Amendment of Air Traffic Service (ATS) Routes in the Vicinity of Grand Rapids, MI, 47557-47558 [2014-19208]

Agencies

• Federal Aviation Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 157 (Thursday, August 14, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 47557-47558]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-19208]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2014-0501; Airspace Docket No. 14-AGL-11]
RIN 2120-AA66


Amendment of Air Traffic Service (ATS) Routes in the Vicinity of 
Grand Rapids, MI

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; technical amendment.

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SUMMARY: This action amends the legal descriptions of Jet Route J-34 
and VHF omnidirectional range (VOR) Federal airways V-274, V-285, and 
V-510, in the vicinity of Grand Rapids, MI. The FAA is taking this 
action because the name of the Grand Rapids, MI, VOR/Distance Measure 
Equipment (VOR/DME) facility, which is included in the descriptions of 
the above routes, is being changed to the Victory VOR/DME.

DATES: Effective Dates: 0901 UTC, November 13, 2014. The Director of 
the Federal Register approves this incorporation by reference action 
under 1 CFR part 51, subject to the annual revision of FAA Order 7400.9 
and publication of conforming amendments.

ADDRESSES: FAA Order 7400.9X, Airspace Designations and Reporting 
Points, and subsequent amendments can be viewed online at https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/. The Order is also available for 
inspection at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). 
For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202-
741-6030, or go to https://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal-regulations/ibr_locations.html.
    FAA Order 7400.9, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, is 
published yearly and effective on September 15. For further 
information, you can contact the Airspace Policy and Regulations Group, 
Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW., 
Washington, DC 20591; telephone: 202-267-8783.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

[[Page 47558]]

Background

    The Gerald R. Ford International Airport, Grand Rapids, MI, is 
located 5.7 miles north of the Grand Rapids VOR/DME. The airport and 
the VOR/DME have the same three-letter identifier (GRR) which has 
caused some safety concerns. In addition to the airport and the VOR/DME 
having the same identifier, pilots and air traffic controllers 
routinely refer to both as ``Grand Rapids.'' Cases have been observed 
where GPS-equipped aircraft have navigated via the GRR airport rather 
than the GRR VOR/DME as expected by air traffic control (ATC), or vice 
versa, as well as ATC instructions issued relative to the airport or 
VOR/DME having been mistaken by pilots as relative to the other. To 
preclude this in the future, the name of the VOR/DME facility is being 
changed to Victory VOR/DME with the new three-letter identifier 
``VIO.''

The Rule

    This action amends Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 
part 71 by amending the legal descriptions of Jet Route J-34 and VOR 
Federal airways V-274, V-285, and V-510 to reflect the name change of 
one of the navigation aids used to define the routes. To eliminate 
confusion, and potential flight safety issues, the Grand Rapids VOR/DME 
is renamed the Victory VOR/DME and is assigned a new three-letter 
identifier (VIO). The VOR/DME name change does not alter the current 
alignment of the affected routes.
    Since this action merely involves editorial changes in the legal 
descriptions of the above ATS routes, and does not involve a change in 
the dimensions or operating requirements of the affected routes, I find 
that notice and public procedures under 5 U.S.C. 553(b) are 
unnecessary.
    The FAA has determined that this regulation only involves an 
established body of technical regulations for which frequent and 
routine amendments are necessary to keep them operationally current. 
Therefore, this regulation: (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 only affects air traffic procedures and air navigation, it is 
certified that this rule, when promulgated, does 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 regulation is within the scope of that authority 
as it revises the legal descriptions of jet routes and VOR Federal 
airways in the vicinity of Grand Rapids, MI, to eliminate pilot 
confusion.
    Jet Routes are published in paragraph 2004 and Domestic VOR Federal 
airways are published in paragraph 6010(a), respectively, 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 domestic Jet Routes 
and VOR Federal airways listed in this document will be published 
subsequently in the Order.

Environmental Review

    The FAA has determined that this action qualifies for categorical 
exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act in accordance 
with FAA Order 1050.1E, Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures, 
paragraph 311a. This airspace action consists of editorial changes only 
and is not expected to cause any potentially significant environmental 
impacts, and no extraordinary circumstances exist that warrant 
preparation of an environmental assessment.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71

    Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).

Adoption of the Amendment

    In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation 
Administration amends 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(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 the Federal 
Aviation Administration Order 7400.9X, Airspace Designations and 
Reporting Points, dated August 7, 2013, and effective September 15, 
2013, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 2004. Jet Routes

* * * * *

J-34 [Amended]

    From Hoquiam, WA; Olympia, WA; Moses Lake, WA; Helena, MT; 
Billings, MT; Dupree, SD; Redwood Falls, MN; Nodine, MN; Dells, WI; 
Badger, WI; Victory, MI; Carleton, MI; Dryer, OH; Bellaire, OH; INT 
Bellaire 133[deg] and Kessel, WV, 276[deg] radials; Kessel; to INT 
Kessel 097[deg] and Armel, VA, 292[deg] radials.

Paragraph 6010(a)--Domestic VOR Federal Airways

* * * * *

V-274 [Amended]

    From Pullman, MI; Victory, MI; to Saginaw, MI.
* * * * *

V-285 [Amended]

    From Brickyard, IN; Kokomo, IN; Goshen, IN; INT Goshen 038[deg] 
and Kalamazoo, MI, 191[deg] radials; Kalamazoo; INT Kalamazoo 
014[deg] and Victory, MI, 167[deg] radials; Victory; White Cloud, 
MI; Manistee, MI; to Traverse City, MI.
* * * * *

V-510 [Amended]

    From Dickinson, ND; INT Dickinson 078[deg] and Bismarck, ND, 
290[deg] radials, 28 miles, 38 MSL, Bismarck; INT Bismarck 067[deg] 
and Jamestown, ND, 279[deg] radials, 14 miles, 65 miles, 34 MSL, 
Jamestown; Fargo, ND; INT Fargo 110[deg] and Alexandria, MN, 
321[deg] radials; Alexandria; INT Alexandria 110[deg] and Gopher, 
MN, 321[deg] radials; Gopher; INT Gopher 109[deg] and Nodine, MN, 
328[deg] radials; Nodine; to Dells, WI. From Oshkosh, WI; Falls, WI; 
INT Falls 114[deg] and Muskegon, MI, 295[deg] radials; Muskegon; INT 
Muskegon 154[deg] and Victory, MI, 284[deg] radials, Victory (7 
miles wide, 3 miles N and 4 miles S of the centerline); Victory; to 
Lansing, MI. From Buffalo, NY; INT Buffalo 045[deg] and Rochester, 
NY, 273[deg] radials; to Rochester.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on August 7, 2014.
Gary A. Norek,
Manager, Airspace Policy and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2014-19208 Filed 8-13-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P