Prohibition Against Certain Flights in the Simferopol (UKFV) and Dnipropetrovsk (UKDV) Flight Information Regions (FIRs), 77857-77862 [2014-30365]

Agencies

• Federal Aviation Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 248 (Monday, December 29, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 77857-77862]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-30365]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 91

[Docket No.: FAA-2014-0225; Amdt. No. 91-331A]
RIN 2120-AK56


Prohibition Against Certain Flights in the Simferopol (UKFV) and 
Dnipropetrovsk (UKDV) Flight Information Regions (FIRs)

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Immediately adopted final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action amends Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) 
No. 113, ``Prohibition Against Certain Flights in the Simferopol (UKFV) 
Flight Information Region (FIR),'' which prohibited certain flight 
operations in a portion of the Simferopol (UKFV) FIR by all U.S. air 
carriers; U.S. commercial operators; persons exercising the privileges 
of a U.S. airman certificate, except when such persons are operating a 
U.S.-registered aircraft for a foreign air carrier; and operators of 
U.S.-registered civil aircraft, except when such operators are foreign 
air carriers. This action expands the area in which flight operations 
by persons subject to SFAR No. 113 are prohibited, to include all of 
the Simferopol (UKFV) FIR, as well as the entire Dnipropetrovsk (UKDV) 
FIR. The FAA finds this action to be necessary to prevent a potential 
hazard to persons and aircraft engaged in such flight operations.

DATES: This final rule is effective on December 29, 2014.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For technical questions concerning 
this action, contact Will Gonzalez, Air Transportation Division, AFS-
220, Flight Standards Service Federal Aviation Administration, 800 
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591; telephone 202-267-8166; 
email will.gonzalez@faa.gov.
    For legal questions concerning this action, contact Robert Frenzel, 
Office of the Chief Counsel, AGC-200, Federal Aviation Administration, 
800 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591; telephone (202) 267-
7638; email robert.frenzel@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Good Cause for Immediate Adoption

    Section 553(b)(3)(B) of title 5, U.S. Code, authorizes agencies to 
dispense with notice and comment procedures for rules when the agency 
for ``good cause'' finds that those procedures are ``impracticable, 
unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest.'' In this instance, 
the FAA finds that notice and public comment to this immediately 
adopted final rule, as well as any delay in the effective date of this 
rule, are contrary to the public interest due to the immediate need to 
address the potential hazard to civil aviation that now exists in the 
Simferopol (UKFV) and Dnepropetrovsk (UKDV) FIRs, as described in the 
Background section of this Notice.

Authority for This Rulemaking

    The FAA is responsible for the safety of flight in the United 
States (U.S.) and for the safety of U.S. civil operators, U.S.-
registered civil aircraft, and U.S.-certificated airmen throughout the 
world. The FAA's authority to issue rules on aviation safety is found 
in title

[[Page 77858]]

49, U.S. Code. Subtitle I, section 106(f), describes the authority of 
the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII of title 49, Aviation Programs, 
describes in more detail the scope of the agency's authority. Section 
40101(d)(1) provides that the Administrator shall consider in the 
public interest, among other matters, assigning, maintaining, and 
enhancing safety and security as the highest priorities in air 
commerce. Section 40105(b)(1)(A) requires the Administrator to exercise 
his authority consistently with the obligations of the U.S. Government 
under international agreements.
    This rulemaking is promulgated under the authority described in 
Subtitle VII, Part A, subpart III, section 44701, General requirements. 
Under that section, the FAA is charged broadly with promoting safe 
flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing, among other 
things, regulations and minimum standards for practices, methods, and 
procedures that the Administrator finds necessary for safety in air 
commerce and national security. This regulation is within the scope of 
that authority, because it prohibits the persons subject to paragraph 
(a) of SFAR No. 113 from conducting flight operations in the entirety 
of the Simferopol (UKFV) and Dnipropetrovsk (UKDV) FIRs due to the 
potential hazard to the safety of such persons' flight operations, as 
described in the ``Background'' section of this document.

