Proposed Modification of Area Navigation (RNAV) Route Q-20, TX

Federal Register, Volume 78 Issue 229 (Wednesday, November 27, 2013)

Federal Register Volume 78, Number 229 (Wednesday, November 27, 2013)

Proposed Rules

Pages 70900-70901

From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office www.gpo.gov

FR Doc No: 2013-28503

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

Docket No. FAA-2013-0951; Airspace Docket No. 13-ASW-22

RIN 2120-AA66

Proposed Modification of Area Navigation (RNAV) Route Q-20, TX

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to modify RNAV route Q-20 in support of the Houston Optimization of Airspace and Procedures in a Metroplex (OAPM) project. This proposed action re-aligns Q-20 to incorporate the FUSCO waypoint (WP) being relocated .48 nautical miles southwest to match the intersection of Jet routes J-15 and J-183.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before January 13, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on this proposal to the U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001; telephone: (202) 366-9826. You must identify FAA Docket No. FAA-2013-

0951 and Airspace Docket No. 13-ASW-22 at the beginning of your comments. You may also submit comments through the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Colby Abbott, Airspace Policy and ATC Procedures Group, Office of Airspace Services, 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 both docket numbers (FAA Docket No. FAA-2013-0951 and Airspace Docket No. 13-ASW-22) 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-2013-0951 and Airspace Docket No. 13-ASW-22.'' 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 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 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 NPRMs

An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded through the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov.

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 Central Service Center, Operations Support Group, Federal Aviation Administration, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76137.

Persons interested in being placed on a mailing list for future NPRM's should contact the FAA's Office of Rulemaking, (202) 267-9677, for a copy of Advisory Circular No. 11-2A, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Distribution System, which describes the application procedure.

The Proposal

The FAA is proposing an amendment to Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 to modify Q-20 in support of the Houston OAPM project. OAPM is intended to improve air traffic flows within an entire region resulting in increased capacity and fuel efficiency and reduced track distances. Q-20 extends between the Corona, NM, VHF Omnidirectional Range/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) navigation aid and the Junction, TX, VORTAC navigation aid. This action would amend Q-

20 by relocating the FUSCO WP to match the intersection of Jet routes J-15 and J-183, and re-designating FUSCO as a fix. The modification would enable aircraft filed eastbound via J-15, J-183, or Q-20, to file, after FUSCO, direct to a published transition to a Houston Standard Terminal Arrival Route. This would simplify flight plan filing and Flight Management Computer entries; thus, reducing the potential for routing errors.

High altitude RNAV routes are published in paragraph 2006 of FAA Order 7400.9X dated August 7, 2013, and effective September 15, 2013, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The RNAV route listed in this document would be subsequently published in the Order.

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. Therefore, this proposed regulation: (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.

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 proposed regulation is within the scope of that

Page 70901

authority as it would modify the route structure as required to enhance the safe and efficient flow of air traffic in the United States.

Environmental Review

This proposal will be subject to an environmental analysis in accordance with FAA Order 1050.1E, ``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

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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

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2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of FAA Order 7400.9X, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 7, 2013, and effective September 15, 2013, is amended as follows:

   Paragraph 2006 United States Area Navigation Routes.

   * * * * *

   Q-20 CNX, NM to JCT, TX Amended

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   Corona (CNX), NM VORTAC (Lat. 34deg22'01'' N., long. 105deg40'41'' W.)

   HONDS, NM FIX (Lat. 33deg34'00'' N., long. 104deg51'12'' W.)

   UNNOS, NM WP (Lat. 32deg57'00'' N., long. 103deg56'00'' W.)

   FUSCO, TX FIX (Lat. 31deg10'38'' N., long. 101deg19'47'' W.)

   Junction (JCT), TX VORTAC (Lat. 30deg35'53'' N., long. 99deg49'03'' W.)

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   Issued in Washington, DC, on November 19, 2013.

   Gary A. Norek,

   Manager, Airspace Policy and ATC Procedures Group.

   FR Doc. 2013-28503 Filed 11-26-13; 8:45 am

   BILLING CODE 4910-13-P