2026-15602: Amendment of Jet Route J-24 and Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range Federal Airways V-244, V-508 and Revocation of Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range Federal Airway V-255 in the Vicinity of Hays, Kansas.

Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 146 (Friday, July 31, 2026) [Federal Register Volume 91, Number 146 (Friday, July 31, 2026)] [Proposed Rules] [Pages 48317-48319] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2026-15602] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part 71 [Docket No. FAA-2026-8291; Airspace Docket No. 25-ACE-4] RIN 2120-AA66 Amendment of Jet Route J-24 and Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range Federal Airways V-244, V-508 and Revocation of Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range Federal Airway V-255 in the Vicinity of Hays, Kansas.

Agency

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

Action

Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM). -----------------------------------------------------------------------

Summary

This action proposes to amend Jet Route J-24 and Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range Federal (VOR) Airways V-244 and V-508 and revoke VOR Federal Airway V-255 in the vicinity of Hays, Kansas. The FAA is proposing this action due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Hays, KS, VOR/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) navigational aid (NAVAID). The VOR portion of this NAVAID is being decommissioned as part of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) program. The TACAN portion of this NAVAID will be retained.

Dates

Comments must be received on or before September 14, 2026.

Addresses

Send comments identified by FAA Docket No. FAA-2026-8291 and Airspace Docket No. 25-ACE-4 using any of the following methods: * Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov and follow the online instructions for sending your comments electronically. * Mail: Send comments to Docket Operations, M-30; U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Room W58-213, West Building, 5th Floor, Washington, DC 20590. * Hand Delivery or Courier: Take comments to Docket Operations in Room W58-213 of the West Building, 5th Floor at 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. * Fax: Fax comments to Docket Operations at (202) 493-2251. Docket: Background documents or comments received may be read at www.regulations.gov at any time. Follow the online instructions for accessing the docket or go to the Docket Operations in Room W58-213 of the West Building, 5th Floor at 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. FAA Order JO 7400.11K, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, and subsequent amendments can be viewed online at www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/. You may also contact the Rules and Regulations Group, Policy Directorate, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW, Washington DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267- 8783.

For Further Information Contact

Steven Roff, Rules and Regulations Group, Policy Directorate, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267- 8783.