I. Overview of Immediately Adopted Final Rule Amending SFAR No. 113

    This action prohibits flight operations in the entirety of the 
Simferopol (UKFV) and Dnipropetrovsk (UKDV) FIRs by all U.S. air 
carriers; U.S. commercial operators; persons exercising the privileges 
of a U.S. airman certificate, except when such persons are operating a 
U.S.-registered aircraft for a foreign air carrier; and operators of 
U.S.-registered civil aircraft, except when such operators are foreign 
air carriers. The FAA finds this action necessary to prevent a 
potential hazard to persons and aircraft engaged in such flight 
operations.

II. Background

    On April 23, 2014, the FAA issued SFAR No. 113, Sec.  91.1607, 
which prohibited flight operations in a portion of the Simferopol 
(UKFV) FIR by all U.S. air carriers; U.S. commercial operators; persons 
exercising the privileges of a U.S. airman certificate, except when 
such persons are operating a U.S.-registered aircraft for a foreign air 
carrier; and operators of U.S.-registered civil aircraft, except when 
such operators are foreign air carriers. On March 28, 2014, the Russian 
Federation had issued a Notice-to-Airmen (NOTAM) purporting to 
establish unilaterally a new FIR, effective April 3, 2014, in a 
significant portion of the Simferopol (UKFV) FIR, which included 
sovereign Ukrainian airspace over the Crimean Peninsula and the 
associated Ukrainian territorial sea, as well as international airspace 
managed by Ukraine over the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. Ukraine 
rejected the Russian Federation's purported establishment of a new FIR 
within the existing Simferopol (UKFV) FIR, established a prohibited 
area over the Crimean Peninsula for flight operations below flight 
level 290, and closed various air traffic services (ATS) route 
segments.
    The Russian Federation responded by issuing a NOTAM that rejected 
and directly conflicted with Ukrainian NOTAMs concerning the 
establishment of the prohibited area and the route segment closures. On 
April 2, 2014, the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO's) 
Regional Director for Europe and the North Atlantic Regions issued a 
state letter to countries and their civil aviation authorities 
highlighting the possible existence of serious risks to the safety of 
international civil flights and recommending that consideration be 
given to implementing measures to avoid the airspace and to 
circumnavigate the Simferopol (UKFV) FIR with alternative routings.
    When SFAR No. 113, Sec.  91.1607, was issued, the FAA viewed the 
possibility of civil aircraft receiving confusing and conflicting air 
traffic control instructions from both Ukrainian and Russian ATS 
providers when operating in the portion of the Simferopol (UKFV) FIR 
covered by SFAR No. 113, Sec.  91.1607, as an unsafe condition that 
presented a potential hazard to civil flight operations in the disputed 
airspace. Because political and military tensions between Ukraine and 
the Russian Federation remained high, the FAA was also concerned that 
compliance with air traffic control instructions issued by the 
authorities of one country could result in a civil aircraft being 
misidentified as a threat and intercepted or otherwise engaged by air 
defense forces of the other country. The FAA continues to have these 
concerns.
    The FAA is now expanding SFAR No. 113, Sec.  91.1607, due to safety 
and national security concerns regarding flight operations in the 
Simferopol (UKFV) and Dnipropetrovsk (UKDV) FIRs. The ongoing conflict 
in the region poses a significant threat to civil aviation operations 
in these FIRs. In addition to a series of attacks on fixed-wing and 
rotary-wing military aircraft flying at lower altitudes, a Ukrainian 
An-26 flying at 21,000 feet southeast of Luhansk was shot down on July 
14, 2014, and a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 was shot down on July 17, 
2014, while flying over Ukraine at 33,000 feet just west of the Russian 
border. Approximately 290 passengers and crew perished. The use of 
weapons capable of targeting and shooting down aircraft flying on civil 
air routes at cruising altitudes poses a significantly dangerous threat 
to civil aircraft flying in the Simferopol (UKFV) and Dnipropetrovsk 
(UKDV) FIRs.
    In response to this situation, the FAA issued a NOTAM on July 18, 
2014 (UTC), to prohibit operations within the Simferopol (UKFV) and 
Dnipropetrovsk (UKDV) FIRs by all U.S. air carriers; U.S. commercial 
operators; persons exercising the privileges of a U.S. airman 
certificate, except when such persons are operating a U.S.-registered 
aircraft for a foreign air carrier; and operators of U.S.-registered 
civil aircraft, except when such operators are foreign air carriers. 
Given the uncertainty about when the conflict in the region will end, 
this amendment follows up on that action.
    The FAA will continue to actively evaluate the area and the 
airports in the region to determine to what extent U.S. civil operators 
may be able to safely operate in the region. Amendments to the SFAR may 
be appropriate if the risk to aviation safety and security changes. The 
FAA may amend or rescind the SFAR as necessary prior to its expiration 
date. This amendment also makes a few technical corrections to SFAR No. 
113, Sec.  91.1607.
    Because the circumstances described herein warrant immediate action 
by the FAA, I find that notice and public comment under 5 U.S.C. 
553(b)(3)(B) are impracticable and contrary to the public interest. 
However, we will accept any comments regarding the impact of this 
action for consideration in any future rulemaking action to amend or 
rescind this SFAR. Further, I find that good cause exists under 5 
U.S.C. 553(d) for making this rule effective immediately upon issuance. 
I also find that this action is fully consistent with the obligations 
under 49 U.S.C. 40105 to ensure that I exercise my duties consistently 
with the obligations of the United States under international 
agreements.

