[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 239 (Thursday, December 12, 2019)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 67881-67884]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-26603]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2019-0893; Airspace Docket No. 18-ASW-13]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Amendment of VOR Federal Airways V-18, V-54, V-114, and 
V-583 in the Vicinity of Quitman, TX

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to amend four VHF Omnidirectional Range 
(VOR) Federal airways, V-18, V-54, V-114, and V-583, in the vicinity of 
Quitman, TX. The modifications are necessary due to the planned 
decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Quitman, TX, VOR/Distance 
Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) navigation aid (NAVAID), which provides 
navigation guidance for portions of the affected air traffic service 
(ATS) route. The Quitman VOR is being decommissioned as part of the 
FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before January 27, 2020.

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: 
(800) 647-5527, or (202) 366-9826. You must identify FAA Docket No. 
FAA-2019-0893; Airspace Docket No. 18-ASW-13 at the beginning of your 
comments. You may also submit comments through the internet at https://www.regulations.gov.
    FAA Order 7400.11D, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, and 
subsequent amendments can be viewed online at https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/. For further information, you can contact the 
Rules and Regulations Group, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267-
8783. The Order is also available for

[[Page 67882]]

inspection at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). 
For information on the availability of FAA Order 7400.11D at NARA, 
email: fedreg.legal@nara.gov or go to https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Colby Abbott, Rules and Regulations 
Group, Office of Policy, 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 modify 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-2019-0893; Airspace Docket No. 18-ASW-13) 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 https://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-2019-0893; Airspace Docket No. 18-ASW-13.'' 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 https://www.regulations.gov. Recently published rulemaking 
documents can also be accessed through the FAA's web page at https://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 Operations Support Group, Central 
Service Center, Federal Aviation Administration, 10101 Hillwood Blvd., 
Fort Worth, TX 76177.

Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference

    This document proposes to amend FAA Order 7400.11D, Airspace 
Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 8, 2019, and effective 
September 15, 2019. FAA Order 7400.11D is publicly available as listed 
in the ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order 7400.11D 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 VOR portion 
of the Quitman, TX, VOR/DME in July, 2020. Quitman 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 of July 26, 2016 (81 FR 48694), Docket No. FAA-2011-
1082. Although the VOR portion of the Quitman, TX, VOR/DME NAVAID is 
planned for decommissioning, the DME portion is being retained. The ATS 
route dependencies to the Quitman VOR are VOR Federal airways V-18, V-
54, V-114, and V-583.
    With the planned decommissioning of the Quitman VOR, the proposed 
modifications to the dependent VOR Federal airways would result in gaps 
in the airways. To overcome the gaps, instrument flight rules (IFR) 
traffic could use adjacent VOR Federal airways, including V-15, V-16, 
V-94, V-124, V-278, V-289, and V-569, to circumnavigate the affected 
area. Additionally, IFR traffic could file point to point through the 
affected area using the existing airway 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 listed previously.
    Additionally, this action would also correct the V-114 legal 
description published in FAA Order 7400.11D by changing the airway 
segment listed between the Wichita Falls, TX, VORTAC and the Blue 
Ridge, TX, VORTAC with an airway segment between the Wichita Falls, TX, 
VORTAC and the Bonham, TX, VORTAC. This change to the legal description 
matches an airway amendment made in 1996 by the FAA due to the Blue 
Ridge, TX, VORTAC being decommissioned and replaced by the newly 
commissioned Bonham, TX, VORTAC (61 FR 34722, July 3, 1996). Although 
V-114 was amended in 1996 as noted above, the legal description 
amendment was not published in FAA Order 7400.11 (formerly FAA Order 
7400.9) at that time, in error. Subsequent to the V-114 airway 
amendment made in 1996, the FAA further amended the airway in 2015 to 
change the Baton Rouge, LA, VORTAC name to the Fighting Tiger, LA, 
VORTAC (80 FR 8239, February 17, 2015). In that amendment action, the 
FAA inadvertently republished the ``Wichita Falls, TX; INT Wichita 
Falls 117[deg] and Blue Ridge, TX, 285[deg] radials; Blue Ridge'' 
airway segment in the legal description. This action would correct the 
V-114 legal description to reflect the airway amendment made in 1996 
and overlooked in 2015 by changing the airway segment currently listed 
as

[[Page 67883]]

``Wichita Falls, TX; INT Wichita Falls 117[deg] and Blue Ridge, TX, 
285[deg] radials; Blue Ridge'' to read ``Wichita Falls, TX; Bonham, 
TX.''

