[Federal Register: April 8, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 67)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 16992-16993]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr08ap03-23]
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Proposed Rules
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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[[Page 16992]]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Parts 1, 71, 91, 95, 97, 121, 125, 129, and 135
[Docket No. FAA-2002-14002; Notice No. 02-20]
RIN 2120-AH77
Area Navigation (RNAV) and Miscellaneous Amendments; Partial
Reopening of Comment Period
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM); partial reopening of
comment period.
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SUMMARY: This action reopens the comment period for portions of an NPRM
that was published December 17, 2002. In that document, the FAA
proposed to amend its regulations to reflect technological advances
that support area navigation (RNAV); make certain terms consistent with
those of the International Civil Aviation Organization; remove the
middle marker as a required component of instrument landing systems;
and clarify airspace terminology. This reopening is a result of
requests from the regulated public to extend the comment period of the
proposal.
DATE: Comments must be received on or before July 7, 2003.
ADDRESSES: Comments on this document should be mailed or delivered, in
duplicate, to: U.S. Department of Transportation Dockets, Docket No.
FAA-2002-14002, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Room Plaza 401, Washington, DC
20590. Comments may be filed and examined in Room Plaza 401 between 10
a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays, except Federal holidays. Comments also may be
sent electronically to the Dockets Management System (DMS) at the
following Internet address: http://dms.dot.gov at any time. Commenters
who wish to file comments electronically, should follow the
instructions on the DMS Web site.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lawrence Buehler, Flight Technologies
and Procedures Division, Flight Standards Service, AFS-400, Federal
Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC
20591; telephone: (202) 385-4586.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
The FAA invites interested persons to participate in this
rulemaking by submitting written comments, data, or views. We also
invite comments relating to the economic, environmental, energy, or
federalism impacts that might result from adopting this rulemaking
action. The most helpful comments reference a specific portion of the
proposal, explain the reason for any recommended change, and include
supporting data. We ask that you send us two copies of written
comments.
We will file in the docket all comments we receive, as well as a
report summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA personnel
concerning this proposed rulemaking. The docket is available for public
inspection before and after the comment closing date. If you wish to
review the docket in person, go to the address in the ADDRESSES section
of this preamble between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays. You may also review the docket using the
Internet at the web address in the ADDRESSES section.
Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all comments
received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual
submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf
of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT's
complete Privacy Act statement in the Federal Register of April 11,
2000 (65 FR 19477-19478), or you may visit http://dms.dot.gov.
Before acting on this rulemaking action, we will consider all
comments we receive on or before the closing date for comments. We will
consider comments filed late if it is possible to do so without
incurring expense or delay. We may change this rulemaking in light of
the comments we receive.
If you want the FAA to acknowledge receipt of your comments on this
proposal, include with your comments a pre-addressed, stamped postcard
on which the docket number appears. We will stamp the date on the
postcard and mail it to you.
Background
On December 17, 2002 (67 FR 77326; Dec. 17, 2002), the FAA issued a
proposed rule entitled, ``Area Navigation (RNAV) and Miscellaneous
Amendments.'' The comment period closed January 31, 2003. The changes
were proposed to facilitate the transition from ground-based navigation
to new reference sources, enable advancements in technology, and
increase efficiency of the National Airspace System (NAS).
Today's Action
The FAA has received requests to extend the comment period from
Aeronautical Radio Inc., Airline Dispatchers Federation, the Air
Transport Association, Alaska Airlines, Boeing, Continental Airlines,
Delta Air Lines, Northwest Airlines, the Regional Airline Association,
United Parcel Service, and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.
Each organization stated that it needed additional time to review the
NPRM and formulate its responses. The FAA has also received comments on
the proposed amendments to communications and navigation equipment
requirements, and instrument approach procedure terminology. These
particular comments were substantive and reflected significant public
interest in the many areas of the proposed amendments. Based on these
considerations, the FAA has determined that it is in the public
interest to reopen the comment period for certain portions of the NPRM.
However, for reasons discussed below, this docket will remain closed
for comments addressing the following proposed amendments:
Part 1--Definitions and Abbreviations, under Sec. 1.1 General
definitions, the terms ``Air Traffic Service (ATS) route,'' ``Area
navigation (RNAV),'' ``Area navigation (RNAV) route,'' and ``Route
segment.''
Part 71--Designation of Class A, Class B, Class C, Class D, and
Class E Airspace Areas; Air Traffic Service Routes; and Reporting
Points, Sec. Sec. 71.11, 71.13, 71.15, 71.73, 71.75, 71.77, and 71.79.
Part 95--IFR Altitudes, Sec. 95.1.
Part 97--Standard Instrument Procedures, Sec. 97.20.
[[Page 16993]]
The FAA has issued a separate final rule with request for comments
for these proposed amendments. The separate final rule with request for
comment is in today's Federal Register. The separate rule action will
enable the FAA to proceed with the design and development phase of a
high altitude RNAV route structure. The FAA believes that these
amendments can be adopted separately without adverse impact on the
continuing rulemaking process on the remaining proposed amendments in
the NPRM.
The FAA has decided to accommodate the requests to reopen and
extend the comment period. Based on the number of requests for
extension, the FAA believes that the additional time is necessary for
the public to fully analyze and comment on the proposed amendments.
Conclusion
In accordance with 14 CFR 11.47(c), the FAA has reviewed the
requests for an extension of the comment period on ``Area Navigation
(RNAV) and Miscellaneous Amendments'' published in the Federal Register
December 17, 2002, and grants the requests in part.
Except as explained above and separately in this issue of the
Federal Register, the comment period for the proposed RNAV operations
and equipment provisions is reopened for an additional 90-day period
until July 7, 2003.
Issued in Washington, DC, on March 28, 2003.
Louis C. Cusimano,
Acting Director, Flight Standards Service.
[FR Doc. 03-8287 Filed 4-7-03; 8:45 am]
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