Louis, MO; Brickyard, IN; Bellaire, OH; to 
Coyle, NJ.
* * * * *

Paragraph 6010 Domestic VOR Federal Airways

V-23 [Amended]

    From Mission Bay, CA; Oceanside, CA; 24 miles, 6 miles wide, 
Seal Beach, CA; 6 miles wide, INT Seal Beach 287[deg](T) 272[deg](M) 
and Los Angeles, 138[deg](T) 123 [deg](M) radials; Los Angeles; 
Gorman, CA; Shafter, CA; to INT Shafter 338[deg](T) 324[deg](M) and 
Panoche 096[deg](T) 080[deg](M) radials. From INT Panoche 
035[deg](T) 019[deg](M) and Linden 141[deg](T) 124[deg](M) radials; 
Linden, CA; Sacramento, CA; INT Sacramento 346[deg](T) 329[deg](M) 
and Red Bluff, CA, 158[deg](T) 140[deg](M) radials; Red Bluff; 58 
miles, 95 MSL, Fort Jones, CA; Rogue Valley, OR; Eugene, OR; Battle 
Ground, WA; INT Battle Ground 350[deg](T) 329[deg](M) and Seattle, 
WA, 197[deg](T) 178[deg](M) radials; 21 miles, 45 MSL, Seattle; 
Paine, WA; Whatcom, WA; via INT Whatcom 290[deg](T) 270[deg](M) 
radial to the United States/Canadian border.
* * * * *

V-165 [Amended]

    From Mission Bay, CA; INT Mission Bay 270[deg](T) 255[deg](M) 
and Oceanside, CA, 177[deg](T) 162[deg](M) radials; Oceanside; 24 
miles, 6 miles wide, Seal Beach, CA; 6 miles wide, INT Seal Beach 
287[deg](T) 272[deg](M) [deg] and Los Angeles, CA, 138[deg](T) 123 
([deg]M) radials; Los Angeles; INT Los Angeles 357[deg](T) 
342[deg](M), and Lake Hughes, CA, 154[deg](T) 139[deg](M) radials; 
Lake Hughes; INT Lake Hughes 344[deg](T) 329[deg](M) and Shafter, 
CA, 137[deg](T) 123[deg](M) radials; Shafter; Tule, CA; Friant, CA; 
INT Linden, CA, 077[deg](T) 060[deg](M) and Mustang, NV, 183[deg](T) 
167[deg](M) radials ; 72 miles, 50 miles, 131 MSL, Mustang, NV; 40 
miles, 7 miles, 115 MSL, 54 miles, 135 MSL, 81 miles, Lakeview, OR; 
5 miles, 72 miles, 90 MSL, Deschutes, OR; 16 miles, 19 miles, 95 
MSL, 24 miles, 75 MSL, 12 miles, 65 MSL, Newberg, OR; 32 miles, 45 
MSL, INT Newberg 355[deg](T) 334[deg](M) and Olympia, WA, 
195[deg](T) 176[deg](M) radials; Olympia; Penn Cove, WA; to Whatcom, 
WA.
* * * * *

V-230 [Amended]

    From INT Big Sur, CA, 325[deg](T) 309[deg](M) and Salinas, CA, 
281[deg](T) 264[deg](M) radials; Salinas; Panoche, CA; INT Panoche 
077[deg](T) 061[deg](M) and Friant 239[deg](T) 222[deg](M) radials; 
Friant, CA; to Mina, NV. The portion outside the United States has 
no upper limit.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on October 29, 2018.
Rodger A. Dean Jr.,
Manager, Airspace Policy Group.
[FR Doc. 2018-23891 Filed 11-2-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


