[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 32 (Wednesday, February 18, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 8153-8154]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-3958]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 98-AWP-2]


Proposed Modification of Class E Airspace; Porterville, CA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: This document proposes to modify the Class E airspace area at 
Porterville, CA. The establishment of a Global Positioning System (GPS) 
Standard Instrument Approach Procedure (SIAP) to Runway (RWY) 12 and a 
GPS SIAP to RWY 30 at Porterville Municipal Airport has made this 
proposal necessary. Additional controlled airspace extending upward 
from 700 feet or more above the surface of the Earth is needed to 
contain aircraft executing the GPS RWY 12 SIAP and GPS RWY 30 SIAP to 
Porterville Municipal Airport. The intended effect of this proposal is 
to provide adequate controlled airspace for Instrument Flight Rules 
(IFR) operations at Porterville Municipal Airport, Porterville, CA.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 31, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on the proposal in triplicate to: Federal 
Aviation Administration, Attn: Manager, Airspace Branch, AWP-520, 
Docket No. 98-AWP-2, Air Traffic Division, 15000 Aviation Boulevard, 
Lawndale, California, 90261.
    The official docket may be examined in the Office of the Assistant 
Chief Counsel, Western Pacific Region, Federal Aviation Administration, 
Room 6007, 15000 Aviation Boulevard, Lawndale, California 90261.
    An informal docket may also be examined during normal business 
hours at the Office of the Manager, Airspace Branch, Air Traffic 
Division at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Larry Tonish, Airspace Specialist, 
Airspace Branch, AWP-520, Air Traffic Division, Western-Pacific Region, 
Federal Aviation Administration, 15000 Aviation Boulevard, Lawndale, 
California, 90261, telephone (310) 725-6531.

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 the comments a self-addressed, stamped postcard on which 
the following statement is made: ``Comments to Airspace Docket No. 98-
AWP-2.'' 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 Airspace Branch, Air Traffic Division, 15000 
Aviation Boulevard, Lawndale, California 90261, 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

    Any person may obtain a copy of this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 
(NPRM) by submitting a request to the Federal

[[Page 8154]]

Aviation Administration, Airspace Branch, 1500 Aviation Boulevard, 
Lawndale, California 90261. 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 procedures.

The Proposal

    The FAA is considering an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 to modify the 
Class E airspace area at Porterville, CA. The establishment of a GPS 
RWY 12 SIAP and GPS RWY 30 SIAP at Porterville Municipal Airport has 
made this proposal necessary. Additional controlled airspace extending 
upward from 700 feet above the surface is needed to contain aircraft 
executing the approach and departure procedures at Porterville 
Municipal Airport. The intended effect of this proposal is to provide 
adequate controlled airspace for aircraft executing the GPS RWY 12 SIAP 
and GPS RWY 30 SIAP at Porterville Municipal Airport, Porterville, CA. 
Class E airspace designations for airspace areas extending upward from 
700 feet or more above the surface of the Earth are published in 
paragraph 6005 of FAA Order 7400.9E 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 published subsequently in this 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 
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 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--DESIGNATION OF CLASS A, CLASS B, CLASS C, CLASS D, AND 
CLASS E AIRSPACE AREAS; 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 the 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 6005  Class E airspace areas extending upward from 700 
feet or more above the surface of the earth.

* * * * *

AWP CA E5  Porterville, CA [Revised]

Porterville Municipal Airport, CA
    (Lat. 36 deg.01'48'' N., long. 119 deg.03'46'' W.)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
with a 6.5-mile radius of the Porterville Municipal Airport and 
within an area bounded by a line beginning at lat. 35 deg.58'00'' 
N., long. 118 deg.57'30'' W.; to lat 35 deg.48'30'' N. long. 
118 deg.51'00'' W.; to lat. 35 deg.47'30'' N., long. 119 deg.01'00'' 
W.; to lat. 35 deg.55'30'' W., long. 119 deg.02'00'' W., thence 
counterclockwise along the 6.5-miles radius of the Porterville 
Municipal Airport to the point of beginning.
* * * * *
    Issued in Los Angeles, California, on January 22, 1998.
John G. Clancy,
Assistant Manager, Air Traffic Division, Western-Pacific Region.
[FR Doc. 98-3958 Filed 2-17-98; 8:45 am]
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