Amendment of VOR Federal Airway V-233 and Revocation of VOR Federal Airway V-320 Due to the Decommissioning of the Mount Pleasant, MI, VOR, 34457-34458 [2023-11375]

Agencies

• Federal Aviation Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 103 (Tuesday, May 30, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 34457-34458]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-11375]


========================================================================
Proposed Rules
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.

========================================================================


Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 103 / Tuesday, May 30, 2023 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 34457]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2023-1203; Airspace Docket No. 23-AGL-12]
RIN 2120-AA66


Amendment of VOR Federal Airway V-233 and Revocation of VOR 
Federal Airway V-320 Due to the Decommissioning of the Mount Pleasant, 
MI, VOR

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This action proposes to amend Very High Frequency (VHF) 
Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airway V-233 and revoke VOR Federal 
airway V-320. The FAA is proposing this action due to the planned 
decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Mount Pleasant, MI (MOP), 
VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) navigational aid (NAVAID). 
The Mount Pleasant VOR is being decommissioned in support of the FAA's 
VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 14, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by FAA Docket No. FAA-2023-1203 and 
Airspace Docket No. 23-AGL-12 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 7400.11G, 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, Office of Policy, Federal Aviation Administration, 
800 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267-
8783.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Colby Abbott, Rules and Regulations 
Group, Office of Policy, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; 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 (NAS) 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 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.

[[Page 34458]]

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 7400.11G, dated August 19, 2022, and effective September 15, 2022. 
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 7400.11G 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 Mount 
Pleasant, MI (MOP), VOR/DME in March 2024. The Mount Pleasant VOR was 
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 of July 26, 2016 (81 FR 
48694), Docket No. FAA-2011-1082.
    Although the VOR portion of the Mount Pleasant 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 Air Traffic Service (ATS) routes affected by the Mount Pleasant 
VOR decommissioning are VOR Federal airways V-233 and V-320. The 
remaining ground-based NAVAID coverage in the area is insufficient to 
enable the continuity of the airways within the affected area. As such, 
the FAA proposes to remove the affected portion of V-233 and expand the 
existing gap in the airway, and to revoke V-320 in its entirety.
    To address the proposed removal of the affected airway segment of 
V-233 and the revocation of V-320, instrument flight rules traffic 
could use adjacent VOR Federal airways V-78, V-133, V-420, and V-609, 
or receive air traffic control (ATC) radar vectors to fly through or 
around the affected area. Aircraft equipped with Area Navigation (RNAV) 
capabilities could also use RNAV route T-265 or file point to point 
through the affected area using the fixes and waypoints that will 
remain in place. Visual flight rules pilots who elect to navigate via 
the affected ATS routes could also take advantage of the adjacent VOR 
Federal airways or ATC services listed previously.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 by amending VOR 
Federal airway V-233 and revoking VOR Federal airway V-320 due to the 
planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Mount Pleasant, MI, 
VOR/DME. The proposed airway actions are described below.
    V-233: V-233 currently extends between the Spinner, IL, VOR/
Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) and the Goshen, IN, VORTAC; and 
between the Mount Pleasant, MI, VOR/DME and the Pellston, MI, VORTAC. 
The FAA proposes to remove the airway segment overlying the Mount 
Pleasant VOR/DME between the Mount Pleasant VOR/DME and the Gaylord, 
MI, VOR/DME. As amended, the airway would extend between the Spinner 
VORTAC and the Goshen VORTAC, and between the Gaylord VOR/DME and the 
Pellston VORTAC.
    V-320: V-320 currently extends between the Pellston, MI, VORTAC and 
the Saginaw, MI, VOR/DME. The FAA proposes to remove the airway segment 
overlying the Mount Pleasant, MI, VOR/DME between the Traverse City, 
MI, VOR/DME and the Saginaw VOR/DME. Additionally, the FAA proposes to 
remove the airway segment between the Pellston VORTAC and the Traverse 
City VOR/DME as it overlays the same airway segment as V-193. As a 
result, the airway would be removed in its entirety.
    The NAVAID radials in the VOR Federal airway V-233 description in 
the Proposed Amendment section below 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 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, will 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), 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 FAA Order 7400.11G, 
Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 19, 2022, and 
effective September 15, 2022, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6010(a) Domestic VOR Federal Airways.

* * * * *

V-233 [Amended]

    From Spinner, IL; INT Spinner 061[deg] and Roberts, IL, 233[deg] 
radials; Roberts; Knox, IN; to Goshen, IN. From Gaylord, MI; to 
Pellston, MI.
* * * * *

V-320 [Removed]

* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on May 17, 2023.
Brian Konie,
Acting Manager, Airspace Rules and Regulations.
[FR Doc. 2023-11375 Filed 5-26-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P