[[Page 77859]]

Approval Based on Authorization Request of an Agency of the United 
States Government

    On April 23, 2014, the FAA put an approval process in place as part 
of SFAR No. 113, Sec.  91.1607. In this rule, the approval process has 
been expanded to address flight operations by persons covered by SFAR 
No. 113, Sec.  91.1607, in the entirety of the Simferopol (UKFV) and 
Dnipropetrovsk (UKDV) FIRs. If a department, agency, or instrumentality 
of the U.S. Government determines that it has a critical need to engage 
any person covered under SFAR No. 113, Sec.  91.1607, including a U.S. 
air carrier or a U.S. commercial operator, to conduct a charter to 
transport civilian or military passengers or cargo in the Simferopol 
(UKFV) FIR and/or the Dnipropetrovsk (UKDV) FIR, that department, 
agency, or instrumentality may request the FAA to approve persons 
covered under SFAR No. 113, Sec.  91.1607, to conduct such operations. 
An approval request must be made to the FAA in a letter signed by an 
appropriate senior official of the requesting department, agency, or 
instrumentality of the U.S. Government. The letter must be sent to the 
Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety (AVS-1), Federal Aviation 
Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591. 
Electronic submissions are acceptable, and the requesting entity may 
request that the FAA notify it electronically as to whether the 
approval request is granted. If a requestor wishes to make an 
electronic submission to the FAA, the requestor should contact the Air 
Transportation Division, Flight Standards Service, at (202) 267-8166, 
to obtain the appropriate email address. A single letter may request 
approval from the FAA for multiple persons covered under SFAR No. 113, 
Sec.  91.1607, and/or for multiple flight operations. To the extent 
known, the letter must identify the person(s) expected to be covered 
under the SFAR on whose behalf the U.S. Government department, agency, 
or instrumentality is seeking FAA approval, and it must describe--
     The proposed operation(s), including the nature of the 
mission being supported;
     The service to be provided by the person(s) covered by the 
SFAR;
     To the extent known, the specific locations within the 
Simferopol (UKFV) FIR and/or the Dnipropetrovsk (UKDV) FIR covered by 
this SFAR where the proposed operation(s) will be conducted; and
     The method by which the department, agency, or 
instrumentality will provide, or how the operator will otherwise 
obtain, current threat information and an explanation of how the 
operator will integrate this information into all phases of its 
proposed operations (e.g., pre-mission planning and briefing, in-
flight, and post-flight).
    The request for approval must also include a list of operators with 
whom the U.S. Government department, agency, or instrumentality 
requesting FAA approval has a current contract(s), grant(s), or 
cooperative agreement(s) (or with whom its prime contractor has a 
subcontract(s)) for specific flight operations in the Simferopol (UKFV) 
FIR and/or the Dnipropetrovsk (UKDV) FIR. Additional such operators may 
be identified to the FAA at any time after the FAA approval is issued. 
Updated lists should be sent to the email address to be obtained from 
the Air Transportation Division, (202) 267-8166.
    If an approval request includes classified information, requestors 
may contact Aviation Safety Inspector Will Gonzalez for instructions on 
submitting it to the FAA. His contact information is listed in the 
``For Further Information Contact'' section of this final rule.
    FAA approval of an operation under SFAR No. 113, Sec.  91.1607, 
does not relieve persons subject to this SFAR of their responsibility 
to comply with all applicable FAA rules and regulations. Operators of 
civil aircraft will have to comply with the conditions of their 
certificate and Operations Specifications (OpSpecs). Operators will 
also have to comply with all rules and regulations of other U.S. 
Government departments or agencies that may apply to the proposed 
operation, including, but not limited to, the Transportation Security 
Regulations issued by the Transportation Security Administration, 
Department of Homeland Security.

