FAA Proposes Airway Changes Near Hays, Kansas VOR
Published Date: 7/31/2026
Proposed Rule
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.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Hays VOR causes airway cuts
The FAA proposes to decommission the VOR portion of the Hays, KS VORTAC, which would shorten or remove segments of Jet Route J-24 and VOR Federal Airways V-244 and V-508, and would revoke V-255 entirely. This will create a wider gap in J-24 and shortened V-244 and V-508 segments around Hays, Kansas.
FAA expects de minimis operator costs
The FAA says this proposal is expected to result in, at most, de minimis costs from compliance or minor flight rerouting for operators. The FAA also certifies the proposal will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities under the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
RNAV-equipped IFR pilots retain routing
IFR pilots with Area Navigation (RNAV) performance-based navigation (PBN) capability can navigate point-to-point using existing fixes and Area Navigation Routes Q-90, T-312, and T-431 through the affected area. That means RNAV-equipped aircraft can continue operations through the area despite the VOR decommissioning.
TACAN at Hays will be kept
Although the VOR portion of the Hays VORTAC is proposed for decommissioning, the co-located TACAN portion will be retained to support current and future NextGen PBN procedures. Keeping the TACAN maintains a ground-based navigation source for users that rely on TACAN services.
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