Operating Limitations at John F. Kennedy International Airport, 65161-65163 [2022-23616]
Download as PDF
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with RULES1
Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 208 / Friday, October 28, 2022 / Rules and Regulations
3. No person can operate an aircraft
other than a helicopter to or from
LaGuardia unless the operator has
received, for that unscheduled
operation, a reservation that is assigned
by the David J. Hurley Air Traffic
Control System Command Center’s
Airport Reservation Office (ARO), or for
unscheduled visual flight rule
operations, received clearance from
ATC. Additional information on
procedures for obtaining a reservation is
available via the internet at https://
www.fly.faa.gov/ecvrs.
4. Three (3) reservations are available
per hour for unscheduled operations at
LaGuardia. The ARO will assign
reservations on a 30-minute basis.
5. The ARO receives and processes all
reservation requests. Reservations are
assigned on a ‘‘first-come, first-served’’
basis, determined as of the time that the
ARO receives the request. A
cancellation of any reservation that will
not be used as assigned is required.
6. Filing a request for a reservation
does not constitute the filing of an
instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan,
as separately required by regulation.
After the reservation is obtained, an IFR
flight plan can be filed. The IFR flight
plan must include the reservation
number in the ‘‘remarks’’ section.
7. Air Traffic Control will
accommodate declared emergencies
without regard to reservations.
Nonemergency flights in direct support
of national security, law enforcement,
military aircraft operations, or public
aircraft operations will be
accommodated above the reservation
limits with the prior approval of the
Vice President, System Operations
Services, Air Traffic Organization.
Procedures for obtaining the appropriate
reservation for such flights are available
via the internet at https://
www.fly.faa.gov/ecvrs.
8. Notwithstanding the limits in
paragraph 4, if the Air Traffic
Organization determines that air traffic
control, weather, and capacity
conditions are favorable and significant
delay is not likely, the FAA can
accommodate additional reservations
over a specific period. Unused operating
authorizations can also be temporarily
made available for unscheduled
operations. Reservations for additional
operations are obtained through the
ARO.
9. Reservations cannot be bought,
sold, or leased.
10. The Vice President, System
Operations Services, in coordination
with the Chief Counsel of the FAA, is
the final decision maker for
determinations under this Order.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
15:57 Oct 27, 2022
Jkt 259001
11. The FAA may modify or withdraw
any provision in this Order on its own
or on application by any carrier for good
cause shown.
C. Enforcement
The FAA may enforce the Order
through an enforcement action seeking
a civil penalty under 49 U.S.C. 46301(a).
The FAA or Department of Justice also
could file a civil action in U.S. District
Court, under 49 U.S.C. 46106 or 46107,
respectively, seeking to enjoin any
carrier from violating the terms of the
Order.
Issued in Washington, DC, on October 26,
2022.
Alyce Hood-Fleming,
Acting Vice President, System Operations
Services.
[FR Doc. 2022–23617 Filed 10–26–22; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 93
[Docket No. FAA–2007–29320]
Operating Limitations at John F.
Kennedy International Airport
Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Extension to order.
AGENCY:
This action extends the Order
Limiting Operations at John F. Kennedy
International Airport (JFK) published on
January 18, 2008, and most recently
extended on September 18, 2020. The
Order remains effective until October
26, 2024.
DATES: This action is effective on
October 28, 2022.
ADDRESSES: Requests may be submitted
by mail to Slot Administration Office,
System Operations Services, AJR–0,
Room 300W, 800 Independence Avenue
SW, Washington, DC 20591, or by email
to: 7-awa-slotadmin@faa.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Al
Meilus, Slot Administration and
Capacity Analysis, FAA ATO System
Operations Services, AJR–G5, Federal
Aviation Administration, 800
Independence Avenue SW, Washington,
DC 20591; telephone (202) 267–2822;
email al.meilus@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
SUMMARY:
Availability of Relevant Documents
You may obtain an electronic copy
using the internet by:
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
65161
(1) Searching the Federal
eRulemaking Portal at
www.regulations.gov;
(2) Visiting the FAA’s Dynamic
Regulatory System website at https://
drs.faa.gov; or
(3) Accessing the Government
Publishing Office’s website at
www.GovInfo.gov.