Approval Conditions

    On April 23, 2014, the FAA put approval conditions in place as part 
of SFAR No. 113, Sec.  91.1607. The approval conditions will now apply 
to flight operations conducted by persons covered by SFAR No. 113, 
Sec.  91.1607, in the entirety of the Simferopol (UKFV) and 
Dnipropetrovsk (UKDV) FIRs. If the FAA approves the request, the FAA's 
Aviation Safety Organization (AVS) will send an approval letter to the 
requesting department, agency, or instrumentality informing it that the 
FAA's approval is subject to all of the following conditions:
    (1) The approval will stipulate those procedures and conditions 
that limit, to the greatest degree possible, the risk to the operator, 
while still allowing the operator to achieve its operational 
objectives.
    (2) The approval will specify that the operation is not eligible 
for coverage under a premium war risk insurance policy issued by the 
FAA under chapter 443 of title 49, U.S. Code.\1\
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    \1\ If and when, in connection with an operator's contract with 
a department, agency, or instrumentality of the U.S. Government, an 
operation is covered by a non-premium war risk insurance policy 
issued by FAA under 49 U.S.C. 44305, coverage under that operator's 
FAA premium war risk insurance policy is suspended as a condition 
contained in that premium policy.
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    (3) If the proposed operation would have been covered by a premium 
war risk insurance policy issued by the FAA under chapter 443 of title 
49, U.S. Code, but for SFAR No. 113, Sec.  91.1607, the FAA will issue 
an endorsement to that premium policy that specifically excludes 
coverage for any operations into, out of, within, or through the 
Simferopol (UKFV) and Dnipropetrovsk (UKDV) FIRs, including operations 
under a flight plan that contemplates landing in or taking off from 
Ukrainian territory within those two FIRs. The endorsement to the 
premium policy will take effect before the approval's effective date. 
The exclusion specified in the endorsement will remain in effect as 
long as this SFAR remains in effect, notwithstanding the issuance of 
any approval under, or exemption from, this SFAR (the chapter 443 
premium policy refers to such approval as a ``waiver'' and such 
exemption as an ``exclusion'').
    (4) Before any approval takes effect, the operator must submit to 
the FAA a written release of the U.S. Government (including but not 
limited to the United States of America, as Insurer) from all damages, 
claims, and liabilities, including without limitation legal fees and 
expenses, and the operator's agreement to indemnify the U.S. Government 
(including but not limited to the United States of America, as Insurer) 
with respect to any and all third-party damages, claims, and 
liabilities, including without limitation legal fees and expenses, 
relating to any event arising from or related to the approved 
operations in the Simferopol (UKFV) FIR and/or Dnipropetrovsk (UKDV) 
FIR. The release and agreement to indemnify do not preclude an operator 
from raising a claim under an applicable non-premium war risk insurance 
policy issued by the FAA under chapter 443.
    (5) Other conditions that the FAA may specify, including those that 
may be imposed in OpSpecs.
    If the proposed operation or operations are approved, the FAA will 
issue OpSpecs to the certificate holder

