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AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION:

Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM); partial reopening of comment period.

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.

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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.

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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 § 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, §§ 71.11, 71.13, 71.15, 71.73, 71.75, 71.77, and 71.79.

Part 95—IFR Altitudes, § 95.1.

Part 97—Standard Instrument Procedures, § 97.20. Start Printed 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.

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