[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 84 (Thursday, May 1, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 23654-23655]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-11366]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 96-ASW-35]


Revision of Class E Airspace; Killeen, TX

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Direct final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This action revises the Class E airspace at Robert Gray Army 
Airfield, Killeen, TX. A new Global Positioning System (GPS) Standard 
Instrument Approach Procedure (SIAP) to Runway (RWY) 33 and a new Very 
High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR)/Distance Measuring Equipment 
(DME) SIAP to RWY 15 have made this rule necessary. This action is 
intended to provide adequate Class E airspace to contain Instrument 
Flight Rule (IFR) operations for aircraft executing the GPS SIAP to RWY 
33 and the VOR/DME SIAP to RWY 15 at Robert Gray Army Airfield, 
Killeen, TX.

DATES: Effective: 0901 UTC, September 11, 1997; Comment Date: Comments 
must be received on or before June 16, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on the rule in triplicate to Manager, Airspace 
Branch, Air Traffic Division, Federal Aviation Administration, 
Southwest Region, Docket No. 96-ASW-35, Fort Worth, TX 76193-0530.
    The official docket may be examined in the Office of the Assistant 
Chief Counsel, Federal Aviation Administration, Southwest Region, 2601 
Meacham Boulevard, Room 663, Fort Worth, TX, between 9:00 AM and 3:00 
PM, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. An informal docket 
may also be examined during normal business hours at the Airspace 
Branch, Air Traffic Division, Federal Aviation Administration, 
Southwest Region, Room 414, Fort Worth, TX.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donald J. Day, Airspace Branch, Air 
Traffic Division, Southwest Region, Federal Aviation Administration, 
Fort Worth, TX 76193-0530, telephone 817-222-5593.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    This amendment to part 71 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 
CFR part 71) revises the Class E airspace to providing sufficient 
controlled airspace for IFR operations at Robert Gray Army Airfield, 
Killeen, TX. A new Global Positioning System (GPS) Standard Instrument 
Approach Procedure (SIAP) to Runway (RWY) 33 and a new Very High 
Frequency Ombidirectional Range (VOR)/Distance Measuring Equipment 
(DME) SIAP to RWY 15 have made this rule necessary. This revision will 
avoid confusion on the part of the pilots flying near the airport, and 
promote the safe and efficient handling of air traffic in the area. 
This action will revise the Class E airspace at Robert Gray Army 
Airfield, Killeen, TX.
    Class E airspace designations 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

[[Page 23655]]

CFR Sec. 71.1. The Class E airspace designation listed in this document 
will be published subsequently in the order.

The Direct Final Rule Procedure

    The FAA anticipates that this regulation will not result in adverse 
or negative comment and therefore is issuing it as a direct final rule. 
A substantial number of previous opportunities provided to the public 
to comment on substantially identical actions have resulted in 
negligible adverse comments or objections.
    Unless a written adverse or negative comment, or a written notice 
of intent to submit an adverse or negative comment is received within 
the comment period, the regulation will become effective on the date 
specified above. After the close of the comment period, the FAA will 
publish a document in the Federal Register indicating that no adverse 
or negative comments were received and confirming the date on which the 
final rule will become effective. If the FAA does receive, within the 
comment period, an adverse or negative comment, or written notice of 
intent to submit such a comment, a document withdrawing the direct 
final rule will be published in the Federal Register, and a notice of 
proposed rulemaking may be published with a new comment period.

Comments Invited

    Although this action is in the form of a final rule and was not 
preceded by a notice of proposed rulemaking, comments are invited on 
this rule. Interested persons are invited to comment on this rule by 
submitting such written data, views, or arguments as they may desire. 
Communications should identify the Rules Docket number and be submitted 
in triplicate to the address specified under the caption ADDRESSES. All 
communications received on or before the closing date for comments will 
be considered, and this rule may be amended or withdrawn in light of 
the comments received. Factual information that supports the 
commenter's ideas and suggestions is extremely helpful in evaluating 
the effectiveness of this action and determining whether additional 
rulemaking action is needed.
    Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the rule that might 
suggest a need to modify the rule. All comments submitted will be 
available, both before and after the closing date for comments, in the 
Rules Docket for examination by interested persons. A report that 
summarizes each FAA-public contact concerned with the substance of this 
action will be filed in the Rules Docket.
    Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments 
submitted in response to this rule must submit a self-addressed, 
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments 
to Docket No. 96-ASW-35.'' The postcard will be date stamped and 
returned to the commenter.

Agency Findings

    The regulations adopted herein will not have substantial direct 
effects on the States, on the relationship between the national 
government and the States, or on the distribution of power and 
responsibilities among the various level of government. Therefore, in 
accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this final 
rule does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the 
preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
    Further, the FAA has determined that this regulation is 
noncontroversial and unlikely to result in adverse or negative comments 
and only involves an established body of technical regulations that 
require frequent and routine amendments to keep them operationally 
current. Therefore, I certify that this 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 FR 11034; February 26, 1979); and (3) if promulgated, will not have 
a significant economic impact, positive or negative, on a substantial 
number of small entities under the criteria of the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act. Since this rule involves routine matters that will 
only affect air traffic procedures and air navigation, it does not 
warrant preparation of a Regulatory Flexibility Analysis because the 
anticipated impact is so minimal.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71

    Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).

Adoption of the Amendment

    In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation 
Administration amends 14 CFR part 71 as follows:

PART 71--[AMENDED]

    1. The authority citation for 14 CFR part 71 continues to read as 
follows:

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


Sec. 71.1  [Amended]

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

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

* * * * *

ASW TX E5 Killeen, TX [Revised]

Robert Gray Army Airfield (AAF), TX
    (lat. 31 deg.03'54''N., long. 97 deg.49'40''W.)
Hood Army Airfield (AAF), TX
    (lat. 31 deg.08'16''N., long. 97 deg.42'51''W.)
Gray VOR/DME
    (lat. 31 deg.01'58''N., long. 97 deg.48'50''W.)
Killeen Municipal Airport, TX
    (lat. 31 deg.05'09''N., long. 97 deg.41'11''W.)
Iresh NDB
    (lat. 31 deg.01'27''N., long. 97 deg.42'29''W.)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 7.6-mile radius of Robert Gray AAF and within a 6.3-mile 
radius of Hood AAF and within 1.8 miles each side of the 037 deg. 
and 217 deg. radials of the Gray VOR/DME extending from the 7.6-mile 
radius to 14.6 miles southwest of the airfield and within a 6.5-mile 
radius of Killeen Municipal Airport and within 2.1 miles each side 
of the 197 deg. bearing from the Iresh NDB extending from the 6.5-
mile radius to 10.1 miles south of the airport, and within 1.7 miles 
each side of the 064 deg. and 244 deg. radials of the Gray VOR/DME 
extending from the 7.6-mile radius to 13.9 miles west of the 
airport, and within 2.0 miles each side of the 150 deg. bearing from 
Robert Gray AAF extending from the 7.6-mile radius to 11.6 miles 
southeast of the airfield, and within 2.0 miles each side of the 
339 deg. bearing from Robert Gray AAF extending from the 7.6-mile 
radius to 10.3 miles northwest of the airfield.
* * * * *
    Issued in Fort Worth, TX, on April 22, 1997.
Albert L. Viselli,
Acting Manager, Air Traffic Division, Southwest Region.
[FR Doc. 97-11366 Filed 4-30-97; 8:45 am]
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