You also may obtain a copy by
sending a request to the Federal
Aviation Administration, Slot
Administration and Capacity Analysis
Office, AJR–G5, 800 Independence
Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591, or
by calling (202) 267–2822. Make sure to
identify the docket number.
Background
The FAA historically limited the
number of arrivals and departures at JFK
through the implementation of the High
Density Rule (HDR).1 By statute enacted
in April 2000 (Aviation Investment and
Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR–
21)), operations were added at JFK
through provisions permitting
exemptions for new entrant carriers and
flights to small and non-hub airports.2
The HDR’s applicability to JFK
operations terminated as of January 1,
2007.3 With the AIR–21 exemptions and
the HDR phase-out, some air carriers
serving JFK significantly increased their
scheduled operations throughout the
day and retimed existing flights. This
resulted in scheduled demand in peak
hours that exceeded the airport’s
capacity and caused significant
congestion and delay.
In January 2008, the FAA placed
temporary limits on scheduled
operations at JFK to mitigate persistent
congestion and delays at the airport.4
The FAA extended the January 18, 2008,
Order placing temporary limits on
scheduled operations at JFK on October
7, 2009, April 4, 2011, May 14, 2013,
March 26, 2014, May 24, 2016, as
corrected June 21, 2016, September 17,
2018, and on September 18, 2020.5
Under this Order, as amended, the
FAA (1) maintains the current hourly
limits of 81 scheduled operations at JFK
1 33 FR 17896 (Dec. 3, 1968). The FAA codified
the rules for operating at high density traffic
airports in 14 CFR part 93, subpart K. The HDR
required carriers to hold a reservation, which came
to be known as a ‘‘slot,’’ for each takeoff or landing
under instrument flight rules at the high density
traffic airports.
2 Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st
Century (AIR–21), Public Law 106–181 (Apr. 5,
2000), 49 U.S.C. 41715(a)(2).
3 Id.
4 73 FR 3510 (Jan. 18, 2008), as amended by 73
FR 8737 (Feb. 14, 2008).
5 74 FR 51650; 76 FR 18620; 78 FR 28276; 79 FR
16854; 81 FR 32636; 81 FR 40167; 83 FR 46865; and
85 FR 58258.
E:\FR\FM\28OCR1.SGM
28OCR1
65162
Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 208 / Friday, October 28, 2022 / Rules and Regulations
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with RULES1
during the slot-controlled hours; (2)
imposes an 80 percent minimum usage
requirement for Operating
Authorizations (OAs) 6 with defined
exceptions; (3) provides a mechanism
for withdrawal of OAs for FAA
operational reasons; (4) establishes
procedures to allocate withdrawn,
surrendered, or unallocated OAs; and
(5) allows for trades and leases of OAs
for consideration for the duration of the
Order.
The reasons for retaining the Order
have not changed appreciably since its
initial issuance. Despite the dynamic
demand during the 2020–2022 period
due to the COVID–19 pandemic,
demand for access to JFK remains high
and multiple new entrant and other
incumbent airlines have requested new
peak period operations and retiming of
existing flights to higher demand hours.
The FAA has determined that the
operational limitations imposed by this
Order remain necessary. In the Summer
2022 scheduling season, the allocated
slots in the busiest hours were generally
at the limits under this Order. For the
Winter 2022/2023 scheduling season,
the initial requests for historic slots and
retiming of existing slots continue to
show demand is higher than the
scheduling limits in multiple hours.
Notwithstanding the dynamic demand
caused by the COVID–19 pandemic,
without the operational limitations
imposed by the Order, the FAA expects
severe congestion-related delays would
occur at JFK and at other airports
throughout the National Airspace
System (NAS) as flights are added or
retimed into peak periods at JFK. The
FAA will continue to monitor demand,
performance, and runway capacity at
JFK, to determine if changes are
warranted during the effective period of
this Order. The FAA, in coordination
with the Office of the Secretary of
Transportation (OST), will also continue
to consider potential rulemaking to
codify policies for slot-controlled
airports.
Pending Issues
In extending the Orders limiting
operations at JFK and LaGuardia
National Airport (LGA) in 2018, the
FAA noted that receipt of specific
proposals for policy changes that would
necessitate modifications to the Orders.7
Consideration of these issues is ongoing.
In addition, the FAA is reviewing
substantive amendments to the
International Air Transport Association
6 Also
referred to herein as ‘‘slots.’’
discussion of ‘‘Current Issues’’ in 2018 JFK
Order, 83 FR at 46865, and 2018 LGA Order, 83 FR
at 47065.
