[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 112 (Wednesday, June 11, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 31770-31771]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-15308]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 97-AAL-7]


Proposed Establishment of Class E Airspace; Huslia, AK

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: This action establishes Class E airspace at Huslia, AK. The 
development of Very High Frequency (VHF) omni-directional radio range 
(VOR) and VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) instrument approaches 
to RWY 3 and RWY 21 have made this action necessary. This action will 
change the airport status from Visual Flight Rules (VFR) to Instrument 
Flight Rules (IFR). The area would be depicted on appropriate 
aeronautical charts thereby enabling pilots to circumnavigate the area 
or otherwise comply with IFR procedures. The intended effect of this 
proposal is to provide adequate controlled airspace for IFR operations, 
segregating aircraft using instrument conditions from other aircraft 
operating in visual weather conditions, at Huslia Airport, AK.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 28, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on the proposal in triplicate to: Manager, 
System Management Branch, AAL-530, Docket No. 97-AAL-7, Federal 
Aviation Administration, 222 West 7th Avenue, Box 14, Anchorage, AK 
99513-7587.
    The official docket may be examined in the Office of the Assistant 
Chief Counsel for the Alaskan Region at the same address.
    An informal docket may also be examined during normal business 
hours in the Office of the Manager, System Management Branch, Air 
Traffic Division, at the address shown above and on the Internet at the 
Alaskan Region's homepage at http://www.alaska.faa.gov/at.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert van Haastert, System Management 
Branch, AAL-538, Federal Aviation Administration, 222 West 7th Avenue, 
Box 14, Anchorage, AK 99513-7587; telephone number: (907) 271-5863; 
email: Robert.van.H[email protected].

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

[[Page 31771]]

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-AAL-7.'' The postcard will be 
date/time stamped and returned to the commenter. All communications 
received on or 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 light of comments received. 
All comments submitted will be available for examination in the System 
Management Branch, Air Traffic Division, Federal Aviation 
Administration, 222 West 7th Avenue, Box 14, Anchorage, AK, both before 
and after the closing date for comments. A report summarizing each 
substantive public contact with FAA personnel concerned with this 
rulemaking will be filed in the docket.

Availability of NPRM's

    Any person may obtain a copy of this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 
(NPRM) by submitting a request to the System Management Branch, AAL-
530, Federal Aviation Administration, 222 West 7th Avenue, Box 14, 
Anchorage, AK 99513-7587. 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 to 
accommodate aircraft executing the VOR instrument approach procedures 
at Huslia, AK. Controlled airspace extending upward from 700 to 1200 
feet above the ground (AGL) is needed to contain aircraft executing the 
approach. This action will change the airport status from Visual Flight 
Rules (VFR) to Instrument Flight Rules (IFR). The coordinates for this 
airspace docket are based on North American Datum 83. The Class E 
airspace areas designated as 700/1200 foot transition areas are 
published in paragraph 6005 of FAA Order 7400.9D, Airspace Designations 
and Reporting Points, dated September 4, 1996, and effective September 
16, 1996, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 (61 FR 
48403; September 13, 1996). The intended effect of this proposal is to 
provide adequate controlled airspace for IFR operations, segregating 
aircraft using instrument conditions from other aircraft operating in 
visual weather conditions, at Huslia Airport, AK. The Class E airspace 
designation listed in this document would be published subsequently in 
the Order.
    The FAA has determined that these proposed regulations only involve 
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 
Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 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 
will only affect air traffic procedures and air navigation, it is 
certified that this rule, when promulgated, will 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 14 CFR Part 71 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 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 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 extending upward from 700 feet or 
more above the surface of the earth.

* * * * *

AAL AK E5  Huslia, AK

Huslia Airport, AK
(Lat. 65 deg. 41' 50'' N, long. 156 deg. 23' 21'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.5-mile radius of the Huslia Airport.
* * * * *
    Issued in Anchorage, AK, on June 3, 1997.
Willis C. Nelson,
Manager, Air Traffic Division, Alaskan Region.
[FR Doc. 97-15308 Filed 6-10-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P