[[Page 77860]]

authorizing these operations and will notify a department, agency, or 
instrumentality that requests FAA approval of civil flight operations 
to be conducted by one or more persons described in paragraph (a) of 
SFAR No. 113, Sec.  91.1607, of any additional conditions beyond those 
contained in the approval letter, if the operations are approved. The 
requesting department, agency, or instrumentality must have a contract, 
grant, or cooperative agreement (or its prime contractor must have a 
subcontract) with the person(s) described in paragraph (a) of SFAR No. 
113, Sec.  91.1607, on whose behalf the department, agency, or 
instrumentality requests FAA approval.
Request for Exemptions
    The FAA included a section about requests for exemption when it 
issued SFAR No. 113, Sec.  91.1607, on April 23, 2014. The section 
concerning requests for exemption has been expanded to address flight 
operations by persons covered by SFAR No. 113, Sec.  91.1607, in both 
the Simferopol (UKFV) and the Dnipropetrovsk (UKDV) FIRs. Any 
operations not conducted under the approval process set forth above 
must be conducted under an exemption from SFAR No. 113, Sec.  91.1607. 
A request by any person covered under SFAR No. 113, Sec.  91.1607, for 
an exemption must comply with 14 CFR part 11, and will require 
exceptional circumstances beyond those contemplated by the approval 
process set forth above. In addition to the information required by 14 
CFR Sec.  11.81, at a minimum, the requestor must describe in its 
submission to the FAA--
     The proposed operation(s), including the nature of the 
operation;
     The service to be provided by the person(s) covered by the 
SFAR;
     The specific locations within the Simferopol (UKFV) FIR 
and/or the Dnipropetrovsk (UKDV) FIR where the proposed operation(s) 
will be conducted; and
     The method by which the operator will obtain current 
threat information, and an explanation of how the operator will 
integrate this information into all phases of its proposed operations 
(e.g., the pre-mission planning and briefing, in-flight, and post-
flight phases).
    Additionally, FAA's endorsement of any premium war risk insurance 
policy issued under chapter 443 of title 49, U.S. Code, and the release 
and agreement to indemnify, all as referred to above, will be required 
as a condition of any exemption that may be issued under SFAR No. 113, 
Sec.  91.1607.
    The FAA recognizes that operations that may be affected by SFAR No. 
113, Sec.  91.1607, including this amendment, may be planned for the 
governments of other countries with the support of the U.S. Government. 
While these operations will not be permitted through the approval 
process, the FAA will process exemption requests for such operations on 
an expedited basis and prior to any private exemption requests.

III. Regulatory Evaluation, Regulatory Flexibility Determination, 
International Trade Impact Assessment, and Unfunded Mandates Assessment

