FAA Shuffles Midwest Sky Highways as VOR Goes Dark
Published Date: 2/4/2025
Rule
Summary
The FAA is updating some air routes in the Northcentral U.S. because they're shutting down the Iron Mountain VOR navigation system. This means changes to four VOR airways and one Canadian RNAV route, plus a brand-new U.S. RNAV route is being created. These changes take effect on April 17, 2025, and pilots flying in this area will need to follow the new routes—no extra costs for the public.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Airway Changes After Iron Mountain VOR Shutdown
Pilots and aircraft operators flying in the Northcentral U.S. must use amended VOR Federal Airways V-9, V-78, V-341, and V-430 because the Iron Mountain, MI VOR is being decommissioned; these route changes take effect 0901 UTC on April 17, 2025. The rule requires following the revised airway segments (for example, removed segments on V-9, V-78, V-341, and V-430) but the FAA says there will be no added costs for the public.
New RNAV Route T-490 Replaces Removed Segment
The FAA establishes U.S. RNAV Route T-490 between Ironwood, MI (IWD) and Escanaba, MI (ESC) to mitigate the removed V-430 segment and to provide RNAV guidance around the Big Bear, MI Military Operations Area (MOA). This new route becomes effective 0901 UTC on April 17, 2025 and lists coordinates for the route's waypoints.
FAA Certified Minimal Economic Impact on Small Entities
The FAA certified this airway amendment and the Iron Mountain VOR decommissioning are routine and will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities under the Regulatory Flexibility Act. The agency states the anticipated impact is minimal and no regulatory evaluation was prepared.
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