[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 51 (Tuesday, March 17, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 12991]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-6820]



[[Page 12991]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 97-AAL-11]


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

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action revokes the Class E surface area airspace at 
Wrangell, AK, and Peterburg, AK. Plans to develop Required Navigation 
Performance (RNP) instrument approach procedures at these airports have 
been canceled or delayed indefinitely. Consequently, the surface areas 
at Wrangell Airport and Petersburg James A Johnson Airport are not 
longer necessary for air traffic operations. This action will result in 
the affected airspace reverting to Class G.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 0901 Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), April 16, 1998.

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://www.mmac.jccbi.gov/aal/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 were 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 informed the FAA that their RNP instrument approach development for 
Wrangell Airport and Petersburg James A Johnson Airport has been 
delayed and that development of new RNP approaches is not scheduled in 
the immediate future.
    On December 3, 1997, a proposal to amend part 71 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 71) to revise the Class E airspace at 
Wrangell, AK, and Petersburg, AK, was published in the Federal Register 
(62 FR 63917). Interested parties were invited to participate in this 
rulemaking proceeding by submitting written comments on the proposal to 
the FAA. No negative comments to the proposal were received. Letters 
confirming their support for this proposal were received from Sunrise 
Aviation INC., Nordic Air, Temsco Helicopters INC., Pacific Wing INC., 
Taquan Air, and Hawkair Aviation Services LTD. Thus, the rule is 
adopted as written.

The Rule

    This amendment to part 71 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 
CFR part 71) revokes 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 
designations 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).

Adoption of the Amendment

    In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation 
Administration amends 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 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 March 9, 1998.
Willis C. Nelson,
Manager, Air Traffic Division, Alaskan Region.
[FR Doc. 98-6820 Filed 3-16-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M