    Changes to Federal regulations must undergo several economic 
analyses. First, Executive Order 12866 and Executive Order 13563 direct 
that each Federal agency shall propose or adopt a regulation only upon 
a reasoned determination that the benefits of the intended regulation 
justify its costs. Second, the Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (Pub. 
L. 96-354), as codified in 5 U.S.C. 603, requires agencies to analyze 
the economic impact of regulatory changes on small entities. Third, the 
Trade Agreements Act of 1979 (Pub. L. 96-39), as codified in 19 U.S.C. 
2532, prohibits agencies from setting standards that create unnecessary 
obstacles to the foreign commerce of the United States. In developing 
U.S. standards, the Trade Agreements Act requires agencies to consider 
international standards and, where appropriate, that they be the basis 
of U.S. standards. Fourth, the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 
(Pub. L. 104-4), as codified in 2 U.S.C. 1532, requires agencies to 
prepare a written assessment of the costs, benefits, and other effects 
of proposed or final rules that include a Federal mandate likely to 
result in the expenditure by State, local, or tribal governments, in 
the aggregate, or by the private sector, of $100 million or more 
annually (adjusted for inflation with base year of 1995). This portion 
of the preamble summarizes the FAA's analysis of the economic impacts 
of this final rule.
    Department of Transportation (DOT) Order 2100.5 prescribes policies 
and procedures for simplification, analysis, and review of regulations. 
If the expected cost impact is so minimal that a proposed or final rule 
does not warrant a full evaluation, this order permits that a statement 
to that effect and the basis for it to be included in the preamble if a 
full regulatory evaluation of the cost and benefits is not prepared. 
Such a determination has been made for this final rule. The reasoning 
for this determination follows:
    This rule prohibits flights in both the Simferopol (UKFV) and 
Dnipropetrovsk (UKDV) FIRs due to the significant hazards to civil 
aviation described in the Background section of this preamble. The 
alternative flight routes result in some additional fuel and operations 
costs to the operators, as well as some costs attributed to passenger 
time. However, no U.S. operators are now operating in the portion of 
the Simferopol (UKFV) FIR for which flight operations have already been 
prohibited by SFAR No. 113. Moreover, almost all U.S. operators had 
already voluntarily ceased their operations in these two FIRs prior to 
the issuance of the FAA NOTAM on July 18, 2014 (UTC), because of the 
significant hazards involved. Accordingly, the incremental costs of 
this proposed amendment to SFAR No. 113 are minimal. By prohibiting 
unsafe flights, the benefits of this rule will exceed the minimal 
flight deviation costs.
    In conducting these analyses, FAA has determined this final rule is 
a ``significant regulatory action,'' as defined in section 3(f) of 
Executive Order 12866, because it raises novel policy issues 
contemplated under that Executive Order. The rule is also 
``significant'' as defined in DOT's Regulatory Policies and Procedures. 
The final rule, if adopted, will not have a significant economic impact 
on a substantial number of small entities, will not create unnecessary 
obstacles to international trade and will not impose an unfunded 
mandate on state, local, or tribal governments, or on the private 
sector.

A. Regulatory Flexibility Analysis

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (Public Law 96-354, ``RFA'') 
establishes ``as a principle of regulatory issuance that agencies shall 
endeavor, consistent with the objectives of the rule and of applicable 
statutes, to fit regulatory and informational requirements to the scale 
of the businesses, organizations, and governmental jurisdictions 
subject to regulation. To achieve this principle, agencies are required 
to solicit and consider flexible regulatory proposals and to explain 
the rationale for their actions to assure that such proposals are given 
serious consideration.'' The RFA covers a wide-range of small entities, 
including small businesses, not-for-profit organizations, and small 
governmental jurisdictions.
    Agencies must perform a review to determine whether a rule will 
have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities. If the agency determines that it will, the agency must 
prepare a regulatory flexibility analysis as described in the RFA.

[[Page 77861]]

    However, if an agency determines that a rule is not expected to 
have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities, section 605(b) of the RFA provides that the head of the 
agency may so certify and a regulatory flexibility analysis is not 
required. The certification must include a statement providing the 
factual basis for this determination, and the reasoning should be 
clear.
    U.S. certificate holders affected by this final rule are 
predominately large passenger and all-cargo carriers. There are some 
small entity operators flying under U.S. government contract and some 
operators providing flights that support oil operations that the FAA 
anticipates will also be affected. Many of these operations are 
conducted by small entities, but due to the immediacy of the potential 
harm to U.S. certificate holders, their passengers, crew, and cargo, 
there is not a sufficient amount of time to ascertain exact numbers. 
There are likely to be enough such operators to be considered a 
substantial number of small entities. The incremental costs of this 
amendment are minimal because operators have largely stopped overflying 
this area voluntarily.
    Therefore, as provided in section 605(b), the head of the FAA 
certifies that this rulemaking will not result in a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.

B. International Trade Impact Assessment

    The Trade Agreements Act of 1979 (Pub. L. 96-39), as amended by the 
Uruguay Round Agreements Act (Pub. L. 103-465), prohibits Federal 
agencies from establishing standards or engaging in related activities 
that create unnecessary obstacles to the foreign commerce of the United 
States. Pursuant to these Acts, the establishment of standards is not 
considered an unnecessary obstacle to the foreign commerce of the 
United States, so long as the standard has a legitimate domestic 
objective, such as the protection of safety, and does not operate in a 
manner that excludes imports that meet this objective. The statute also 
requires consideration of international standards and, where 
appropriate, that they be the basis for U.S. standards. The FAA has 
assessed the potential effect of this final rule and determined that 
its purpose is to protect the safety of U.S. civil aviation from a 
potential hazard outside the U.S. Therefore, the rule is in compliance 
with the Trade Agreements Act.