7 See
VerDate Sep<11>2014
15:57 Oct 27, 2022
Jkt 259001
Worldwide Slot Guidelines (WSG, now
known as the Worldwide Airport Slot
Guidelines or ‘‘WASG’’) and
considering whether to implement
certain changes in the United States.8
Accordingly, the FAA is extending the
expiration date of this Order until
October 26, 2024. This expiration date
coincides with the extended expiration
date for the Order limiting operations at
LGA, as also published elsewhere in the
Federal Register.
The FAA continues to monitor
demand, performance, and runway
capacity at JFK, to determine if changes
are warranted during the effective
period of this Order. The FAA is
working with MITRE’s Center for
Advanced Aviation System
Development on a study analyzing
airport runway configurations and
capacity. The continuation of this study
will investigate projected delays with
alternative demand scenarios, as well as
consider a number of the complexities
associated with JFK operations,
including interaction with other nearby
airports and operational growth
limitations due to the busy airspace
surrounding the New York Area.
The FAA finds that notice and
comment procedures under 5 U.S.C.
553(b) are impracticable, unnecessary,
and contrary to the public interest, as
carriers have planned schedules for the
Winter 2022/2023 scheduling season
and no significant substantive changes
are included in this action. For these
reasons, the FAA also finds that it is
impracticable and contrary to the public
interest to delay the effective date of this
Order under 5 U.S.C. 553(d).
This Order is the equivalent of limited
local rules as referenced in the WSG and
takes precedence over the WSG where
there are differences.9 At JFK, the FAA
follows the WSG in many respects such
as new entrant priority 10 and
consideration of schedule constraints
such as terminal, gate, parking, customs
8 https://www.iata.org/en/policy/slots/slotguidelines/.
9 As previously indicated, the FAA is reviewing
substantive amendments to the WSG adopted in
version 10 (Aug. 1, 2019) and included in the
current WASG, and considering whether to
implement certain changes in the United States.
The FAA continues to generally apply edition 9 of
the WSG (Jan. 1, 2019) to inform its slot
administration decisions at JFK, available at:
www.regulations.gov/document/FAA-2007-293200058.
10 Under current policy and procedures, the FAA
applies the definitions for ‘‘new entrant’’ as set
forth in the WSG edition 9 (Jan. 1, 2019), which is
‘‘an airline requesting a series of slots at an airport
on any day where, if the airline’s request were
accepted, it would hold fewer than 5 slots at that
airport on that day.’’
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
and immigration, curfews, and similar
operational factors.
The Amended Order
The Order, as amended, is recited
below in its entirety.
1. This Order continues the process
for assigning operating authority to
conduct an arrival or a departure at JFK
during the affected hours to any
certificated U.S. air carrier or foreign air
carrier. The FAA will not assign
operating authority under this Order to
any person or entity other than a
certificated U.S. or foreign air carrier
with appropriate economic authority
and with operating authority from FAA
under 14 CFR part 121, 129, or 135. This
Order applies to the following:
a. All U.S. air carriers and foreign air
carriers conducting scheduled
operations at JFK as of the date of this
Order, any U.S. air carrier or foreign air
carrier that operates under the same
designator code as such a carrier, and
any air carrier or foreign-flag carrier that
has or enters into a codeshare agreement
with such a carrier.
b. All U.S. air carriers or foreign air
carriers initiating scheduled or regularly
conducted commercial service to JFK
while this Order is in effect.
c. The Vice President, System
Operations Services, in coordination
with the Chief Counsel of the FAA, is
the final decision maker for
determinations under this Order.
2. This Order governs scheduled
arrivals and departures at JFK from 6
a.m. through 10:59 p.m., Eastern Time,
Sunday through Saturday.
3. This Order took effect on March 30,
2008, and will expire October 26, 2024.
4. Under the authority provided to the
Secretary of Transportation and the
FAA Administrator by 49 U.S.C. 40101,
40103, and 40113, we hereby order that:
a. No U.S. air carrier or foreign air
carrier initiating or conducting
scheduled or regularly conducted
commercial service at JFK may conduct
such operations without an Operating
Authorization assigned by the FAA.
b. Except as otherwise authorized by
the FAA based on historic precedence,
scheduled U.S. air carrier and foreign
air carrier arrivals and departures will
not exceed 81 per hour from 6 a.m.
through 10:59 p.m., Eastern Time.
c. The Administrator may change the
limits if the Administrator determines
that capacity exists to accommodate
additional operations without a
significant increase in delays.
