Establishment of VOR Federal Airway; California

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 97-AWP-17]

RIN 2120-AA66

Establishment of VOR Federal Airway; California

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This rule establishes Federal Airway 607 (V-607) between

Mendocino, CA, and Arcata, CA. This airway is necessary to efficiently

manage air traffic operations during those periods when nonradar

procedures are in use.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 0901 UTC, January 1, 1998.

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:

History

On June 10, 1997, the FAA proposed to amend part 71 of the Federal

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

Mendocino, CA, and Arcata, CA (62 FR 33579). This airway is necessary

to efficiently manage air traffic operations during those periods when

nonradar procedures are in use. Interested parties were invited to

participate in this rulemaking proceeding by submitting written

comments on the proposal to the FAA. No comments objecting to the

proposal were received. Except for editorial changes and a three degree

radial change in the legal description from ``Arcata, CA, 156 deg.

radial'' to ``Arcata, CA, 153 deg. radial,'' this amendment is the same

as that proposed in the notice.

Domestic VOR Federal Airways are published in paragraph 6010(a) of

FAA Order 7400.9E, dated September 10, 1997, and effective September

16, 1997, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The airway

listed in this document will be published subsequently in the Order.

The Rule

This amendment to part 71 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14

CFR part 71) establishes V-607 between Mendocino, CA, and Arcata, CA.

This airway is necessary to efficiently manage air traffic operations

during those periods when nonradar procedures are in use.

Approximately 25 to 30 air carrier and general aviation flights per

day currently fly a direct route, which coincides with the 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

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 since, at such times, both V-27 and V-494

cease to exist. This action will provide controllers and pilots with an

alternative to V-27 and facilitate air traffic operations.

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. 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).

Adoption of the Amendment

In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation

Administration amends 14 CFR part 71 as follows:

[[Page 55503]]

PART 71--DESIGNATION OF CLASS A, CLASS B, CLASS C, CLASS D, AND

CLASS E AIRSPACE AREAS; AIRWAYS; 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.

Sec. 71.1 [Amended]

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

Aviation Administration Order 7400.9E, Airspace Designations and

Reporting Points, dated September 10, 1997, and effective September 16,

1997, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6010(a)--Domestic VOR Federal Airways

* * * * *

V-607 [New]

From Mendocino, CA; INT Mendocino 346 deg. and Arcata, CA, 153 deg.

radials; to Arcata.

* * * * *

Issued in Washington, DC, on October 6, 1997.

John S. Walker,

Program Director for Air Traffic Airspace Management.

[FR Doc. 97-28410 Filed 10-24-97; 8:45 am]

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