03-23968. 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.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

0901 UTC, October 30, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Donald P. Pate, 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, D.C. on September 15, 2003.

James J. Ballough,

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,

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 Points

[Amendment 444 Effective Date October 30, 2003]

From	To	MEA
§ 95.6013 VOR Federal Airway 13 is amended to Read in Part
McAllen, TX VOR/DME	Manny, TX FIX	*5000
*1600—MOCA
§ 95.6017 VOR Federal Airway 17 is amended to Read in Part
Brownsville, TX Vortac	Harlingen, TX VOR/DME	1600
Harlingen, TX VOR/DME	McAllen, TX VOR/DME	2400
McAllen, TX VOR/DME	Fator, TX INT	*2500
*1700—MOCA
Fator, TX FIX	*Nelee, TX FIX	**4000
*5500—MRA
**2400—MOCA
Nelee, TX FIX	Laredo, TX VORTAC	2500
§ 95.6033 VOR Federal Airway 33 is Amended to Read in Part
Bradford, PA VOR/DME	Vairs, NY FIX	#*10,000
*4,800—MOCA
Vairs, NY FIX	Buffalo, NY VOR/DME	#*5,000
*4,000—MOCA
# BFD R-006 Unusable, Use BUF R-187
§ 95.6407 VOR Federal Airway 407 is Amended to Read in Part
Brownsvile, TX VORTAC	Harlingen, TX VOR/DME
Harlingen, TX VOR/DME	Jimie, TX INT	1700

From	To	MEA	MAA
§ 95.7001 Jet Routes
§ 95.7231 Jet Route No. 231 is Amended to Read in Part
Twentynine Palms, CA VORTAC	Hippi, AZ FIX	23000	4000