2022-19290. Amendment and Revocation of Area Navigation (RNAV) Routes; Southeastern and Northeastern United States

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

This action amends Area Navigation (RNAV) route Q-81 to realign a portion of the route to improve traffic flows, and to remove Canadian RNAV route Q-947 at the request of NavCanada. These changes support the Northeast Corridor Atlantic Coast Route Project.

DATES:

Effective date 0901 UTC, November 3, 2022. The Director of the Federal Register approves this incorporation by reference action under 1 CFR part 51, subject to the annual revision of FAA Order JO 7400.11 and publication of conforming amendments.

ADDRESSES:

FAA Order JO 7400.11F, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, and subsequent amendments can be viewed online at www.faa.gov/​air_​traffic/​publications/​. For further information, you can contact the Rules and Regulations Group, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; telephone: [phone].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Paul Gallant, Rules and Regulations Group, Office of Policy, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; telephone: [phone].

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 modifies the route structure as necessary to preserve the safe and efficient flow of air traffic within the National Airspace System.

History

The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking for Docket No. FAA-2022-0824, in the Federal Register (87 FR 41632; July 13, 2022), amending RNAV route Q-81 and removing Q-947. Interested parties were invited to participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting written comments on the proposal. No comments were received.

United States Area Navigation routes are published in paragraph 2006 of FAA Order JO 7400.11F dated August 10, 2021, and effective September 15, 2021, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The RNAV routes listed in this document will be subsequently published in and removed from FAA Order JO 7400.11.

Difference From the NPRM

In the regulatory text for Q-81, the ZEILR point was identified as a “waypoint (WP).” This is corrected to reflect ZEILR as a “Fix.”

Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference

This document amends FAA Order JO 7400.11F, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 10, 2021, and effective September 15, 2021. FAA Order JO 7400.11F is publicly available as listed in the ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order JO 7400.11F lists Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and reporting points.

The Rule

This action amends 14 CFR part 71 by amending Q-81 in the southeastern United States, and removing Canadian route Q-947 in the northeastern United States.

Q-81: Q-81 extends from the TUNSL, FL, WP, to the HONID, GA, WP. This action amends the current route segments between the FIPES, OG, WP and the FARLU, FL, WP by removing the THMPR, FL, WP and the LEEHI, FL, WP and inserting the ZEILR, FL, Fix, and the PIKKR, OG, WP. The effect of this change realigns the track of Q-81 by between 1 nautical mile (NM) and 10.5 NM to the west of its current path. This change assists with traffic flow, conflict avoidance, and prevents excessive coordination for air traffic controllers. In addition, the FAA is removing the following WPs from the legal description of Q-81: MGNTY, FL; BITNY, OG; SNAPY, FL; and IPOKE, GA. Because they do not denote a route turn point, these WPs are not required to be included in the Q-81 legal description. However, these points will continue to be depicted on the IFR En Route charts because they are used for air traffic control purposes. The full description of Q-81 is listed in the amendments to part 71 set forth below.

Q-947: Q-947 is a Canadian RNAV route that is being removed at the request of NavCanada.

FAA Order JO 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, is published yearly and effective on September 15.

Regulatory Notices and Analyses

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 Department of Transportation (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 only affects air traffic procedures and air navigation, it is certified that this rule, when promulgated, does not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

Environmental Review

The FAA has determined that this action of amending RNAV route Q-81 and removing Q-947 qualifies for categorical exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and its implementing regulations at 40 CFR part 1500, and in accordance with FAA Order 1050.1F, Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures, paragraph 5-6.5a, which categorically excludes from further environmental impact review rulemaking actions that designate or modify classes of airspace areas, airways, routes, and reporting points (see 14 CFR part 71, Designation of Class A, B, C, D, and E Airspace Areas; Air Traffic Service Routes; and Reporting Points); and paragraph 5-6.5b, which categorically excludes from further environmental impact review “Actions regarding establishment of jet routes and Federal airways (see 14 CFR 71.15, Designation of jet routes and VOR Federal airways) . . .”. As such, this action is not expected to result in any potentially significant environmental impacts. In accordance with FAA Order 1050.1F, paragraph 5-2 regarding Extraordinary Circumstances, the FAA has reviewed this action for factors and circumstances in which a normally categorically excluded action may have a significant environmental impact requiring further analysis. Accordingly, the FAA has determined that no extraordinary circumstances exist that warrant preparation of an environmental assessment or environmental impact study.

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, B, C, D, AND E AIRSPACE AREAS; AIR TRAFFIC SERVICE ROUTES; AND REPORTING POINTS

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.

§ 71.1

[Amended]

2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of FAA Order JO 7400.11F, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 10, 2021, and effective September 15, 2021, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 2006 United States Area Navigation Routes.

* * * * *

Q-81 TUNSL, FL to HONID, GA [Amended]
TUNSL, FL	WP	(Lat. 24°54′02.43″ N, long. 081°31′02.80″ W)
KARTR, FL	FIX	(Lat. 25°29′45.76″ N, long. 081°30′46.24″ W)
FIPES, OG	WP	(Lat. 25°41′30.15″ N, long. 081°37′13.79″ W)
ZEILR, FL	FIX	(Lat. 26°38′13.17″ N, long. 082°22′27.71″ W)
PIKKR, OG	WP	(Lat. 26°56′24.43″ N, long. 082°41′25.28″ W)
FARLU, FL	WP	(Lat. 27°45′32.56″ N, long. 082°50′43.77″ W)
ENDEW, FL	WP	(Lat. 28°18′01.73″ N, long. 082°55′56.70″ W)
NICKI, FL	WP	(Lat. 29°15′20.19″ N, long. 083°20′31.80″ W)
BULZI, FL	WP	(Lat. 30°22′24.93″ N, long. 084°04′34.47″ W)
HONID, GA	WP	(Lat. 31°38′50.31″ N, long. 084°23′42.60″ W)

* * * * *

Paragraph 2007 Canadian Area Navigation Routes.

* * * * *

Q-947 [Removed]

* * * * *

Issued in Washington, DC, on August 31, 2022.

Scott M. Rosenbloom,

Manager, Airspace Rules and Regulations.