5. For administrative tracking
purposes only, the FAA will assign an
identification number to each Operating
Authorization.
E:\FR\FM\28OCR1.SGM
28OCR1
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with RULES1
Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 208 / Friday, October 28, 2022 / Rules and Regulations
6. A carrier holding an Operating
Authorization may request the
Administrator’s approval to move any
arrival or departure scheduled from 6:00
a.m. through 10:59 p.m. to another half
hour within that period. Except as
provided in paragraph 7, the carrier
must receive the written approval of the
Administrator, or his delegate, prior to
conducting any adjusted arrival or
departure. All requests to move an
allocated Operating Authorization must
be submitted to the FAA Slot
Administration Office, facsimile (202)
267–7277 or email 7-AWA-Slotadmin@
faa.gov, and must come from a
designated representative of the carrier.
If the FAA cannot approve a carrier’s
request to move a scheduled arrival or
departure, the carrier may then apply
for a trade in accordance with paragraph
7.
7. For the duration of this Order, a
carrier may enter into a lease or trade of
an Operating Authorization to another
carrier for any consideration. Notice of
a trade or lease under this paragraph
must be submitted in writing to the FAA
Slot Administration Office, facsimile
(202) 267–7277 or email 7-AWASlotadmin@faa.gov, and must come
from a designated representative of each
carrier. The FAA must confirm and
approve these transactions in writing
prior to the effective date of the
transaction. The FAA will approve
transfers between carriers under the
same marketing control up to five
business days after the actual operation,
but only to accommodate operational
disruptions that occur on the same day
of the scheduled operation. The FAA’s
approval of a trade or lease does not
constitute a commitment by the FAA to
grant the associated historical rights to
any operator in the event that slot
controls continue at JFK after this Order
expires.
8. A carrier may not buy, sell, trade,
or transfer an Operating Authorization,
except as described in paragraph 7.
9. Historical rights to Operating
Authorizations and withdrawal of those
rights due to insufficient usage will be
determined on a seasonal basis and in
accordance with the schedule approved
by the FAA prior to the commencement
of the applicable season.
a. For each day of the week that the
FAA has approved an operating
schedule, any Operating Authorization
not used at least 80% of the time over
the time-frame authorized by the FAA
under this paragraph will be withdrawn
by the FAA for the next applicable
season except:
i. The FAA will treat as used any
Operating Authorization held by a
carrier on Thanksgiving Day, the Friday
VerDate Sep<11>2014
15:57 Oct 27, 2022
Jkt 259001
following Thanksgiving Day, and the
period from December 24 through the
first Saturday in January.
ii. The Administrator of the FAA may
waive the 80% usage requirement in the
event of a highly unusual and
unpredictable condition which is
beyond the control of the carrier and
which affects carrier operations for a
period of five consecutive days or more.
b. Each carrier holding an Operating
Authorization must forward in writing
to the FAA Slot Administration Office a
list of all Operating Authorizations held
by the carrier along with a listing of the
Operating Authorizations and:
i. The dates within each applicable
season it intends to commence and
complete operations.
A. For each winter scheduling season,
the report must be received by the FAA
no later than August 15 during the
preceding summer.
B. For each summer scheduling
season, the report must be received by
the FAA no later than January 15 during
the preceding winter.
ii. The completed operations for each
day of the applicable scheduling season:
A. No later than September 1 for the
summer scheduling season.
B. No later than January 15 for the
winter scheduling season.
iii. The completed operations for each
day of the scheduling season within 30
days after the last day of the applicable
scheduling season.
10. In the event that a carrier
surrenders to the FAA any Operating
Authorization assigned to it under this
Order or if there are unallocated
Operating Authorizations, the FAA will
determine whether the Operating
Authorizations should be reallocated.
The FAA may temporarily allocate an
Operating Authorization at its
discretion. Such temporary allocations
will not be entitled to historical status
for the next applicable scheduling
season under paragraph 9.