Supplementary Information

Authority for This Rulemaking The FAA's authority to issue rules regarding aviation safety is found in Title 49 of the United States Code. Subtitle I, Section 106 describes the authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII, Aviation Programs, describes in more detail the scope of the agency's authority. This rulemaking is promulgated under the authority described in Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart I, Section 40103. Under that section, the FAA is charged with prescribing regulations to assign the use of the airspace necessary to ensure the safety of aircraft and the efficient use of airspace. This regulation is within the scope of that authority as it would amend the airway structure as necessary to preserve the safe and efficient flow of air traffic within the National Airspace System. Comments Invited The FAA invites interested persons to participate in this rulemaking by submitting written comments, data, or views. Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory, aeronautical, economic, environmental, and energy-related aspects of the proposal. The most helpful comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. To ensure the docket does not contain duplicate comments, commenters should submit only one time if comments are filed electronically, or commenters should send only one copy of written comments if comments are filed in writing. The FAA will file in the docket all comments it receives, as well as a report summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA personnel concerning this proposed rulemaking. Before acting on this proposal, the FAA will consider all comments it receives on or before the closing date for comments. The FAA will consider comments filed after the comment period has closed if it is possible to do so without incurring expense or delay. The FAA may change this proposal in light of the comments it receives. Privacy: In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits comments from the public to better inform its rulemaking process. DOT posts these comments, without edit, including any personal information the commenter provides, to www.regulations.gov, as described in the system of records notice (DOT/ALL-14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at www.dot.gov/privacy. Availability of Rulemaking Documents An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded through the internet at www.regulations.gov. Recently published rulemaking documents can also be accessed through the FAA's web page at www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/airspace_amendments/. You may review the public docket containing the proposal, any comments received and any final disposition in person in the Dockets Operations office (see ADDRESSES section for address, phone number, and hours of operations). An informal docket may also be examined during normal business hours at the office of the Operations Support Group, Central Service Center, Federal Aviation Administration, 10101 Hillwood Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177. [[Page 48318]] Incorporation by Reference Jet Routes are published in paragraph 2004 and VOR Federal Airways are published in paragraph 6010 of FAA Order JO 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 on an annual basis. This document proposes to amend the current version of that order, FAA Order JO 7400.11K, dated August 4, 2025, and effective September 15, 2025. These updates would be published in the next update to FAA Order JO 7400.11. FAA Order JO 7400.11K, which lists Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and reporting points, is publicly available as listed in the ADDRESSES section of this document. Background The FAA is planning to decommission the VOR portion of the Hays, KS, VORTAC in support of the FAA's VOR MON program as listed in the Final policy statement notice, ``Provision of Navigation Services for the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) Transition to Performance-Based Navigation (PBN) (Plan for Establishing a VOR Minimum Operational Network),'' published in the Federal Register on July 26, 2016 (81 FR 48694), Docket No. FAA-2011-1082. Although the VOR portion of the Hays VORTAC is planned for decommissioning, the co-located TACAN portion of the NAVAID is being retained in support of current and future NextGen PBN procedures. The Air Traffic Service (ATS) routes affected by the planned decommissioning of the Hays VORTAC are Jet Route J-24 and VOR Federal Airways V-244, V-255, and V-508. The airspace fixes currently on each of the airways will be retained as conventional intersections or waypoints. With the planned decommissioning of the Hays, KS, VOR, the remaining ground-based NAVAIDs in the area will not support the continuity of the above-mentioned air traffic service (ATS) routes. As such, proposed modifications to V-244 and V-508 would result in the ATS routes being shortened, a wider gap in J-24 route segments, and a revocation of V-255. To overcome the gaps created in the airways and enroute structures, pilots may circumnavigate the affected area via the use of adjacent VOR Federal Airways including V-4 and V-132 in the low altitude stratum, J-80, J-102, J-154 and J-197 in the high altitude stratum, or request air traffic control radar vectors through the area. Additionally, Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) pilots equipped with Area Navigation (RNAV) PBN capabilities could also navigate point to point using the existing fixes that will remain in place to support continued operations through the affected area, via Area Navigation Routes Q-90, T-312 and T-431. Visual flight rules (VFR) pilots who elect to navigate via the airways through the affected area could also take advantage of the adjacent VOR Federal airways or ATC services listed previously. The Proposal The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 to amend Jet Route J-24 and VOR Federal Airways V-244 and V-508 and revoke VOR Federal Airway V-255 in the vicinity of Hays, Kansas. J-24: J-24 currently extends between the Myton, UT, VOR/DME and the Hays, KS, VORTAC, between the Salina, KS, VORTAC, and the Montebello, VA, VOR/DME. The FAA is proposing to revoke a portion that extends between the Hayden, CO, VOR/DME and the Hays VORTAC. As amended, J-24 would extend between the Myton VOR/DME and the Hayden VOR/DME, and between the Salina VORTAC and the Montebello VOR/DME. V-244: V-244 currently extends between Oakland, CA, VOR/DME and the Salina, KS, VORTAC, excluding the airspace within Restricted Areas R- 2531A and R-2531B when active. The FAA is proposing to revoke a portion that extends between Lamar, CO, VOR/DME and the Salina VORTAC. As amended, V-244 would extend between the Oakland VOR/DME and the Lamar VOR/DME, excluding the airspace within Restricted Areas R-2531A and R- 2531B. V-255: V-255 currently extends between Garden City, KS, VORTAC and the Hays, KS, VORTAC. The FAA is proposing to revoke this route in its entirety. V-508: V-508 currently extends between the Hill City, KS, VORTAC and the intersection of the Topeka, KS, VORTAC 112[deg] and the Kansas City, MO, VORTAC 228[deg] radials. The FAA is proposing to revoke a portion that extends between the Hill City VORTAC and the Salina, KS, VORTAC. As amended, V-508 would extend between the Salina VORTAC and the intersection of the Topeka, KS, VORTAC 112[deg] and the Kansas City, MO, VORTAC 228[deg] radials. Regulatory Notices and Analyses 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 Order 2100.6B, ``Rulemaking and Guidance Procedure'' (March 10, 2025); and (3) is expected to result in, at most, de minimis costs from compliance with applicable operating requirements or minor flight rerouting for operators choosing to navigate around the controlled airspace. Since these proposed amendments are routine and the expected impact to operators is de minimis, the FAA certifies that this proposed 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. Environmental Review This proposal will be subject to an environmental analysis in accordance with FAA Order 1050.1G, ``FAA National Environmental Policy Act Implementing Procedures'' prior to any FAA final regulatory action. 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--DESIGNATION OF CLASS A, B, C, D, AND E AIRSPACE AREAS; AIR TRAFFIC SERVICE ROUTES; AND REPORTING POINTS 0