Department of Transportation June 29, 2020 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This final rule amends the regulatory relief originally provided in the Relief for Certain Persons and Operations during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) final rule. Other than relief for medical certificate duration, the relief in this final rule applies to a new population of airmen and does not extend the relief provided in the original Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR). The amended relief applies to new persons who may have challenges complying with certain training, recent experience, testing, and checking requirements. This relief allows operators to continue to use pilots and other crewmembers in support of essential operations during this extended period. This SFAR also provides regulatory relief to additional persons unable to meet duration and renewal requirements due to the public health emergency.

This rule amends, suspends, or removes Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) and associated Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures for operations at certain airports. These regulatory actions are needed because of the adoption of new or revised criteria, or because of changes occurring in the National Airspace System, such as the commissioning of new navigational facilities, adding new obstacles, or changing air traffic requirements. These changes are designed to provide for the safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace and to promote safe flight operations under instrument flight rules at the affected airports.

This action amends VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airways V-13, V-55, and V-505, and Area Navigation (RNAV) route T-354 in the Northcentral United States. The modifications are necessary due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Siren, WI, VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) navigation aid (NAVAID) which provides navigation guidance for portions of the affected air traffic service (ATS) routes. The Siren VOR is being decommissioned as part of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) program. The VOR Federal airway V-15, V-26, V-78, V-100, V-159, V-175, V- 219, and V-307, and Area Navigation (RNAV) route T-285 modifications proposed in the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) require additional coordination and flight inspection activities. As such, those ATS route modifications are removed from this rule. Additionally, the V-55 and T- 354 modifications effected by the Park Rapids, MN, VOR/DME proposed in the NPRM also require additional coordination and flight inspection activities, and are removed from this rule, too.

This action amends VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airways V-4 and V-119, and removes VOR Federal airways V-331 and V-478 in the vicinity of Newcombe, KY. The Air Traffic Service (ATS) route modifications are necessary due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Newcombe, KY, VOR/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) navigation aid (NAVAID) which provides navigation guidance for portions of the affected ATS routes. The Newcombe VOR is being decommissioned as part of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) program. The VOR Federal airway V-53, V-115, V-140, and V-339, and Area Navigation (RNAV) route T-215 and T-323 modifications proposed in the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) require additional coordination and flight inspection activities. As such, those ATS route modifications are removed from this rule.