[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 69 (Friday, April 10, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 17743-17744]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-9510]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 98-AAL-5]


Proposed Revision of Class E Airspace; Kotzebue, AK

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: This action revises Class E airspace at Kotzebue, AK. The 
establishment of Global Positioning System (GPS) instrument approaches 
to runway (RWY) 8 and RWY 26 at Kotzebue, AK, has made this action 
necessary. Adoption of this proposal would result in the provision of 
adequate controlled airspace for Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) 
operations at Kotzebue, AK.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 26, 1998

ADDRESSES: Send comments on the proposal in triplicate to: Manager, 
Operations Branch, AAL-530, Docket No. 98-AAL-5, Federal Aviation 
Administration, 222 West 7th Avenue, Box 14, Anchorage, AK 99513-7587.
    The official docket may be examined in the Office of the Regional 
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; fax: 
(907) 271-2850; email: Robert.van.H[email protected]. Internet 
address: http://www.alaska.faa.gov/at or at address http://
162.58.28.41/at.

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 those comments a self-addressed, stamped postcard on which 
the following statement is made: ``Comments to Airspace Docket No. 98-
AAL-5.'' 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 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 proposes to amend 14 CFR part 71 by revising the Class E 
airspace at Kotzebue, AK, due to the establishment of GPS instrument 
approaches to RWY 8 and RWY 26. The area would be depicted on 
aeronautical charts for pilot reference. The intended effect of this 
proposal is to provide adequate controlled airspace for IFR operations 
at Kotzebue, AK.
    The coordinates for this airspace docket are based on North 
American

[[Page 17744]]

Datum 83. The Class E airspace areas designated as 700/1200 foot 
transition areas are published in paragraph 6005 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). The Class E airspace 
designation listed in this document would be revised and 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-- 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 6005  Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet or 
more above the surface of the earth.

* * * * *

AAL AK E5  Kotzebue, AK

Kotzebue, Ralph Wien Memorial Airport, AK
    (Lat. 66 deg.53'05'' N, long. 162 deg.35'55'' W)
Kotzebue VOR/DME
    (Lat. 66 deg.53'08'' N, long. 162 deg.32'24'' W)
Hotham NDB
    (Lat. 66 deg.54'05'' N, long. 162 deg.33'52'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.8 mile radius of the Ralph Wien Memorial Airport and 
within 14 miles of the Kotzebue VOR/DME extending clockwise from the 
206 deg. radial to the 130 deg. radial and within 4 miles southeast 
and 8 miles northwest of the Hotham NDB 039 deg. bearing extending 
from the NDB to 16 miles northeast of the NDB and within 4 miles 
north and 8 miles south of the Kotzebue VOR/DME 278 deg. radial 
extending from the VOR/DME to 20 miles west of the VOR/DME; and that 
airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface within 
18 miles of the Kotzebue VOR/DME clockwise from the 020 deg. radial 
to the 130 deg. radial and within 38 miles of the Kotzebue VOR/DME 
clockwise from the 130 deg. radial to the 314 deg. radial and within 
4.3 miles each side of the Kotzebue VOR/DME 103 deg. radial 
extending from the VOR/DME to 34 miles east of the VOR/DME; and that 
airspace extending upward from 5,500 feet MSL within 4.3 miles each 
side of the Kotzebue VOR/DME 103 deg. radial extending from 34 miles 
east of the VOR/DME to 51.3 miles east of the VOR/DME; and that 
airspace extending upward from 7,500 feet MSL within 4.3 miles each 
side of the Kotzebue VOR/DME 103 deg. radial at 51.3 miles east of 
the Kotzebue VOR/DME widening to 7.4 miles each side of the 103 deg. 
radial at 96 miles east of the Kotzebue VOR/DME.
* * * * *
    Issued in Anchorage, AK, on April 3, 1998.
Willis C. Nelson,
Manager, Air Traffic Division, Alaskan Region.
[FR Doc. 98-9510 Filed 4-9-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M