[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 83 (Wednesday, April 30, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 23406-23407]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-11224]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 97-AEA-022]


Proposed Establishment of Class E Airspace; Fort McHenry, MD

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: This proposed rule would establish Class E airspace at Fort 
McHenry, MD. The development of a new Standard Instrument Approach 
Procedure (SIAP), Helicopter Point In Space Approach based on the 
Global Positioning System (GPS), and serving the Maryland State Police 
Heliport, Fort McHenry, MD has made this proposal necessary. The 
intended effort of this proposal is to provide adequate controlled 
airspace for Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations to the heliport. 
The area would be depicted on aeronautical charts for pilot reference.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 30, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on the proposed rule in triplicate to: 
Manager, Operations Branch, AEA-530, Docket No. 97-AEA-022, F.A.A. 
Eastern Region, Federal Building #111, John F. Kennedy Int'l Airport, 
Jamaica, NY 11430. The official docket may be examined in the Office of 
the Assistant Chief Counsel, AEA-7, F.A.A. Eastern Region, Federal 
Building #111, John F. Kennedy International Airport, Jamaica, New York 
11430.
    An informal docket may also be examined during normal business 
hours in the Operations Branch, AEA-530, F.A.A. Eastern Region, Federal 
Building #111, John F. Kennedy International Airport, Jamaica, NY 
11430.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Francis T. Jordan, Jr., Airspace Specialist, Operations Branch, 
AEA-530, F.A.A. Eastern Region, Federal Building #111, John F. Kennedy 
International Airport, Jamaica, New York 11430; telephone: (718) 553-
4521.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    Interested parties are invited to participate in this proposed 
rulemaking by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as they 
may desire. Comments that provide the factual basis supporting the 
views and suggestions presented are particularly helpful in developing 
reasoned regulatory decisions on the proposal. Comments are 
specifically invited on the overall regulatory, aeronautical, economic, 
environmental, and energy related aspects of the proposal. 
Communications should identify the airspace docket number and be 
submitted in triplicate to the address listed above. Commenters wishing 
the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments on this notice must 
submit with those comments a self-addressed, stamped postcard on which 
the following statement is made: ``Comments to Airspace Docket No. 97-
AEA-022''. The postcard will be date/time stamped and returned to the 
commenter.
    All communications received before the specified closing date for 
comments will be considered before taking action on the proposed rule. 
The proposal contained in this notice may be changed in the light of 
comments received. All comments submitted will be available for 
examination in the Rules Docket both before and after the closing date 
for comments. A report summarizing each substantive public contact with 
the FAA personnel concerned with this rulemaking will be filed in the 
docket.

Availability of NPRMs

    Any person may obtain a copy of this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 
(NPRM) by submitting a request to the Office of the Assistant Chief 
Counsel, AEA-7, F.A.A. Eastern Region, Federal Building #111, John F. 
Kennedy International Airport, Jamaica, NY 11430. Communications must 
identify the notice number of this NPRM. Persons interested in being 
placed on a mailing list for future NPRM's should also request a copy 
of Advisory Circular No. 11-2A, which describes the application 
procedure.

The Proposal

    The FAA is considering an amendment to Part 71 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 71) to establish Class E airspace 
extending upward from 700 feet above the surface (AGL) at Fort McHenry, 
MD. A GPS Point In Space Approach has been developed for the Maryland 
State Police Heliport. Additional controlled airspace extending upward 
from 700 feet above the surface (AGL) is needed to accommodate this 
approach and for IFR operations to the heliport. The area would be 
depicted on appropriate aeronautical charts.
    Class E airspace designations for airspace extending upward from 
700 feet above the surface are published in Paragraph 6005 of FAA Order 
7400.9D, dated September 4, 1996, and effective September 16, 1996, 
which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Class E airspace 
designation listed in this document would be published subsequently in 
the Order.
    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. 
Therefore, this proposed regulation--(1) is not a ``significant 
regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866; (2) is not a 
``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44

[[Page 23407]]

FR 11034; February 26, 1979); and (3) does not warrant preparation of a 
regulatory evaluation as the anticipated impact is so minimal. Since 
this is a routine matter that would only affect air traffic procedures 
and air navigation, it is certified that this proposed rule would not 
have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities under the criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

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--[AMENDED]

    1. The authority citation for Part 71 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40103, 40113, 40120; E.O. 10854; 24 
FR 9565, 3 CFR, 1959-1963 Comp., p. 389; 14 CFR 11.69.

    2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of the Federal 
Aviation Administration Order 7400.9D, dated September 4, 1996, and 
effective September 16, 1996, is proposed to be amended as follows:

Paragraph 6005  Class E airspace areas extending upward from 700 
feet or more above the surface of the earth

* * * * *

AEA MD E5 Fort McHenry, MD [New]

Maryland State Police Heliport, MD
Point In Space Coordinates
    (lat. 39 deg. 15' 16''N., long. 76 deg. 34' 06''W.)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6-mile radius of the Point In Space serving Maryland State 
Police Heliport excluding that portion that coincides with the 
Baltimore, MD Class E airspace area.
* * * * *
    Issued in Jamaica, New York, on April 18, 1997.
John S. Walker,
Manager, Air Traffic Division, Eastern Region.
[FR Doc. 97-11224 Filed 4-29-97; 8:45 am]
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