[Federal Register: November 2, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 211)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 66251-66253]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02no05-3]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2005-21694; Airspace Docket No. 04-ASO-16]
RIN 2120-AA66
Establishment of Area Navigation Instrument Flight Rules Terminal
Transition Routes (RITTR); Jacksonville, FL
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This action establishes five Area Navigation Instrument Flight
Rules Terminal Transition Routes (RITTR) in the Jacksonville, FL
terminal area. The FAA originally proposed to establish seven routes as
part of this action, but decided not to implement routes T-206 and T-
210 at this time. RITTRs are low altitude Air Traffic Service (ATS)
routes, based on area navigation (RNAV), for use by aircraft having
instrument flight rules (IFR)-approved Global Positioning System (GPS)/
Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) equipment. The purpose of
RITTR is to expedite the handling of IFR overflight traffic through
busy terminal airspace areas. The FAA is taking this action to enhance
safety and the efficient use of the navigable airspace in the
Jacksonville, FL, terminal area.
[[Page 66252]]
EFFECTIVE DATE: 0901 UTC, December 22, 2005.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Gallant, Airspace and Rules,
Office of System Operations Airspace and AIM, Federal Aviation
Administration, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591;
telephone: (202) 267-8783.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
History
On July 1, 2005, the FAA published in the Federal Register a notice
of proposed rulemaking to establish seven RITTRs in the Jacksonville,
FL, terminal area (70 FR 38053). Interested parties were invited to
participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting written comments on
this proposal to the FAA. No comments were received in response to the
NPRM. After the comment period closed, an aviation organization
contacted the FAA to request an additional comment period as the
proposal was incorrectly listed in the July 1, 2005, Federal Register
Table of Contents. In view of the request, and since no comments were
received during the original comment period, the FAA reopened the
comment period on September 28, 2005 (70 FR 56606). One comment was
received.
Analysis of Comments
The commenter wrote in support of the proposal and added
recommendations that the routes be available at multiple altitudes;
that the FAA incorporate guidance to allow pilots operating under
visual flight rules (VFR) to use the routes when transitioning through
terminal airspace; and that the FAA continue working with users to
identify and chart needed routes through busy terminal areas.
Regarding route altitudes, the charted depiction will include a
GNSS minimum enroute altitude (MEA), but specific flight altitudes are
not identified. Altitude assignments for the routes will be based on
various factors including the flight plan filed altitude, air traffic
volume, and available altitudes within the airspace allocated to
Jacksonville, FL, Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON).
Concerning the recommendation for use of the routes by VFR
aircraft, the FAA does not plan to issue guidance at this time. RITTRs
were developed specifically to provide routing for GNSS-equipped
aircraft, that are operating on an IFR flight plan, to transition
through busy terminal areas. The fixes/waypoints used to define the
routes do not have associated visual landmarks for reference by VFR
pilots when navigating through the area. There are a number of programs
in place to assist VFR pilots in either avoiding or transitioning
through Class B airspace or other airspace areas, where needed, such as
the Charted VFR Flyway Planning Chart Program, the Terminal Area VFR
Route Program, and the VFR Waypoint Chart Program. These flyways,
routes and waypoints, when designated, are depicted on the appropriate
VFR Terminal Area Charts. VFR aircraft desiring to transit Class B
airspace must obtain air traffic control (ATC) clearance to operate in
Class B airspace. ATC may approve or deny requests from VFR aircraft to
operate in or through Class B airspace based on controller workload,
operational limitations and traffic conditions. In this respect, pilots
of a suitably equipped VFR aircraft could request transit through the
area along a RITTR track, but the request would be subject to ATC
approval as described above.
Lastly, the FAA remains committed to the goal of expanded use of
RNAV in the National Airspace System. Work is in progress to identify
additional locations where RITTRs would enhance the efficient use of
the navigable airspace.
Discussion
This rule incorporates changes to some of the routes that were
proposed in the NPRM based on further analysis of ATC requirements and/
or to correct typographical errors. T-208 is amended by adding a
segment to extend the route from the CARRA fix southeastward to the
Ormond Beach, FL, VORTAC. T-211 is amended by adding a segment to
extend the route from the CARRA fix northward to the Craig, FL, VORTAC.
These extensions provide additional links to the VOR Federal airway
structure.
Due to a typographical error in the description of route T-208, the
three-letter identifier for the Gators, FL, VORTAC was incorrectly
stated in the NPRM as ``GVN.'' The correct Gators identifier is ``GNV''
and is corrected in this rule. In addition, in the NPRM, the points
CARRA and MONIA were identified as ``WP'' (waypoint). These points are
actually existing charted navigation fixes, therefore an editorial
change to the affected route descriptions is being made in this rule to
replace ``WP'' with ``fix.'' Also, the order of the points listed in
the descriptions of routes T-205 and T-207 is reversed in this rule to
match flight inspection forms which utilize a ``south to north''
orientation. This does not affect the actual alignment of T-205 or T-
207.
