Proposed Establishment of VOR Federal Airway; CA

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 97-AWP-17]

Proposed Establishment of VOR Federal Airway; CA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: This notice proposes to establish a Very High Frequency

Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airway 607 (V-607) to be located in

the Mendocino, CA, area. This proposal would provide an airway between

Mendocino and Arcata, CA. The proposed airway is necessary to

efficiently manage air traffic operations during those periods when

nonradar procedures are in use.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before August 5, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on the proposal in triplicate to: Manager, Air

Traffic Division, AWP-500, Docket No. 97-AWP-17, Federal Aviation

Administration, P. O. Box 92007, Worldway Postal Center, Los Angeles,

CA 90009.

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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ken McElroy, 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:

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

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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 the airspace docket number and be

submitted in triplicate to the address listed above. Commenters wishing

the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments on this notice must

submit with those comments a self-addressed, stamped postcard on which

the following statement is made: ``Comments to Airspace Docket No. 97-

AWP-17.'' 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 notice may be changed

in light of comments received. All comments submitted will be available

for examination in the Rules 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

Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request

to the Federal Aviation Administration, Office of Air Traffic Airspace

Management, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591, or by

calling (202) 267-8783. Communications must identify the notice number

of this NPRM. Persons interested in being placed on a mailing list for

future NPRM's should call the FAA's Office of Rulemaking, (202) 267-

9677, 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 part 71 of the Federal

Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 71) to establish V-607 to be located

in the Mendocino, CA, area to efficiently manage air traffic operations

during those periods when nonradar procedures are in use. This proposal

would provide an airway between Mendocino and Arcata, CA.

Approximately 25 to 30 air carrier and general aviation flights per

day currently fly a direct route, which coincides with the proposed

airway. During nonradar operations, however, all north/south traffic is

forced onto V-27 and over the Fortuna Very High Frequency

Omnidirectional Range/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC). This causes

delays to, and conflicts with, departure aircraft that would not be

necessary with the proposed airway. Currently, the only alternative to

V-27 is V-494; however, V-494 has a 13,000-foot mean sea level minimum

en route altitude, and an over water segment which renders V-494

unsuitable for a large number of general aviation aircraft. Another

problem arises whenever the Fortuna VORTAC is out of service; at such

times, both V-27 and V-494 cease to exist. This proposed action would

provide controllers and pilots with an alternative to V-27 and

facilitate air traffic operations.

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.

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. 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 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 Proposed Amendment

In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation

Administration proposes to amend 14 CFR part 71 as follows:

PART 71--[AMENDED]

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; 14 CFR 11.69.

Sec. 71.1 [Amended]

2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of the Federal

Aviation Administration Order 7400.9D, Airspace Designations and

Reporting Points, dated September 4, 1996, and effective September 16,

1996, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6010(a)--Domestic VOR Federal airways

* * * * *

V-607 [New]

From Mendocino, CA; INT Mendocino 346 deg. and Arcata, CA,

156 deg. radials; Arcata.

* * * * *

Issued in Washington, DC, on June 10, 1997.

Nancy B. Kalinowski,

Acting Program Director for Air Traffic Airspace Management.

[FR Doc. 97-16221 Filed 6-19-97; 8:45 am]

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