Amendment of United States Area Navigation (RNAV) Route T-437; Eastern United States

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part 71 [Docket No. FAA-2026-1062; Airspace Docket No. 25-AEA-12] RIN 2120-AA66 Amendment of United States Area Navigation (RNAV) Route T-437; Eastern United States AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: This action amends United States Area Navigation (RNAV) Route T-437 in the eastern United States. This action supports FAA Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) efforts to provide a modern RNAV route structure to improve the safety and efficiency of the National Airspace System (NAS). DATES: Effective date 0901 UTC, December 24, 2026. The Director of the Federal Register approves this incorporation by reference action under 1 CFR part 51, subject to the annual revision of FAA Order JO 7400.11 and publication of conforming amendments. ADDRESSES: A copy of the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), all comments received, this final rule, and all background material may be viewed online at www.regulations.gov using the FAA Docket number. Electronic retrieval help and guidelines are available on the website. It is available 24 hours each day, 365 days each year. An electronic copy of the document may also be downloaded from www.federalregister.gov. FAA Order JO 7400.11M, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, and subsequent amendments can be viewed online at www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/. You may also contact the Airspace Regulation Group, Operational Policy, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267-8783. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ashley Toth, Airspace Regulation Group, Operational Policy, 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 route structure to maintain the efficient flow of air traffic within the NAS. History The FAA published a NPRM for Docket No. FAA-2026-1062 in the Federal Register (91 FR 3696; January 28, 2026), proposing to amend RNAV Route T-437 in the eastern United States. Interested parties were invited to participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting written comments on the proposal to the FAA. Two comments were received. The first comment was supportive of the amendment and the second comment was not germane to the amendment of RNAV Route T-437. Incorporation by Reference United States Area Navigation Routes are published in paragraph 6011 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 amends the current version of that order, FAA Order JO 7400.11M, dated July 30, 2026, and effective September 15, 2026. These amendments will be published in the next update to FAA Order JO 7400.11. FAA Order JO 7400.11M, 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. The Rule This action amends 14 CFR part 71 by amending RNAV Route T-437 in the eastern United States. This action supports the FAA's NextGen efforts to provide a modern RNAV route structure to improve the safety and efficiency of the NAS. The amendments are described below. T-437: Prior to this final rule, T-437 extended between the SIROC, GA, waypoint (WP) and the ZOOMS, WV, Fix. The FAA is extending the airway to the north between the ZOOMS Fix and the Elkins, WV (EKN), Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) to provide connectivity for RNAV-equipped aircraft between the Zenith, WV, and the Elkins, WV, areas. As amended, the route is changed to now extend between the SIROC WP and the Elkins VORTAC. Regulatory Notices and Analyses 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 Order 2100.6B, “Rulemaking and Guidance Procedures” (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 amendments are routine and the expected impact to operators is de minimis, the FAA certifies that this rule, when promulgated, does not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. Environmental Review The FAA has determined that this airspace action of amending RNAV Route T-437 in the eastern United States qualifies for categorical exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. ) and in accordance with FAA Order 1050.1G, FAA National Environmental Policy Act Implementing Procedures, paragraph B-2.5(a), which categorically excludes from further environmental impact review rulemaking actions that designate or modify classes of airspace areas, airways, routes, and reporting points (see 14 CFR part 71, Designation of Class A, B, C, D, and E Airspace Areas; Air Traffic Service Routes; and Reporting Points); and paragraph B-2.5(b), which categorically excludes from further environmental impact review “Actions regarding establishment of jet routes and Federal airways (see 14 CFR 71.15, Designation of jet routes and VOR Federal airways ). . .”. As such, this action is not expected to result in any potentially significant environmental impacts. In accordance with the FAA's NEPA implementation policy and procedures regarding extraordinary circumstances, the FAA has reviewed this action for factors and circumstances in which a normally categorically excluded action may have a significant environmental impact requiring further analysis. The FAA has determined that no extraordinary circumstances exist that warrant preparation of an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement. List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71 Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air). The Amendment 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 1. The authority citation for 14 CFR Part 71 continues to read as follows: Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(f), 106(g), 40103, 40113, 40120; E.O. 10854, 24 FR 9565, 3 CFR, 1959-1963 Comp., p. 389. § 71.1 [Amended] 2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of FAA Order JO 7400.11M, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated July 30, 2026, and effective September 15, 2026, is amended as follows: Paragraph 6011 United States Area Navigation Routes.         T-437 SIROC, GA to Elkins, WV (EKN) [Amended] SIROC, GA WP (Lat. 31°03′02.32″ N, long. 081°26′45.89″ W) KELER, GA FIX (Lat. 31°55′07.40″ N, long. 081°11′09.14″ W) TBERT, GA WP (Lat. 32°08′46.76″ N, long. 081°11′57.44″ W) DURBE, SC WP (Lat. 33°00′44.75″ N, long. 081°17′32.69″ W) CAYCE, SC WP (Lat. 33°51′26.13″ N, long. 081°03′14.76″ W) CRLNA, NC WP (Lat. 35°12′49.48″ N, long. 080°56′57.32″ W) DANCO, VA WP (Lat. 37°05′15.75″ N, long. 080°42′46.45″ W) ZOOMS, WV FIX (Lat. 37°28′32.22″ N, long. 080°35′06.70″ W) RUFYO, WV WP (Lat. 37°41′35.12″ N, long. 080°32′47.89″ W) GRNBR, WV WP (Lat. 38°02′19.12″ N, long. 080°28′25.06″ W) KNEDL, WV WP (Lat. 38°42′35.52″ N, long. 080°15′15.38″ W) Elkins, WV (EKN) VORTAC (Lat. 38°54′51.97″ N, long. 080°05′57.38″ W) Issued in Washington, DC, on October 7, 2026. Brian Eric Konie, Acting Manager, Airspace Regulation Group. [FR Doc. 2026-20847 Filed 10-9-26; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-13-P