11. The FAA considers the following
factors and priorities in allocating
Operating Authorizations, which the
FAA has determined are available for
reallocation—
a. Historical requests for allocation of
an Operating Authorization in the same
time;
b. New entrant status;
c. Retiming of historic Operating
Authorizations;
d. Extension of a seasonal Operating
Authorization to year-round service;
e. The effective period of operation;
f. The extent and regularity of
intended use with priority given to yearround services;
g. The operational impacts of
scheduled demand, including the
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
65163
hourly and half-hour demand and the
mix of arrival and departure flights; and,
h. Airport facility constraints.
Any carrier that is not approved for
allocation of an Operating Authorization
by the FAA may request it be placed on
a waiting list for consideration should
an Operating Authorization in the
requested time become available during
that scheduling season.
12. If the FAA determines that an
involuntary reduction in the number of
allocated Operating Authorizations is
required to meet operational needs,
such as reduced airport capacity, the
FAA will conduct a weighted lottery to
withdraw Operating Authorizations to
meet a reduced hourly or half-hourly
limit for scheduled operations. The FAA
will provide at least 45 days’ notice
unless otherwise required by
operational needs. Any Operating
Authorization that is withdrawn or
temporarily suspended will, if
reallocated, be reallocated to the carrier
from which it was taken, provided that
the carrier continues to operate
scheduled service at JFK.
13. The FAA may enforce this Order
through an enforcement action seeking
a civil penalty under 49 U.S.C. 46301(a).
The FAA or Department of Justice also
could file a civil action in U.S. District
Court, under 49 U.S.C. 46106 or 46107,
respectively, seeking to enjoin any
carrier from violating the terms of this
Order.
14. The FAA may modify or withdraw
any provision in this Order on its own
or on application by any carrier for good
cause shown.
Issued in Washington, DC, on October 26,
2022.
Alyce Hood-Fleming,
Acting Vice President, System Operations
Services.
[FR Doc. 2022–23616 Filed 10–26–22; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
18 CFR Part 343
[Docket No. AD20–10–000]
Standard Applied to Complaints
Against Oil Pipeline Index Rate
Changes
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission.
ACTION: Policy statement.
AGENCY:
In this Policy Statement, the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\28OCR1.SGM
28OCR1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 208 (Friday, October 28, 2022)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 65161-65163]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-23616]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 93
[Docket No. FAA-2007-29320]
Operating Limitations at John F. Kennedy International Airport
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Extension to order.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This action extends the Order Limiting Operations at John F.
Kennedy International Airport (JFK) published on January 18, 2008, and
most recently extended on September 18, 2020. The Order remains
effective until October 26, 2024.
DATES: This action is effective on October 28, 2022.
ADDRESSES: Requests may be submitted by mail to Slot Administration
Office, System Operations Services, AJR-0, Room 300W, 800 Independence
Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591, or by email to: [email protected].
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Al Meilus, Slot Administration and
Capacity Analysis, FAA ATO System Operations Services, AJR-G5, Federal
Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC
20591; telephone (202) 267-2822; email [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Availability of Relevant Documents
You may obtain an electronic copy using the internet by:
(1) Searching the Federal eRulemaking Portal at
www.regulations.gov;
(2) Visiting the FAA's Dynamic Regulatory System website at https://drs.faa.gov; or
(3) Accessing the Government Publishing Office's website at
www.GovInfo.gov.
You also may obtain a copy by sending a request to the Federal
Aviation Administration, Slot Administration and Capacity Analysis
Office, AJR-G5, 800 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591, or by
calling (202) 267-2822. Make sure to identify the docket number.
Background
The FAA historically limited the number of arrivals and departures
at JFK through the implementation of the High Density Rule (HDR).\1\ By
statute enacted in April 2000 (Aviation Investment and Reform Act for
the 21st Century (AIR-21)), operations were added at JFK through
provisions permitting exemptions for new entrant carriers and flights
to small and non-hub airports.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ 33 FR 17896 (Dec. 3, 1968). The FAA codified the rules for
operating at high density traffic airports in 14 CFR part 93,
subpart K. The HDR required carriers to hold a reservation, which
came to be known as a ``slot,'' for each takeoff or landing under
instrument flight rules at the high density traffic airports.