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to Title 14 Code of Federal 
Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 by modifying VOR Federal airways V-18, V-
54, V-114, and V-583. The planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of 
the Quitman, TX, VOR/DME NAVAID has made this action necessary. The 
proposed VOR Federal airway changes are outlined below.
    V-18: V-18 currently extends between the Millsap, TX, VOR/Tactical 
Air Navigation (VORTAC) and the Charleston, SC, VORTAC. In a separate 
NPRM, the FAA proposed to remove the airway segment between the Vulcan, 
AL, VORTAC and the Colliers, SC, VORTAC (83 FR 67165, December 28, 
2018). The FAA now proposes to remove the airway segment between the 
Cedar Creek, TX, VORTAC and the Belcher, LA, VORTAC. This would result 
in a gap in the airway between Cedar Creek, TX, and Belcher, LA, and 
then again between Vulcan, AL, and Colliers, SC. Therefore, the 
proposed amended V-18 would consist of three separate sections: The 
first, between the Millsap, TX, VORTAC and the Cedar Creek, TX, VORTAC; 
the second, after the gap, between the Belcher, LA, VORTAC and the 
Vulcan, AL, VORTAC; and the third, after the second gap, between the 
Colliers, SC, VORTAC and the Charleston, SC, VORTAC. The unaffected 
portions of the existing airway would remain as charted.
    V-54: V-54 currently extends between the Waco, TX, VORTAC and the 
Kinston, NC, VORTAC. The FAA proposes to remove the airway segment 
between the Cedar Creek, TX, VORTAC and the Texarkana, AR, VORTAC. 
Therefore, the proposed amended V-54 would consist of two separate 
sections: The first, between the Waco, TX, VORTAC and the Cedar Creek, 
TX, VORTAC; and the second, after the gap, between the Texarkana, AR, 
VORTAC and the Kinston, NC, VORTAC. The unaffected portions of the 
existing airway would remain as charted.
    V-114: V-114 currently extends between the Panhandle, TX, VORTAC 
and the Eaton, MS, VORTAC, excluding the portion within restricted 
areas R-3801B and R-3701C when active. The FAA proposes to remove the 
airway segment between the Bonham, TX, VORTAC and the Gregg County, TX, 
VORTAC. Therefore, the proposed amended V-114 would consist of two 
separate sections: The first, between the Panhandle, TX, VORTAC and the 
Bonham, TX, VORTAC; and the second, after the gap, between the Gregg 
County, TX, VORTAC and the Eaton, MS, VORTAC. The unaffected portions 
of the existing airway would remain as charted.
    V-583: V-583 currently extends between the Centex, TX, VORTAC and 
the McAlester, OK, VORTAC. The FAA proposes to remove the airway 
segment between the Frankston, TX, VOR/DME and the Paris, TX, VOR/DME. 
Therefore, the proposed amended V-583 would consist of two separate 
sections: The first, between the Centex, TX, VORTAC and the Frankston, 
TX, VOR/DME; and the second, after the gap, between the Paris, TX, VOR/
DME and the McAlester, OK, VORTAC. The unaffected portions of the 
existing airway would remain as charted.
    All radials in the route descriptions below are unchanged and 
stated in True degrees.
    VOR Federal airways are published in paragraph 6010(a) of FAA Order 
7400.11D dated August 8, 2019, and effective September 15, 2019, which 
is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The VOR Federal airways 
listed in this document would be subsequently published in the Order.
    FAA Order 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, is 
published yearly and effective on September 15.

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 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 7400.11D, 
Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 8, 2019 and 
effective September 15, 2019, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6010(a) Domestic VOR Federal Airways.

* * * * *

V-18 [Amended]

    From Millsap, TX; Glen Rose, TX; to Cedar Creek, TX. From 
Belcher, LA; Monroe, LA; Magnolia, MS; Meridian, MS; Crimson, AL; 
Vulcan, AL; Talladega, AL; Atlanta, GA; Colliers, SC; to Charleston, 
SC.
* * * * *

V-54 [Amended]

    From Waco, TX; to Cedar Creek, TX. From Texarkana, AR; INT 
Texarkana 052[deg] and Little Rock, AR, 235[deg] radials; Little 
Rock; Marvell, AR; Holly Springs, MS; Muscle Shoals, AL; Rocket, AL; 
Choo Choo, GA; Harris, GA; Spartanburg, SC; Charlotte, NC; 
Sandhills, NC; INT Sandhills 146[deg] and Fayetteville, NC, 267[deg] 
radials; Fayetteville; to Kinston, NC.
* * * * *

V-114 [Amended]

    From Panhandle, TX; Childress, TX; Wichita Falls, TX; to Bonham, 
TX. From Gregg County, TX; Alexandria, LA; INT Fighting Tiger, LA, 
307[deg] and Lafayette, LA, 042[deg] radials; 7 miles wide (3 miles 
north and 4 miles south of centerline); Fighting Tiger; INT Fighting 
Tiger 112[deg] and Reserve, LA, 323[deg] radials; Reserve; INT 
Reserve 084[deg] and Gulfport, MS, 247[deg] radials; Gulfport; INT 
Gulfport 344[deg] and Eaton, MS, 171[deg] radials; to Eaton, 
excluding the portion within R-3801B and R-3701C when active.
* * * * *

V-583 [Amended]

    From Centex, TX; INT Centex 061[deg] and College Station, TX, 
273[deg] radials; College

[[Page 67884]]

Station; Leona, TX; to Frankston, TX. From Paris, TX; to McAlester, 
OK.
* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on December 4, 2019.
Rodger A. Dean Jr.,
Manager, Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2019-26603 Filed 12-11-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


