Proposed Establishment of Area Navigation (RNAV) Routes T-322, T-392, T-403, and T-405; Central United States

Published date02 March 2021
Citation86 FR 12129
Record Number2021-03931
SectionProposed rules
CourtFederal Aviation Administration,Transportation Department
Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 39 (Tuesday, March 2, 2021)
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 39 (Tuesday, March 2, 2021)]
                [Proposed Rules]
                [Pages 12129-12132]
                From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
                [FR Doc No: 2021-03931]
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                DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
                Federal Aviation Administration
                14 CFR Part 71
                [Docket No. FAA-2021-0054; Airspace Docket No. 20-AGL-34]
                RIN 2120-AA66
                Proposed Establishment of Area Navigation (RNAV) Routes T-322, T-
                392, T-403, and T-405; Central United States
                AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
                ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
                -----------------------------------------------------------------------
                SUMMARY: This action proposes to establish area navigation (RNAV)
                routes T-322, T-392, T-403, and T-405 in the central United States. The
                proposed new RNAV routes would expand the availability of RNAV routing
                in support of transitioning the National Airspace System (NAS) from
                ground-based to satellite-based navigation. Additionally, a portion of
                the new RNAV routes would provide enroute structure where VHF
                Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airway segments were removed due to
                the Sioux City, IA; Park Rapids, MN; and Huron, SD, VORs
                decommissioning in support of the
                [[Page 12130]]
                FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.
                DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 16, 2021.
                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-2021-0054; Airspace Docket No. 20-AGL-34 at the beginning of your
                comments. You may also submit comments through the internet at https://www.regulations.gov.
                 FAA Order 7400.11E, 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 inspection at the National
                Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the
                availability of FAA Order 7400.11E at NARA, email:
                [email protected] or go to https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.
                FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jesse Acevedo, 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 expand the availability of RNAV in the central
                United States and improve the efficient flow of air traffic within the
                NAS by lessening the dependency on ground-based navigation.
                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-2021-0054; Airspace Docket No. 20-AGL-34) 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-2021-0054; Airspace Docket No. 20-AGL-34.'' 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
                Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177.
                Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference
                 This document proposes to amend FAA Order 7400.11E, Airspace
                Designations and Reporting Points, dated July 21, 2020 and effective
                September 15, 2020. FAA Order 7400.11E is publicly available as listed
                in the ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order 7400.11E lists
                Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and
                reporting points.
                Background
                 In 2003, Congress enacted the Vision 100--Century of Aviation
                Reauthorization Act (Pub. L. 108-176), which established a joint
                planning and development office in the FAA to manage the work related
                to the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen). Today,
                NextGen is an ongoing FAA-led modernization of the nation's air
                transportation system to make flying safer, more efficient, and more
                predictable.
                 In support of NextGen efforts to improve the safety and efficiency
                of the NAS, as well as transition the NAS from a ground-based to a
                satellite-based Performance Based Navigation (PBN) system, the FAA is
                proposing to establish RNAV routes T-322, T-392, T-403, and T-405 to
                provide additional PBN enroute structure. This action would reduce air
                traffic control (ATC) sector workload and complexity, reduce pilot-to-
                controller communication, assist ATC when non-radar procedures are
                required, and increase NAS capacity in the areas of the new RNAV T-
                routes.
                 Additionally, the proposed T-routes would compensate for the
                previously removed airway segments of VOR Federal airways due to the
                Sioux City, IA; Park Rapids, MN; and Huron, SD, VORs being
                decommissioned effective February 25, 2021. The new T-routes would also
                provide Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) pilots that are equipped for RNAV
                PBN additional ATS route options for navigating around areas of heavy
                aviation activity and in areas of limited or no radar coverage. Visual
                Flight Rules (VFR) pilots, equipped with RNAV PBN, who elect to
                navigate via ATS routes, could also take advantage of the proposed RNAV
                T-routes.
                 The new routes will also assist in reducing workload and sector
                complexity for air traffic controllers, facilitate reduction of air to
                ground communications, and assist in
                [[Page 12131]]
                increasing the efficiency and capacity of the NAS.
                The Proposal
                 The FAA is proposing an amendment to Title 14 Code of Federal
                Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 to establish RNAV routes T-322, T-392, T-
                403, and T-405. The proposed new T-routes are described below.
                 T-322: T-322 is a new RNAV route that extends between the Rapid
                City, SD, VOR/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) and the Redwood Falls,
                MN, VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME). This T-route provides
                enroute routing over VOR Federal airway V-26.
                 T-392: T-392 is a new RNAV route that would extend between the
                MZEEE, IA, waypoint (WP) located near the Sioux City, IA, VORTAC and
                the GRSIS, MN, WP located near the Fairmont, MN, DME.
                 T-403: T-403 is a new RNAV route that would extend between the
                GENEO, MN, WP located near the Darwin, MN, VORTAC and the BLUOX, MN,
                fix located 40 NM North of the Park Rapids, MN, DME. This T-route would
                provide enroute routing adjacent to VOR Federal airway V-171 between
                the Darwin, MN, VORTAC and the Alexandria, MN, VOR/DME; and overlapping
                VOR Federal airway V-175 between the Alexandria, MN, VOR/DME and the
                BLUOX, MN, fix.
                 T-405: T-405 is a new RNAV route that would extend between the
                FIITS, SD, WP located near the Yankton, SD, VOR/DME and the GICHI, ND,
                WP located near the Devils Lake, ND, VOR/DME. This T-route would
                provide enroute routing adjacent to VOR Federal airway V-159 between
                the Yankton, SD, VOR/DME and the Huron, SD, DME; enroute routing
                adjacent to VOR Federal airway V-15 between the Huron, SD, DME and the
                Aberdeen, SD, VOR/DME; and enroute routing adjacent to VOR Federal
                airway V-170 between the Aberdeen, SD, VOR/DME and the Devils Lake, ND,
                VOR/DME.
                 United States RNAV T-routes are published in paragraph 6011 of FAA
                Order 7400.11E, dated July 21, 2020, and effective September 15, 2020,
                which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The RNAV routes
                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 7400.11E,
                Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated July 21, 2020, and
                effective September 15, 2020, is amended as follows:
                Paragraph 6011 United States Area Navigation Routes.
                * * * * *
                T-322 Rapid City, SD (RAP) to Redwood Falls, MN (RWD)
                