\2\ Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century
(AIR-21), Public Law 106-181 (Apr. 5, 2000), 49 U.S.C. 41715(a)(2).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The HDR's applicability to JFK operations terminated as of January
1, 2007.\3\ With the AIR-21 exemptions and the HDR phase-out, some air
carriers serving JFK significantly increased their scheduled operations
throughout the day and retimed existing flights. This resulted in
scheduled demand in peak hours that exceeded the airport's capacity and
caused significant congestion and delay.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In January 2008, the FAA placed temporary limits on scheduled
operations at JFK to mitigate persistent congestion and delays at the
airport.\4\ The FAA extended the January 18, 2008, Order placing
temporary limits on scheduled operations at JFK on October 7, 2009,
April 4, 2011, May 14, 2013, March 26, 2014, May 24, 2016, as corrected
June 21, 2016, September 17, 2018, and on September 18, 2020.\5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ 73 FR 3510 (Jan. 18, 2008), as amended by 73 FR 8737 (Feb.
14, 2008).
\5\ 74 FR 51650; 76 FR 18620; 78 FR 28276; 79 FR 16854; 81 FR
32636; 81 FR 40167; 83 FR 46865; and 85 FR 58258.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Under this Order, as amended, the FAA (1) maintains the current
hourly limits of 81 scheduled operations at JFK
[[Page 65162]]
during the slot-controlled hours; (2) imposes an 80 percent minimum
usage requirement for Operating Authorizations (OAs) \6\ with defined
exceptions; (3) provides a mechanism for withdrawal of OAs for FAA
operational reasons; (4) establishes procedures to allocate withdrawn,
surrendered, or unallocated OAs; and (5) allows for trades and leases
of OAs for consideration for the duration of the Order.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\6\ Also referred to herein as ``slots.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The reasons for retaining the Order have not changed appreciably
since its initial issuance. Despite the dynamic demand during the 2020-
2022 period due to the COVID-19 pandemic, demand for access to JFK
remains high and multiple new entrant and other incumbent airlines have
requested new peak period operations and retiming of existing flights
to higher demand hours. The FAA has determined that the operational
limitations imposed by this Order remain necessary. In the Summer 2022
scheduling season, the allocated slots in the busiest hours were
generally at the limits under this Order. For the Winter 2022/2023
scheduling season, the initial requests for historic slots and retiming
of existing slots continue to show demand is higher than the scheduling
limits in multiple hours. Notwithstanding the dynamic demand caused by
the COVID-19 pandemic, without the operational limitations imposed by
the Order, the FAA expects severe congestion-related delays would occur
at JFK and at other airports throughout the National Airspace System
(NAS) as flights are added or retimed into peak periods at JFK. The FAA
will continue to monitor demand, performance, and runway capacity at
JFK, to determine if changes are warranted during the effective period
of this Order. The FAA, in coordination with the Office of the
Secretary of Transportation (OST), will also continue to consider
potential rulemaking to codify policies for slot-controlled airports.
Pending Issues
In extending the Orders limiting operations at JFK and LaGuardia
National Airport (LGA) in 2018, the FAA noted that receipt of specific
proposals for policy changes that would necessitate modifications to
the Orders.\7\ Consideration of these issues is ongoing. In addition,
the FAA is reviewing substantive amendments to the International Air
Transport Association Worldwide Slot Guidelines (WSG, now known as the
Worldwide Airport Slot Guidelines or ``WASG'') and considering whether
to implement certain changes in the United States.\8\ Accordingly, the
FAA is extending the expiration date of this Order until October 26,
2024. This expiration date coincides with the extended expiration date
for the Order limiting operations at LGA, as also published elsewhere
in the Federal Register.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\7\ See discussion of ``Current Issues'' in 2018 JFK Order, 83
FR at 46865, and 2018 LGA Order, 83 FR at 47065.
\8\ https://www.iata.org/en/policy/slots/slot-guidelines/.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The FAA continues to monitor demand, performance, and runway
capacity at JFK, to determine if changes are warranted during the
effective period of this Order. The FAA is working with MITRE's Center
for Advanced Aviation System Development on a study analyzing airport
runway configurations and capacity. The continuation of this study will
investigate projected delays with alternative demand scenarios, as well
as consider a number of the complexities associated with JFK
operations, including interaction with other nearby airports and
operational growth limitations due to the busy airspace surrounding the
New York Area.
The FAA finds that notice and comment procedures under 5 U.S.C.