C. Unfunded Mandates Assessment

    Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-
4) requires each Federal agency to prepare a written statement 
assessing the effects of any Federal mandate in a proposed or final 
agency rule that may result in an expenditure of $100 million or more 
(in 1995 dollars) in any one year by State, local, and tribal 
governments, in the aggregate, or by the private sector; such a mandate 
is deemed to be a ``significant regulatory action.'' The FAA currently 
uses an inflation-adjusted value of $151.0 million in lieu of $100 
million. This final rule does not contain such a mandate; therefore, 
the requirements of Title II of the Act do not apply.

D. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3507(d)) requires 
that the FAA consider the impact of paperwork and other information 
collection burdens imposed on the public. The FAA has determined that 
there is no new requirement for information collection associated with 
this immediately adopted final rule.

E. International Compatibility and Cooperation

    In keeping with U.S. obligations under the Convention on 
International Civil Aviation (the ``Chicago Convention''), it is FAA 
policy to conform to ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices to the 
maximum extent practicable. The FAA has determined that there are no 
ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices that correspond to these 
proposed regulations.

F. Environmental Analysis

    FAA Order 1050.1E identifies FAA actions that are categorically 
excluded from preparation of an environmental assessment or 
environmental impact statement under the National Environmental Policy 
Act (``NEPA'') in the absence of extraordinary circumstances. The FAA 
has determined this rulemaking action qualifies for the categorical 
exclusion identified in paragraph 312(f) and involves no extraordinary 
circumstances.
    The FAA has reviewed the implementation of the proposed SFAR and 
determined it is categorically excluded from further environmental 
review according to FAA Order 1050.1E, ``Environmental Impacts: 
Policies and Procedures,'' paragraph 312(f). The FAA has examined 
possible extraordinary circumstances and determined that no such 
circumstances exist. After careful and thorough consideration of the 
proposed action, the FAA finds that the Federal action does not require 
preparation of an EA or EIS in accordance with the requirements of 
NEPA, Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations, and FAA Order 
1050.1E.

IV. Executive Order Determinations

A. Executive Order 13132, ``Federalism''

    The FAA has analyzed this immediately adopted final rule under the 
principles and criteria of Executive Order 13132, ``Federalism.'' The 
agency determined that this action will not have a substantial direct 
effect on the States, or the relationship between the Federal 
Government and the States, or on the distribution of power and 
responsibilities among the various levels of government, and, 
therefore, does not have Federalism implications.

B. Executive Order 13211, Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy 
Supply, Distribution, or Use

    The FAA analyzed this immediately adopted final rule under 
Executive Order 13211, ``Actions Concerning Regulations that 
Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use'' (May 18, 
2001). The agency has determined that it is not a ``significant energy 
action'' under the executive order and it is not likely to have a 
significant adverse effect on the supply, distribution, or use of 
energy.

C. Executive Order 13609, Promoting International Regulatory 
Cooperation

    Executive Order 13609, Promoting International Regulatory 
Cooperation, promotes international regulatory cooperation to meet 
shared challenges involving health, safety, labor, security, 
environmental, and other issues and to reduce, eliminate, or prevent 
unnecessary differences in regulatory requirements. The FAA has 
analyzed this action under the policies and agency responsibilities of 
Executive Order 13609, and has determined that this action would have 
no effect on international regulatory cooperation.

V. How To Obtain Additional Information

A. Rulemaking Documents

    An electronic copy of a rulemaking document may be obtained by 
using the Internet--
    1. Search the Federal Document Management System (FDMS) Portal 
(https://www.regulations.gov);
    2. Visit the FAA's Regulations and Policies Web page at https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/ or

[[Page 77862]]

    3. Access the Government Printing Office's Web page at: https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/.
    Copies may also be obtained by sending a request (identified by 
notice, amendment, or docket number of this rulemaking) to the Federal 
Aviation Administration, Office of Rulemaking, ARM-1, 800 Independence 
Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591, or by calling (202) 267-9680.

B. Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act

    The Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 
(SBREFA) requires FAA to comply with small entity requests for 
information or advice about compliance with statutes and regulations 
within its jurisdiction. A small entity with questions regarding this 
document may contact its local FAA official, or the person listed under 
the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section at the beginning of the 
preamble. To find out more about SBREFA on the Internet, visit: https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/rulemaking/sbre_act/.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 91

    Air traffic control, Aircraft, Airmen, Airports, Aviation safety, 
Freight, Ukraine.

The Amendment

    In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation 
Administration amends chapter I of Title 14, Code of Federal 
Regulations as follows:

PART 91--GENERAL OPERATING AND FLIGHT RULES

0
1. The authority citation for part 91 is revised to read as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(f), 106(g), 1155, 40101, 40103, 40105, 
40113, 40120, 44101, 44111, 44701, 44704, 44709, 44711, 44712, 
44715, 44716, 44717, 44722, 46306, 46315, 46316, 46504, 46506-46507, 
47122, 47508, 47528-47531, 47534, articles 12 and 29 of the 
Convention on International Civil Aviation (61 Stat. 1180), (126 
Stat. 11).


0
2. Revise Sec.  91.1607 to read as follows:


Sec.  91.1607  Special Federal Aviation Regulation No. 113--Prohibition 
Against Certain Flights in the Simferopol (UKFV) and the Dnipropetrovsk 
(UKDV) Flight Information Regions (FIRs).

    (a) Applicability. This Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) 
applies to the following persons:
    (1) All U.S. air carriers and U.S. commercial operators;
    (2) All persons exercising the privileges of an airman certificate 
issued by the FAA, except such persons operating U.S.-registered 
aircraft for a foreign air carrier; and
    (3) All operators of U.S.-registered civil aircraft, except where 
the operator of such aircraft is a foreign air carrier.
    (b) Flight prohibition. Except as provided in paragraphs (c) and 
(d) of this section, no person described in paragraph (a) of this 
section may conduct flight operations in the Simferopol (UKFV) FIR or 
the Dnipropetrovsk (UKDV) FIR.
    (c) Permitted operations. This section does not prohibit persons 
described in paragraph (a) of this section from conducting flight 
operations in either or both of the Simferopol (UKFV) and the 
Dnipropetrovsk (UKDV) FIRs, provided that such flight operations are 
conducted under a contract, grant, or cooperative agreement with a 
department, agency, or instrumentality of the U.S. government (or under 
a subcontract between the prime contractor of the department, agency, 
or instrumentality, and the person subject to paragraph (a)), with the 
approval of the FAA, or under an exemption issued by the FAA. The FAA 
will process requests for approval or exemption in a timely manner, 
with the order of preference being: First, for those operations in 
support of U.S. government-sponsored activities; second, for those 
operations in support of government-sponsored activities of a foreign 
country with the support of a U.S. government department, agency, or 
instrumentality; and third, for all other operations.
    (d) Emergency situations. In an emergency that requires immediate 
decision and action for the safety of the flight, the pilot in command 
of an aircraft may deviate from this section to the extent required by 
that emergency. Except for U.S. air carriers and commercial operators 
that are subject to the requirements of 14 CFR parts 119, 121, 125, or 
135, each person who deviates from this section must, within 10 days of 
the deviation, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal holidays, 
submit to the nearest FAA Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) a 
complete report of the operations of the aircraft involved in the 
deviation, including a description of the deviation and the reasons for 
it.
    (e) Expiration. This SFAR will remain in effect until October 27, 
2015. The FAA may amend, rescind, or extend this SFAR as necessary.

    Issued under authority provided by 49 U.S.C. 106(f), 
40101(d)(1), 40105(b)(1)(A), and 44701(a)(5), in Washington, DC, on 
December 19, 2014.
Michael P. Huerta,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2014-30365 Filed 12-24-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P