[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 232 (Wednesday, December 3, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 63917-63918]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-31697]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 97-AAL-11]


Proposed Revocation of Class E Airspace; Wrangell, AK, and 
Petersburg, AK

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This action proposes to revoke the Class E surface area 
airspace at Wrangell, AK, and Petersburg, AK. Plans to develop Required 
Navigation Performance (RNP) instrument approach procedures at these 
airports have been cancelled or delayed indefinitely. Consequently, the 
surface areas at Wrangell Airport and Petersburg James A Johnson 
Airport are no longer necessary for air traffic operations. Adoption of 
this proposal would result in the affected airspace reverting to Class 
G.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before January 20, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on this proposal in triplicate to: Manager, 
Operations Branch, AAL-530, Docket No. 97-AAL-11, 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, Operations Branch, Air Traffic 
Division, at the address shown above and on the Internet at Alaskan 
Region's homepage at http://www.alaska.faa.gov/at or at address http://
162.58.28.41/at.

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

    In May 1996, rulemaking actions were initiated to create surface 
area airspace at the Wrangell Airport and the Petersburg James A 
Johnson Airport to support new RNP instrument approach procedures. 
Alaska Airlines planned to develop RNP approaches to runways 27 and 9 
at Wrangell Airport, and for runways 4 and 22 at Petersburg James A 
Johnson Airport. These new RNP approaches were to be designed with 
minimums below 700 feet Above Ground Level (AGL). The establishment of 
surface areas at both airports was requested and the Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking (NPRM) was published June 24, 1996 (61 FR 32372). No 
comments to the NPRM were received and the Final Rule was published 
October 16, 1996 (61 FR 53844), establishing new surface areas for 
Wrangell Airport and Petersburg James A Johnson Airport. After the 
Juneau Sectional Aeronautical Chart, 37th edition, was published on 
April 24, 1997, the FAA received one Congressional Inquiry and 
additional letters of concern and objections to the surface areas at 
both airports. Letters have been received from Sunrise Aviation INC., 
Nordic Air, Temsco Helicopters INC., Pacific Wing INC., Taquan Air, and 
Hawkair Aviation Services LTD objecting to the establishment of these 
surface areas without an apparent purpose and usage. Alaska Airlines 
has indicated to the FAA their RNP instrument approach development for 
Wrangell Airport and Petersburg James A Johnson Airport has been 
delayed and development of new RNP approaches is not scheduled in the 
immediate future.

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-
AAL-11.'' 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

[[Page 63918]]

of comments received. All comments submitted will be available for 
examination in the Operations 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 Operations 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 14 CFR part 71 to remove the 
Class E airspace at Wrangell, AK, and Petersburg, AK. The coordinates 
for this airspace docket are based on North American Datum 83. The 
Class E airspace areas designated as surface areas for an airport are 
published in paragraph 6002 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. The Class 
E airspace designation listed in this document would be removed 
subsequently from 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. 
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--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 to be amended as follows:

Paragraph 6002  The Class E airspace areas listed below are 
designated as a surface area for an airport

* * * * *

AAL AK E2  Petersburg, AK [Removed]

* * * * *

AAL AK E2  Wrangell, AK [Removed]

* * * * *
    Issued in Anchorage, AK, on November 5, 1997.
Willis C. Nelson,
Manager, Air Traffic Division, Alaskan Region.
[FR Doc. 97-31697 Filed 12-2-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P