[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 45 (Monday, March 10, 2025)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 11592-11594]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-03759]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2025-0141; Airspace Docket No. 24-AGL-23]
RIN 2120-AA66
Amendment of VOR Federal Airways V-55, V-100, and V-277 in the
Vicinity of Keeler, MI
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: This action proposes to amend Very High Frequency
Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal Airways V-55, V-100, and V-277. The
FAA is proposing this action due to the planned decommissioning of the
VOR portion of the Keeler, MI (ELX), VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment
(VOR/DME) navigational aid (NAVAID). The Keeler VOR is being
decommissioned in support of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network
(MON) program.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 24, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by FAA Docket No. FAA-2025-0141 and
Airspace Docket No. 24-AGL-23 using any of the following methods:
* Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov and follow
the online instructions for sending your comments electronically.
* Mail: Send comments to Docket Operations, M-30; U.S. Department
of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Room W12-140, West
Building Ground Floor, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
* Hand Delivery or Courier: Take comments to Docket Operations in
Room W12-140 of the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey
Avenue SE, Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through
Friday, except Federal holidays.
* Fax: Fax comments to Docket Operations at (202) 493-2251.
Docket: Background documents or comments received may be read at
www.regulations.gov at any time. Follow the online instructions for
accessing the docket or go to the Docket Operations in Room W12-140 of
the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE,
Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays.
FAA Order JO 7400.11J, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points,
and subsequent amendments can be viewed online at www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/. You may also contact the Rules and
Regulations Group, Policy Directorate, Federal Aviation Administration,
600 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20597; telephone: (202) 267-
8783.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Colby Abbott, Rules and Regulations
Group, Policy Directorate, Federal Aviation Administration, 600
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20597; 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 National Airspace System as necessary
to preserve the safe and efficient flow of air traffic.
Comments Invited
The FAA invites interested persons to participate in this
rulemaking by
[[Page 11593]]
submitting written comments, data, or views. Comments are specifically
invited on the overall regulatory, aeronautical, economic,
environmental, and energy-related aspects of the proposal. The most
helpful comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain
the reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. To
ensure the docket does not contain duplicate comments, commenters
should submit only one time if comments are filed electronically, or
commenters should send only one copy of written comments if comments
are filed in writing.
The FAA will file in the docket all comments it receives, as well
as a report summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA
personnel concerning this proposed rulemaking. Before acting on this
proposal, the FAA will consider all comments it receives on or before
the closing date for comments. The FAA will consider comments filed
after the comment period has closed if it is possible to do so without
incurring expense or delay. The FAA may change this proposal in light
of the comments it receives.
Privacy: In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits comments
from the public to better inform its rulemaking process. DOT posts
these comments, without edit, including any personal information the
commenter provides, to www.regulations.gov, as described in the system
of records notice (DOT/ALL-14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at
www.dot.gov/privacy.
Availability of Rulemaking Documents
An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded through the
internet at www.regulations.gov. Recently published rulemaking
documents can also be accessed through the FAA's web page at
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
Operations office (see ADDRESSES section for address, phone number, and
hours of operations). 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.
Incorporation by Reference
VOR Federal Airways are published in paragraph 6010(a) of FAA Order
JO 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, which is
incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 on an annual basis. This
document proposes to amend the current version of that order, FAA Order
JO 7400.11J, dated July 31, 2024, and effective September 15, 2024.
These updates would be published in the next update to FAA Order JO
7400.11. That order is publicly available as listed in the ADDRESSES
section of this document.
FAA Order JO 7400.11J lists Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas,
air traffic service routes, and reporting points.
Background
The FAA is planning to decommission the VOR portion of the Keeler,
MI, VOR/DME in November 2025. The Keeler 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
on July 26, 2016 (81 FR 48694), Docket No. FAA-2011-1082.
Although the VOR portion of the Keeler VOR/DME is planned for
decommissioning, the co-located DME portion of the NAVAID is being
retained to support current and future NextGen PBN flight procedure
requirements.