The FAA decided not to implement two of the proposed routes at this
time. It was determined that route T-206 is not needed by ATC.
Additionally, route T-210, between the Taylor, FL, VORTAC and the
Cecil, FL, VOR, requires further modification and will be addressed by
separate rulemaking action at a later date.
With the exception of editorial changes, and the changes described
above, this amendment is the same as that proposed in the notice.
Low altitude Area Navigation Routes are published in paragraph 6011
of FAA Order 7400.9N dated September 1, 2005 and effective September
15, 2005, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The routes
listed in this document will be published subsequently in the order.
The Rule
This action amends Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR)
part 71 by establishing five RITTRs, designated as T-204, T-205, T-207,
T-208, and T-211, in the Jacksonville, FL, terminal area. These routes
will be depicted in blue on the appropriate IFR en route low altitude
charts. RITTRs are low altitude RNAV routes designed to facilitate the
expeditious movement of IFR overflight traffic around or through
certain congested terminal airspace areas. The routes may be used by
GNSS-equipped aircraft that are capable of filing flight plan equipment
suffix ``/G.'' The FAA is taking this action to enhance safety and
facilitate the more flexible and efficient use of the navigable
airspace for en route IFR aircraft transitioning through the
Jacksonville, FL, terminal area.
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.
Therefore, this 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 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.
[[Page 66253]]
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71
Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).
The Adoption of the Amendment
0
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
0
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]
0
2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of FAA Order 7400.9N,
Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated September 1, 2005,
and effective September 15, 2005, is amended as follows:
Paragraph 6011 Area Navigation Routes
* * * * *
T-204 Taylor, FL to Brunswick, GA [New]
Taylor, FL (TAY)............ VORTAC.............. (Lat. 30[deg]30'17'' N., long. 82[deg]33'11'' W.)
Brunswick, GA (SSI)......... VORTAC.............. (Lat. 31[deg]03'02'' N., long. 81[deg]26'46'' W.)
* * * * * * *
T-205 Ocala, FL to Valdosta, GA [New]
Ocala, FL (OCF)............. VORTAC.............. (Lat. 29[deg]10'39'' N., long. 82[deg]13'35'' W.)
Valdosta, GA (OTK).......... VOR/DME............. (Lat. 30[deg]46'50'' N., long. 83[deg]16'47'' W.)
* * * * * * *
T-207 Ormond Beach, FL to Waycross, GA [New]
Ormond Beach, FL (OMN)...... VORTAC.............. (Lat. 29[deg]18'12'' N., long. 81[deg]06'46'' W.)
CARRA....................... Fix................. (Lat. 29[deg]43'51'' N., long. 81[deg]36'29'' W.)
Cecil, FL (VQQ)............. VOR................. (Lat. 30[deg]12'47'' N., long. 81[deg]53'27'' W.)
MONIA, FL................... Fix................. (Lat. 30[deg]28'49'' N., long. 82[deg]02'53'' W.)
Waycross, GA (AYS).......... VORTAC.............. (Lat. 31[deg]16'10'' N., long. 82[deg]33'23'' W.)
* * * * * * *
T-208 Gators, FL to Ormond Beach, FL [New]
Gators, FL (GNV)............ VORTAC.............. (Lat. 29[deg]41'32'' N., long. 82[deg]16'23'' W.)
CARRA....................... Fix................. (Lat. 29[deg]43'51'' N., long. 81[deg]36'29'' W.)
Ormond Beach, FL (OMN)...... VORTAC.............. (Lat. 29[deg]18'12'' N., long. 81[deg]06'46'' W.)
* * * * * * *
T-211 Ocala, FL to Craig, FL [New]
Ocala, FL (OCF)............. VORTAC.............. (Lat. 29[deg]10'39'' N., long. 82[deg]13'35'' W.)
JUTTS....................... WP.................. (Lat. 29[deg]36'00'' N., long. 82[deg]02'00'' W.)
CARRA....................... Fix................. (Lat. 29[deg]43'51'' N., long. 81[deg]36'29'' W.)
Craig, FL (CRG)............. VORTAC.............. (Lat. 30[deg]20'20'' N., long. 81[deg]30'36'' W.)
* * * * * * *
Issued in Washington, DC on October 27, 2005.
Edith V. Parish,
Manager, Airspace and Rules.
[FR Doc. 05-21879 Filed 11-1-05; 8:45 am]
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