[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 248 (Monday, December 29, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 67553-67555]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-33760]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Airspace Docket No. 97-ASW-13]
RIN 2120-AA66
Realignment of VOR Federal Airway; Dallas/Fort Worth, TX
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Direct final rule; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: This rule realigns Federal Airway 369 (V-369) located in the
Dallas/Fort Worth, TX, area. Specifically, V-369 will be realigned to
include the newly activated Groesbeck, TX, Very High Frequency
Omnidirectional Range/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME)
Navigational Aid (NAVAID) as part of its route structure. As a result,
the minimum en route altitude (MEA) on V-369 between the Dallas/Fort
Worth (DFW) Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range/Tactical Air
Navigation (VORTAC), TX, and the Navasota, TX, VORTAC will be lowered.
Lowering the MEA increases the capacity of the airway because it
increases the number of altitudes that are available for air traffic
control assignment to airway users. Overall, this action increases the
efficiency of operations in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.
DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, February 26, 1998.
Comment date: Comments for inclusion in the Rules Docket must be
received on or before January 28, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Send comments on the proposal in triplicate to: Manager, Air
Traffic Division, ASW-500, Docket No. 97-ASW-13, Federal Aviation
[[Page 67554]]
Administration, 2601 Meacham Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX 76193-0500.
The official docket may be examined in the Rules Docket, Office of
the Chief Counsel, Room 916, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington,
DC, weekdays, except Federal holidays, between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
An informal docket may also be examined during normal business
hours at the office of the Regional Air Traffic Division, Federal
Aviation Administration, 2601 Meacham Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX 76193-
0500.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Brown, Airspace and Rules
Division, ATA-400, Office of Air Traffic Airspace Management, Federal
Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC
20591; telephone: (202) 267-8783.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
The Direct Final Rule Procedure
The FAA anticipates that this regulation will not result in adverse
or negative comment and therefore is issuing it as a direct final rule.
The addition of Groesbeck VOR/DME along the centerline of the current
V-369 and realigning the airway to include Groesbeck will not alter the
airway track significantly and will benefit users of the airway. Since
previous rulemaking actions similar to this one have not been
controversial, the FAA does not anticipate any adverse comments on this
case. Therefore, unless a written adverse or negative comment, or a
written notice of intent to submit an adverse or negative comment is
received within the comment period, the regulation will become
effective on the date specified above. After the close of the comment
period, the FAA will publish a document in the Federal Register
indicating that no adverse or negative comments were received and
confirming the date on which the final rule will become effective. If
the FAA does receive, within the comment period, an adverse or negative
comment, or written notice of intent to submit such a comment, a
document withdrawing the direct final rule will be published in the
Federal Register, and a notice of proposed rulemaking may be published
with a new comment period.
Comments Invited
Although this action is in the form of a final rule and was not
preceded by a notice of proposed rulemaking, comments are invited on
this rule. Interested persons are invited to comment on this rule by
submitting such written data, views, or arguments as they may desire.
Communications should identify the Rules Docket number and be submitted
in triplicate to the address specified under the caption ``ADDRESSES.''
All communications received on or before the specified closing date for
comments will be considered, and this rule may be amended or withdrawn
in light of comments received. Factual information that supports the
commenter's ideas and suggestions is extremely helpful in evaluating
the effectiveness of this action and determining whether additional
rulemaking action would be needed.
Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory,
aeronautical, economic, environmental, and energy-related aspects of
the rule that might suggest a need to modify the rule. All comments
submitted will be available for examination in the Rules Docket both
before and after the closing date for comments. A report that
summarizes each FAA-public contact concerned with the substance of this
action will be filed in the Rules Docket.
Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments
submitted in response to this rule must submit a self-addressed,
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments
to Airspace Docket No. 97-ASW-13.'' The postcard will be date stamped
and returned to the commenter.
The Rule
This amendment to 14 CFR part 71 realigns V-369 located in the
Dallas/Fort Worth area. Currently, V-369 consists of one leg spanning
162 nautical miles (NM) from the Navasota VORTAC to the DFW VORTAC.
Activation of the Groesbeck VOR/DME near the centerline of V-369 and
the realignment of the airway to include the Groesbeck VOR/DME will
allow for a lower MEA to be flown between the two VORTAC's. Lowering
the MEA increases the capacity of the airway because it increases the
number of altitudes that are available for air traffic control
assignment to airway users. Overall, this action increases the
efficiency of operations between the DFW and the Navasota VORTAC's.
Domestic VOR Federal Airways are published in paragraph 6010(a) of
FAA Order 7400.9E, dated September 10, 1997, and effective September
16, 1997, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The
airways listed in this document will be published subsequently in the
Order.
Agency Findings
The regulations adopted herein will not have substantial direct
effects on the States, on the relationship between the national
government and the States, or on the distribution of power and
responsibilities among the various levels of government. Therefore, in
accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this final
rule does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the
preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
The FAA has determined that this regulation is not controversial
and unlikely to result in adverse or negative comments. For the reasons
discussed in the preamble, I certify that this regulation (1) is not a
``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866; (2) is
not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures
(44 FR 11034; February 26, 1979); and (3) does not warrant preparation
of a Regulatory Evaluation as the anticipated impact is so minimal.
Since this is a routine matter that will only affect air traffic
procedures and air navigation, it is certified that this rule, when
promulgated, will not have a significant economic impact, positive or
negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria
of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71
Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).
The Amendment
In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation
Administration amends 14 CFR part 71 as follows:
PART 71--DESIGNATION OF CLASS A, CLASS B, CLASS C, CLASS D, AND
CLASS E AIRSPACE AREAS; AIRWAYS; ROUTES; AND REPORTING POINTS
1. The authority citation for part 71 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40103, 40113, 40120; E.O. 10854, 24
FR 9565, 3 CFR, 1959-1963 Comp., p. 389.
Sec. 71.1 [Amended]
2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of the Federal
Aviation Administration Order 7400.9E, Airspace Designations and
Reporting Points, dated September 10, 1997, and effective September 16,
1997, is amended as follows:
Paragraph 6010(a)--Domestic VOR Federal Airways
* * * * *
V-369 [Revised]
From Navasota, TX; via Groesbeck, TX; to Dallas-Fort Worth, TX.
* * * * *
[[Page 67555]]
Issued in Washington, DC, on December 17, 1997.
Nancy B. Kalinowski,
Acting Program Director for Air Traffic Airspace Management.
[FR Doc. 97-33760 Filed 12-24-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U