The VOR Federal Airways affected by the planned decommissioning of
the Keeler VOR are V-55, V-100, and V-277. With the planned
decommissioning of the Keeler 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-55 would result
in one of the two airway segments being shortened and an existing gap
in the airway being expanded; to V-100 would result in one of three
existing airway segments being removed; and to V-277 would result in
the airway being shortened.
To address the proposed amendments to the affected airways,
instrument flight rules (IFR) traffic could use VOR Federal Airways V-
7, V-30, V-84, and V-274 to navigate around the area affected by the
planned decommissioning of the Keeler VOR. Additionally, IFR pilots
with Area Navigation (RNAV)-equipped aircraft could navigate using RNAV
Routes T-215, T-217, and T-265, or point-to-point using the existing
Fixes and waypoints that will remain in place to support continued
operations though the affected area. Visual flight rules pilots who
elect to navigate via the affected airways could also take advantage of
the adjacent airways listed above, as well as the listed RNAV routes
and point-to-point navigation, if properly equipped. Lastly, all
aircraft have the option to request and receive radar vectors from air
traffic control to transit the affected area as well.
The Proposal
The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 by amending VOR
Federal Airways V-55, V-100, and V-277 due to the planned
decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Keeler, MI, VOR/DME NAVAID.
The proposed airway actions are described below.
V-55: V-55 currently extends between the Dayton, OH, VOR/DME and
the Pullman, MI, VOR/DME; and between the Grand Forks, ND, VOR/DME and
the Bismarck, ND, VOR/DME. The FAA proposes to remove the airway
segment between the Gipper, MI, VOR/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC)
and the Pullman VOR/DME. As amended, the airway would be changed to
extend between the Dayton VOR/DME and the Gipper VORTAC and between the
Grand Forks VOR/DME and the Bismarck VOR/DME.
V-100: V-100 currently extends between the Medicine Bow, WY, VOR/
DME and the O'Neill, NE, VORTAC; between the Waterloo, IA, VOR/DME and
the Dubuque, IA, VORTAC; and between the Northbrook, IL, VOR/DME and
the Keeler, MI, VOR/DME. The FAA proposes to remove the airway segment
between the Northbrook VOR/DME and the Keeler VOR/DME. As amended, the
airway would be changed to extend between the Medicine Bow VOR/DME and
the O'Neill VORTAC and between the Waterloo VOR/DME and the Dubuque
VORTAC.
V-277: V-277 currently extends between the Rosewood, OH, VORTAC and
the Keeler, MI, VOR/DME. The FAA proposes to remove the airway segment
between the Fort Wayne, IN, VORTAC and the Keeler VOR/DME. As amended,
the airway would be changed to extend between the Rosewood VORTAC and
the Fort Wayne VORTAC.
The NAVAID radials listed in the V-55 airway description in the
regulatory text of this notice of proposed rulemaking are unchanged and
stated in degrees True north.
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
[[Page 11594]]
keep them operationally current. It, therefore: (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 proposed rule,
when promulgated, would 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 14 CFR part 71 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(f); 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 JO
7400.11J, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated July 31,
2024, and effective September 15, 2024, is amended as follows:
Paragraph 6010(a) Domestic VOR Federal Airways.
* * * * *
V-55 [Amended]
From Dayton, OH; Fort Wayne, IN; Goshen, IN; to Gipper, MI. From
Grand Forks, ND; INT Grand Forks 239[deg] and Bismarck, ND, 067[deg]
radials; to Bismarck.
* * * * *
V-100 [Amended]
From Medicine Bow, WY; Scottsbluff, NE; Alliance, NE; Ainsworth,
NE; to O'Neill, NE. From Waterloo, IA; to Dubuque, IA.
* * * * *
V-277 [Amended]
From Rosewood, OH; to Fort Wayne, IN.
* * * * *
Issued in Washington, DC, on March 4, 2025.
Brian Eric Konie,
Manager (A), Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2025-03759 Filed 3-7-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P