553(b) are impracticable, unnecessary, and contrary to the public
interest, as carriers have planned schedules for the Winter 2022/2023
scheduling season and no significant substantive changes are included
in this action. For these reasons, the FAA also finds that it is
impracticable and contrary to the public interest to delay the
effective date of this Order under 5 U.S.C. 553(d).
This Order is the equivalent of limited local rules as referenced
in the WSG and takes precedence over the WSG where there are
differences.\9\ At JFK, the FAA follows the WSG in many respects such
as new entrant priority \10\ and consideration of schedule constraints
such as terminal, gate, parking, customs and immigration, curfews, and
similar operational factors.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\9\ As previously indicated, the FAA is reviewing substantive
amendments to the WSG adopted in version 10 (Aug. 1, 2019) and
included in the current WASG, and considering whether to implement
certain changes in the United States. The FAA continues to generally
apply edition 9 of the WSG (Jan. 1, 2019) to inform its slot
administration decisions at JFK, available at: www.regulations.gov/document/FAA-2007-29320-0058.
\10\ Under current policy and procedures, the FAA applies the
definitions for ``new entrant'' as set forth in the WSG edition 9
(Jan. 1, 2019), which is ``an airline requesting a series of slots
at an airport on any day where, if the airline's request were
accepted, it would hold fewer than 5 slots at that airport on that
day.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Amended Order
The Order, as amended, is recited below in its entirety.
1. This Order continues the process for assigning operating
authority to conduct an arrival or a departure at JFK during the
affected hours to any certificated U.S. air carrier or foreign air
carrier. The FAA will not assign operating authority under this Order
to any person or entity other than a certificated U.S. or foreign air
carrier with appropriate economic authority and with operating
authority from FAA under 14 CFR part 121, 129, or 135. This Order
applies to the following:
a. All U.S. air carriers and foreign air carriers conducting
scheduled operations at JFK as of the date of this Order, any U.S. air
carrier or foreign air carrier that operates under the same designator
code as such a carrier, and any air carrier or foreign-flag carrier
that has or enters into a codeshare agreement with such a carrier.
b. All U.S. air carriers or foreign air carriers initiating
scheduled or regularly conducted commercial service to JFK while this
Order is in effect.
c. The Vice President, System Operations Services, in coordination
with the Chief Counsel of the FAA, is the final decision maker for
determinations under this Order.
2. This Order governs scheduled arrivals and departures at JFK from
6 a.m. through 10:59 p.m., Eastern Time, Sunday through Saturday.
3. This Order took effect on March 30, 2008, and will expire
October 26, 2024.
4. Under the authority provided to the Secretary of Transportation
and the FAA Administrator by 49 U.S.C. 40101, 40103, and 40113, we
hereby order that:
a. No U.S. air carrier or foreign air carrier initiating or
conducting scheduled or regularly conducted commercial service at JFK
may conduct such operations without an Operating Authorization assigned
by the FAA.
b. Except as otherwise authorized by the FAA based on historic
precedence, scheduled U.S. air carrier and foreign air carrier arrivals
and departures will not exceed 81 per hour from 6 a.m. through 10:59
p.m., Eastern Time.
c. The Administrator may change the limits if the Administrator
determines that capacity exists to accommodate additional operations
without a significant increase in delays.
5. For administrative tracking purposes only, the FAA will assign
an identification number to each Operating Authorization.
[[Page 65163]]
6. A carrier holding an Operating Authorization may request the
Administrator's approval to move any arrival or departure scheduled
from 6:00 a.m. through 10:59 p.m. to another half hour within that
period. Except as provided in paragraph 7, the carrier must receive the
written approval of the Administrator, or his delegate, prior to
conducting any adjusted arrival or departure. All requests to move an
allocated Operating Authorization must be submitted to the FAA Slot
Administration Office, facsimile (202) 267-7277 or email 7-AWA-
[email protected], and must come from a designated representative of
the carrier. If the FAA cannot approve a carrier's request to move a
scheduled arrival or departure, the carrier may then apply for a trade
in accordance with paragraph 7.
