[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 200 (Thursday, October 16, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 53739-53740]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-27376]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 97-AAL-9]


Revocation of Class D Airspace; Anchorage, Bryant AHP, AK, and 
Adak, AK; Revision of Class E Airspace; Adak, AK

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action revokes the Class D airspace at Bryant Army 
Heliport (AHP), Anchorage, AK, and at Adak Naval Air Station (NAS), AK. 
The Department of the Army closed the Bryant AHP tower on September 27, 
1995, and transferred operational control of Bryant AHP to the Alaska 
National Guard. The Department of the Navy closed the Adak tower on 
March 31, 1997, following the approval of the 1995 Base Realignment and 
Closure Commission's recommendation to close Adak NAS, AK, by the 
Congress of the United States. Additionally, the Class E airspace 
description at Adak, AK, will be revised to reflect part-time (less 
than 24-hours a day) operations. The intended effect of this action is 
to revise the effective times for the Class E airspace at Adak, AK, and 
also to revoke the Class D airspace at Bryant AHP, and at Adak NAS, AK, 
since the purpose and requirements for these surface areas no longer 
exist.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 0901 Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), November 17, 
1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Robert van Haastert, Operations 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]; Internet: http://www.alaska.faa.gov/at 
or at http://162.58.28.41/at.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Department of the Army closed the Bryant AHP tower on September 
27, 1995, and transferred operational control of Bryant AHP to the 
Alaska National Guard. The Department of the Navy closed the Adak NAS 
tower on March 31, 1997, following the approval of the 1995 Base 
Realignment and Closure Commission's recommendation to close Adak NAS, 
AK, by the Congress of the United States. The purpose and requirements 
for these Class D surface areas no longer exist. The Class E effective 
times at Adak, AK, currently reflect continuous, 24-hour a day 
operations. This situation no longer exists and the effective times 
will be changed to indicate a part-time operation.
    The coordinates for this airspace docket are based on North 
American Datum 83. The Class D airspace areas designated as surface 
areas are published in paragraph 5000 of FAA Order 7400.9E, Airspace 
Designations and Reporting Points, dated September 10, 1997, and 
effective September 16, 1997, which is incorporated by reference in 14 
CFR 71.1(62 FR 52491; October 8, 1997). FAA Order 7400.9E, paragraph 
6004, lists the Class E airspace areas designated as an extension to a 
Class D or Class E surface area. The Class D airspace descriptions 
listed in this document will be removed from the Order. The Class E 
airspace revision listed in this document will be published 
subsequently in the Order.

The Rule

    The FAA is amending part 71 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 
CFR part 71) to revoke the Class D airspace at Bryant Army Heliport 
(AHP), Anchorage, AK and at Adak NAS, AK. Additionally, the Class E 
effective times at Adak NAS, AK, will change from continuous to part 
time. The Class D airspace designation listed in this document will be 
revoked and the Class E airspace revision listed in this document will 
be published with two additional sentences to reflect the part-time 
effective times.
    Accordingly, since the purpose and requirements for the Class D 
surface areas at Bryant AHP and Adak NAS no longer exist, notice and 
public procedure under 5 U.S.C. 553(b) for revoking this airspace are 
unnecessary. Since the closure of the tower is merely causing a 
reduction of the effective hours of the Class E airspace at Adak NAS, 
notice and public procedure under 5 U.S.C. 553(b) is unnecessary.
    The FAA has determined that these 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).

Adoption of the Amendment

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

[[Page 53740]]

PART 71--DESIGNATION OF CLASS A, CLASS B, CLASS C, CLASS D, AND 
CLASS E AIRSPACE AREAS; AIRWAYS; ROUTES; AND REPORTING POINTS

    1. The authority citation for 14 CFR 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.


Sec. 71.1  [Amended]

    2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of Federal 
Aviation Administration Order 7400.9E, Airspace Designations and 
Reporting Points, dated September 10, 1997, and effective September 16, 
1997, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 5000  Class D Airspace

* * * * *

AAL AK D Anchorge, Bryant AHP, AK [Removed]

* * * * *

AAL AK D Adak, AK  [Removed]

* * * * *

Paragraph 6004  Class E airspace areas designated as an extension 
to a Class D or Class E surface area.

* * * * *

AAL AK E4 Adak, AK  [Revised]

Adak NAS Airport, AK

(Lat. 51 deg.52'53'' N. long. 176 deg.38'50'' W)

Adak NDB

(Lat. 51 deg.55'01'' N, long. 176 deg.34'01'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface within 3.8 miles 
each side of the 053 deg. bearing from the Adak NDB extending from 
the 4.5-mile radius of the Adak NAS to 6.4 miles northeast of the 
Adak NDB. This Class E airspace area is effective during the 
specific dates and times established in advance by a Notice to 
Airmen. The effective date and time will thereafter be continuously 
published in the Supplement Alaska (Airport/Facility Directory).
* * * * *
    Issued in Anchorage, AK, on September 10, 1997.
Willis C. Nelson,
Manager, Air Traffic Division, Alaskan Region.
[FR Doc. 97-27376 Filed 10-15-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M