2013-10039. RIN 2120-AA66

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION:

Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

SUMMARY:

This action proposes to establish two new low-altitude RNAV routes, designated T-287 and T-299, in the Washington, DC area. The new routes would enhance the flow of air traffic to the west of the Washington-Dulles International Airport.

DATES:

Comments must be received on or before June 13, 2013.

ADDRESSES:

Send comments on this proposal to the U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001; telephone: [phone]. You must identify FAA Docket No. FAA-2013-0339 and Airspace Docket No. 12-AEA-15 at the beginning of your comments. You may also submit comments through the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

Interested parties are invited to participate in this proposed rulemaking by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as they may desire. Comments that provide the factual basis supporting the views and suggestions presented are particularly helpful in developing reasoned regulatory decisions on the proposal. Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory, aeronautical, economic, environmental, and energy-related aspects of the proposal.

Communications should identify both docket numbers (FAA Docket No. FAA-2013-0339 and Airspace Docket No. 12-AEA-15) and be submitted in triplicate to the Docket Management Facility (see ADDRESSES section for address and phone number). You may also submit comments through the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov.

Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments on this action must submit with those comments a self-addressed, stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: “Comments to FAA Docket No. FAA-2013-0339 and Airspace Docket No. 12-AEA-15.” The postcard will be date/time stamped and returned to the commenter.

All communications received on or before the specified closing date for comments will be considered before taking action on the proposed rule. The proposal contained in this action may be changed in light of comments received. All comments submitted will be available for examination in the public docket both before and after the closing date for comments. A report summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA personnel concerned with this rulemaking will be filed in the docket.

Availability of NPRM's

An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded through the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov.

You may review the public docket containing the proposal, any comments received and any final disposition in person in the Dockets Office (see ADDRESSES section for address and phone number) between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. An informal docket may also be examined during normal business hours at the office of the Eastern Service Center, Federal Aviation Administration, Room 210, 1701 Columbia Ave., College Park, GA 30337.

Persons interested in being placed on a mailing list for future NPRM's should contact the FAA's Office of Rulemaking, [phone], for a copy of Advisory Circular No. 11-2A, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Distribution System, which describes the application procedure.

The Proposal

The FAA is proposing an amendment to Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 to establish two new RNAV routes (T-287 and T-299) west of the Washington-Dulles International Airport (IAD) area. The new routes support the Washington, DC Optimization of Airspace and Procedures in a Metroplex (OAPM) project and would enable aircraft to circumnavigate IAD arrival flows. Aircraft transiting through the Washington, DC area are routinely vectored to the west of the IAD area in order to separate them from the major arrival flows into the IAD area. T-287 and T-299 are designed to mimic the flight paths currently used for vectoring these transiting aircraft. The routes would provide consistent and predictable routing for aircraft to file and navigate while being assured of separation from larger turbojet aircraft entering and exiting the Washington, DC area. Further, the routes would reduce air traffic controller workload and enhance efficiency within the National Airspace System.

RNAV routes are published in paragraph 6011 of FAA Order 7400.9W dated August 8, 2012, and effective September 15, 2012, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The RNAV routes listed in this document would be subsequently published in the Order.

The FAA has determined that this proposed regulation only involves an established body of technical regulations for which frequent and routine amendments are necessary to keep them operationally current. Therefore, this proposed regulation: (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 proposed 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.

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 would modify the route structure as required to preserve the safe and efficient flow of air traffic.

Environmental Review

This proposal will be subject to an environmental analysis in accordance with FAA Order 1050.1E, “Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures,” prior to any FAA final regulatory action.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71

• Airspace
• Incorporation by reference
• Navigation (air)

The Proposed Amendment

In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend 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 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.

§ 71.1

[Amended]

2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of FAA Order 7400.9W, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, Dated August 8, 2012, and effective September 15, 2012, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6011—United States Area Navigation Routes

T-287 DENNN, VA (GVE) to TOMYD, MD [New]
DENNN, VA	WP	(Lat. 38°05′ 06″ N., long. 078°12′ 28″ W.);
CAARY, VA	WP	(Lat. 38°19′ 40″ N., long. 078°23′ 37″ W.);
WILMY, VA	WP	(Lat. 38°30′ 43″ N., long. 078°32′ 10″ W.);
KAIJE, VA	WP	(Lat. 38°44′ 35″ N., long. 078°42′ 48″ W.);
BAMMY, WV	WP	(Lat. 39°24′ 33″ N., long. 078°25′ 46″ W.);
REEES, PA	WP	(Lat. 39°47′ 52″ N., long. 077°45′ 56″ W.);
TOMYD, MD	WP	(Lat. 39°40′ 52″ N., long. 077°08′ 26″ W.)
T-299 HAANK, VA to SCAPE, PA [New]
HAANK, VA	WP	(Lat. 38°01′ 33″ N., long. 079°02′ 56″ W.);
KAIJE, VA	WP	(Lat. 38°44′ 35″ N., long. 078°42′ 48″ W.);
BAMMY, WV	WP	(Lat. 39°24′ 33″ N., long. 078°25′ 46″ W.);
REEES, PA	WP	(Lat. 39°47′ 52″ N., long. 077°45′ 56″ W.);
SCAPE, PA	WP	(Lat. 39°56′ 42″ N., long. 077°32′ 12″ W.);

Issued in Washington, DC, on April 22, 2013.

Gary A. Norek,

Manager, Airspace Policy and ATC Procedures Group.