7. For the duration of this Order, a carrier may enter into a lease
or trade of an Operating Authorization to another carrier for any
consideration. Notice of a trade or lease under this paragraph must be
submitted in writing to the FAA Slot Administration Office, facsimile
(202) 267-7277 or email [email protected], and must come from a
designated representative of each carrier. The FAA must confirm and
approve these transactions in writing prior to the effective date of
the transaction. The FAA will approve transfers between carriers under
the same marketing control up to five business days after the actual
operation, but only to accommodate operational disruptions that occur
on the same day of the scheduled operation. The FAA's approval of a
trade or lease does not constitute a commitment by the FAA to grant the
associated historical rights to any operator in the event that slot
controls continue at JFK after this Order expires.
8. A carrier may not buy, sell, trade, or transfer an Operating
Authorization, except as described in paragraph 7.
9. Historical rights to Operating Authorizations and withdrawal of
those rights due to insufficient usage will be determined on a seasonal
basis and in accordance with the schedule approved by the FAA prior to
the commencement of the applicable season.
a. For each day of the week that the FAA has approved an operating
schedule, any Operating Authorization not used at least 80% of the time
over the time-frame authorized by the FAA under this paragraph will be
withdrawn by the FAA for the next applicable season except:
i. The FAA will treat as used any Operating Authorization held by a
carrier on Thanksgiving Day, the Friday following Thanksgiving Day, and
the period from December 24 through the first Saturday in January.
ii. The Administrator of the FAA may waive the 80% usage
requirement in the event of a highly unusual and unpredictable
condition which is beyond the control of the carrier and which affects
carrier operations for a period of five consecutive days or more.
b. Each carrier holding an Operating Authorization must forward in
writing to the FAA Slot Administration Office a list of all Operating
Authorizations held by the carrier along with a listing of the
Operating Authorizations and:
i. The dates within each applicable season it intends to commence
and complete operations.
A. For each winter scheduling season, the report must be received
by the FAA no later than August 15 during the preceding summer.
B. For each summer scheduling season, the report must be received
by the FAA no later than January 15 during the preceding winter.
ii. The completed operations for each day of the applicable
scheduling season:
A. No later than September 1 for the summer scheduling season.
B. No later than January 15 for the winter scheduling season.
iii. The completed operations for each day of the scheduling season
within 30 days after the last day of the applicable scheduling season.
10. In the event that a carrier surrenders to the FAA any Operating
Authorization assigned to it under this Order or if there are
unallocated Operating Authorizations, the FAA will determine whether
the Operating Authorizations should be reallocated. The FAA may
temporarily allocate an Operating Authorization at its discretion. Such
temporary allocations will not be entitled to historical status for the
next applicable scheduling season under paragraph 9.
11. The FAA considers the following factors and priorities in
allocating Operating Authorizations, which the FAA has determined are
available for reallocation--
a. Historical requests for allocation of an Operating Authorization
in the same time;
b. New entrant status;
c. Retiming of historic Operating Authorizations;
d. Extension of a seasonal Operating Authorization to year-round
service;
e. The effective period of operation;
f. The extent and regularity of intended use with priority given to
year-round services;
g. The operational impacts of scheduled demand, including the
hourly and half-hour demand and the mix of arrival and departure
flights; and,
h. Airport facility constraints.
Any carrier that is not approved for allocation of an Operating
Authorization by the FAA may request it be placed on a waiting list for
consideration should an Operating Authorization in the requested time
become available during that scheduling season.
12. If the FAA determines that an involuntary reduction in the
number of allocated Operating Authorizations is required to meet
operational needs, such as reduced airport capacity, the FAA will
conduct a weighted lottery to withdraw Operating Authorizations to meet
a reduced hourly or half-hourly limit for scheduled operations. The FAA
will provide at least 45 days' notice unless otherwise required by
operational needs. Any Operating Authorization that is withdrawn or
temporarily suspended will, if reallocated, be reallocated to the
carrier from which it was taken, provided that the carrier continues to
operate scheduled service at JFK.
13. The FAA may enforce this Order through an enforcement action
seeking a civil penalty under 49 U.S.C. 46301(a). The FAA or Department
of Justice also could file a civil action in U.S. District Court, under
49 U.S.C. 46106 or 46107, respectively, seeking to enjoin any carrier
from violating the terms of this Order.
14. The FAA may modify or withdraw any provision in this Order on
its own or on application by any carrier for good cause shown.
Issued in Washington, DC, on October 26, 2022.
Alyce Hood-Fleming,
Acting Vice President, System Operations Services.
[FR Doc. 2022-23616 Filed 10-26-22; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P