                Rapid City, SD (RAP) VORTAC (Lat. 43[deg]58'33.74'' N, long. 103[deg]00'44.38'' W)
                Philip, SD (PHP) VOR/DME (Lat. 44[deg]03'29.66'' N, long. 101[deg]39'51.10'' W)
                Pierre, SD (PIR) VORTAC (Lat. 44[deg]23'40.40'' N, long. 100[deg]09'46.11'' W)
                DAKPE, SD WP (Lat. 44[deg]25'58.37'' N, long. 098[deg]42'23.05'' W)
                Redwood Falls, MN (RWD) VOR/DME (Lat. 44[deg]28'02.19'' N, long. 095[deg]07'41.63'' W)
                
                 * * * * * * *
                T392 MZEEE, IA to GRSIS, MN
                
                MZEEE, IA WP (Lat. 42[deg]20'40.66'' N, long. 096[deg]19'24.54'' W)
                KAATO, IA WP (Lat. 42[deg]35'06.89'' N, long. 095[deg]58'53.08'' W)
                BERRG, IA WP (Lat. 43[deg]08'17.21'' N, long. 095[deg]10'46.46'' W)
                GRSIS, MN WP (Lat. 43[deg]38'45.54'' N, long. 094[deg]25'21.17'' W)
                
                T-403 GENEO, MN to BLUOX, MN
                
                GENEO, MN WP (Lat. 45[deg]05'15.37'' N, long. 094[deg]27'14.30'' W)
                Alexandria, MN (AXN) VOR/DME (Lat. 45[deg]57'30.20'' N, long. 095[deg]13'57.48'' W)
                Park Rapids, MN (PKD) DME (Lat. 46[deg]53'53.34'' N, long. 095[deg]04'15.21'' W)
                BLUOX, MN WP (Lat. 47[deg]34'33.13'' N, long. 095[deg]01'29.11'' W)
                
                T-405 FIITS, SD TO GICHI, ND
                
                FIITS, SD WP (Lat. 42[deg]55'06.67'' N, long. 097[deg]23'06.31'' W)
                Mitchell, SD (MHE) VOR/DME (Lat. 43[deg]46'37.28'' N, long. 098[deg]02'15.28'' W)
                DIDDL, SD WP (Lat. 44[deg]26'24.32'' N, long. 098[deg]18'39.06'' W)
                Aberdeen, SD (ABR) VOR/DME (Lat. 45[deg]25'02.48'' N, long. 098[deg]22'07.39'' W)
                Jamestown, ND (JMS) VOR/DME (Lat. 46[deg]55'58.34'' N, long. 098[deg]40'43.57'' W)
                FARRM, ND FIX (Lat. 47[deg]29'14.17'' N, long. 099[deg]01'34.50'' W)
                GICHI, ND WP (Lat. 48[deg]06'54.20'' N, long. 098[deg]54'45.14'' W)
                
                [[Page 12132]]
                 Issued in Washington, DC, on February 22, 2021.
                George Gonzalez,
                Acting Manager, Rules and Regulations Group.
                [FR Doc. 2021-03931 Filed 3-1-21; 8:45 am]
                BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
                

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