2018-04082. IFR Altitudes; Miscellaneous Amendments

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

This amendment adopts miscellaneous amendments to the required IFR (instrument flight rules) altitudes and changeover points for certain Federal airways, jet routes, or direct routes for which a minimum or maximum en route authorized IFR altitude is prescribed. This regulatory action is needed because of changes occurring in the National Airspace System. These changes are designed to provide for the safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace under instrument conditions in the affected areas.

DATES:

Effective Date: 0901 UTC, March 29, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Harry Hodges, Flight Procedure Standards Branch (AMCAFS-420), Flight Technologies and Programs Division, Flight Standards Service, Federal Aviation Administration, Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center, 6500 South MacArthur Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK 73169 (Mail Address: P.O. Box 25082, Oklahoma City, OK 73125) telephone: [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

This amendment to part 95 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 95) amends, suspends, or revokes IFR altitudes governing the operation of all aircraft in flight over a specified route or any portion of that route, as well as the changeover points (COPs) for Federal airways, jet routes, or direct routes as prescribed in part 95.

The Rule

The specified IFR altitudes, when used in conjunction with the prescribed changeover points for those routes, ensure navigation aid coverage that is adequate for safe flight operations and free of frequency interference. The reasons and circumstances that create the need for this amendment involve matters of flight safety and operational efficiency in the National Airspace System, are related to published aeronautical charts that are essential to the user, and provide for the safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace. In addition, those various reasons or circumstances require making this amendment effective before the next scheduled charting and publication date of the flight information to assure its timely availability to the user. The effective date of this amendment reflects those considerations. In view of the close and immediate relationship between these regulatory changes and safety in air commerce, I find that notice and public procedure before adopting this amendment are impracticable and contrary to the public interest and that good cause exists for making the amendment effective in less than 30 days.

Conclusion

The FAA has determined that this 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. For the same reason, the FAA certifies that this amendment will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 95

• Airspace
• Navigation (air)

Issued in Washington, DC, on February 23, 2018.

John S. Duncan,

Executive Director, Flight Standards Service.

Adoption of the Amendment

Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, part 95 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 95) is amended as follows effective at 0901 UTC, March 29, 2018.

1. The authority citation for part 95 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40103, 40106, 40113, 40114, 40120, 44502, 44514, 44719, 44721.

2. Part 95 is amended to read as follows:

Revisions to IFR Altitudes & Changeover Point

[Amendment 538 effective date March 29, 2018]

From	To	MEA	MAA
§ 95.3000 Low Altitude RNAV Routes
§ 95.3259 RNAV Route T259 Is Amended To Read in Part
WEXIM, CA WP	NIKOL, CA FIX	14600	17500
*12200—MCA NIKOL, CA FIX, W BND

From	To	MEA
95.6001 Victor Routes—U.S
95.6025 VOR Federal Airway V25 Is Amended To Read in Part
OCTAD, OR FIX	DESCHUTES, OR VORTAC
	N BND	* 7000
	S BND	* 12000
* 7000—GNSS MEA
§ 95.6027 VOR Federal Airway V27 Is Amended To Read in Part
NEWPORT, OR VORTAC	CUTEL, OR FIX
	S BND	3300
	N BND	8000
§ 95.6045 VOR Federal Airway V45 Is Amended To Read in Part
BLUEFIELD, WV VOR/DME	CHARLESTON, WV VOR/DME	* 6000
*5500—MOCA
CHARLESTON, WV VOR/DME	HENDERSON, WV VORTAC	3100
§ 95.6140 VOR Federal Airway V140 Is Amended To Read in Part
STACY, VA FIX	* KENYA, WV FIX
	W BND	5000
	E BND	5400
* 13000—MRA
* KENYA, WV FIX	** BLUEFIELD, WV VOR/DME	5400
* 13000—MRA
** 7000—MCA BLUEFIELD, WV VOR/DME, E BND
BLUEFIELD, WV VOR/DME	SOFTY, WV FIX	* 7000
* 5600—MOCA
SOFTY, WV FIX	CASTE, VA FIX	#000
#UNUSABLE
CASTE, VA FIX	MONTEBELLO, VA VOR/DME	6000
§ 95.6177 VOR Federal Airway V177 Is Amended To Read in Part
JOLIET, IL VORTAC	NUELG, IL FIX	2700
§ 95.6244 VOR Federal Airway V244 Is Amended To Delete
ALTAM, CA FIX	BYRON, CA WP
	W BND	4500
	E BND	3500
BYRON, CA WP	MANTECA, CA VOR/DME	2000
MANTECA, CA VOR/DME	WRAPS, CA FIX
	E BND	3000
	W BND	2000
WRAPS, CA FIX	* DUCKE, CA WP	8000
* 12000—MCA DUCKE, CA WP, E BND
DUCKE, CA WP	* NIKOL, CA FIX	15100
* 13000—MCA NIKOL, CA FIX, W BND
Is Amended To Read
ALTAM, CA FIX	HAIRE, CA FIX	4500
HAIRE, CA FIX	* LINDEN, CA VOR/DME	** 3000
* 3300—MCA LINDEN, CA VOR/DME, E BND
* 2100—MOCA
LINDEN, CA VOR/DME	* MERPH, CA FIX
	W BND	6400
	E BND	15300
* 9800—MCA MERPH, CA FIX, E BND
MERPH, CA FIX	* NIKOL, CA FIX	15300
* 13100—MCA NIKOL, CA FIX, W BND
§ 95.6325 VOR Federal Airway V325 Is Amended To Read in Part
COLUMBIA, SC VORTAC	BLANE, SC FIX	* 8000
* 2200—MOCA
BLANE, SC FIX	VESTO, GA FIX	#
#UNUSABLE
VESTO, GA FIX	ATHENS, GA VOR/DME	2500
§ 95.6495 VOR Federal Airway V495 Is Amended To Read in Part
ALDER, WA FIX	* TOUTL, WA FIX	** 9000
* 9000—MCA TOUTL, WA FIX, N BND
** 6800—MOCA
** 7000—GNSS MEA
TOUTL, WA FIX	BATTLE GROUND, WA VORTAC
	N BND	** 9000
	S BND	** 5300
** 5300—GNSS MEA
§ 95.6519 VOR Federal Airway V519 Is Amended To Read in Part
*TELOC, VA FIX	BLUEFIELD, WV VOR/DME
	NE BND	6100
	SW BND	6900
* 13000—MRA
BLUEFIELD, WV VOR/DME	BECKLEY, WV VORTAC	#* 9000
* 5900—MOCA
* 5900—GNSS MEA
#BECKLEY R-193 UNUSABLE USE BLUEFIELD R-010

Airway segment		Changeover points
From	To	From	Distance
§ 95.8003 VOR Federal Airway Changeover Point
V244 Is Amended To Delete Changeover Point
MANTECA, CA VOR/DME	COALDALE, NV VORTAC		96
MANTECA