[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 27 (Wednesday, February 10, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 6580-6581]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-3288]


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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 99-AGL-9]


Proposed revocation of Class E airspace, Saginaw, Harry W. Browne 
Airport, MI; revocation of Class E airspace, Saginaw, Tri-City Airport, 
MI; and establishment of Class E Airspace; Saginaw, MI

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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

SUMMARY: This notice proposes to revoke the Class E airspace for 
Saginaw, Harry W. Browne Airport, MI, and Saginaw, Tri-City Airport, 
MI, and establish a single Class E airspace area for Saginaw, MI. The 
Class E airspace for Harry W. Browne Airport is largely encompassed by 
the Class E airspace for Tri-City Airport already. Further, the airport 
names for Harry W. Browne Airport and Tri-City Airport have recently 
changed, requiring renaming the Class E airspace areas. Harry W. Browne 
Airport is now called Saginaw County H. W. Browne Airport, and Tri-City 
Airport is now called MBS International Airport. In addition, a Global 
Positioning System (GPS) Standard Instrument Approach Procedure (SIAP), 
021 deg. helicopter point in space approach, has been developed for 
Saint Mary's Hospital Heliport, Saginaw, MI. Controlled airspace 
extending upward from 700 to 1200 feet above ground level (AGL) is 
needed to contain aircraft executing this approach. This action would 
combine the two existing Class E airspace areas into one Class E 
airspace area, rename the Class E airspace area to Saginaw, MI, 
incorporate the new airport names, and increase the size of the new 
airspace area slightly in order to include the point in space approach 
serving Saint Mary's Hospital Heliport.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 2, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on the proposal in triplicate to: Federal 
Aviation Administration, Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel, AGL-7, 
Rules Docket No. 99-AGL-9, 2300 East Devon Avenue, Des Plaines, 
Illinois 60018.
    The official docket may be examined in the Office of the Assistant 
Chief Counsel, Federal Aviation Administration, 2300 East Devon Avenue, 
Des Plaines, Illinois. An informal docket may also be examined during 
normal business hours at the Air Traffic Division, Airspace Branch, 
Federal Aviation Administration, 2300 East Devon Avenue, Des Plaines, 
Illinois.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michelle M. Behm, Air Traffic 
Division, Airspace Branch, AGL-520, Federal Aviation Administration, 
2300 East Devon Avenue, Des Plaines, Illinois 60018, telephone (847) 
294-7568.

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. 99-
AGL-9.'' 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 Rule Docket, FAA, Great Lakes Region, Office of 
the Assistant Chief Counsel, 2300 East Devon Avenue, Des Plaines, 
Illinois, 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 Federal Aviation Administration, 
Office of Public Affairs, Attention: Public Inquiry Center, APA-230, 
800 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20591, or by calling 
(202) 267-3484. 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 establish 
a new Class E airspace area at Saginaw, MI. This action would revoke 
the two existing Class E airspace areas (Saginaw, Harry W. Browne 
airport, MI, and Saginaw, Tri-City Airport, MI) and combine them into 
one new Class E airspace area. The new Class E airspace area would be 
slightly larger than the two existing Class E airspace areas in order 
to accommodate aircraft executing the proposed GPS SIAP 021 deg. 
helicopter point in space approach for Saint Mary's Hospital Heliport, 
Saginaw, MI. Controlled airspace extending upward from 700 to 1200 feet 
AGL is needed to contain aircraft executing this approach. The area 
would be depicted on appropriate aeronautical charts. 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 7400.9F dated September 10, 1998, and effective September 16, 
1998, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Class E 
airspace designation listed in this document would be published 
subsequently in 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. 
Therefore this, proposed regulation--(1) Is not a ``significant 
regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12966; (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 will not 
have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities under the criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

[[Page 6581]]

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71

    Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me, 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 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 7400.9F, Airspace Designations and 
Reporting Points, dated September 10, 1998, and effective September 16, 
1998, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6005  Class E airspace areas extending upward from 700 
feet or more above the surface of the earth.

* * * * *

AGL MI E5 Saginaw, Harry W. Browne Airport, MI [Removed]

* * * * *

AGL MI E5 Saginaw, Tri-City Airport, MI [Removed]

* * * * *

AGL MI E5 Saginaw, MI [New]

MBS International airport, MI
    (Lat. 43 deg.31'58'' N., long. 84 deg.04'47'' W.)
Saginaw County H.W. Browne Airport, MI
    (Lat. 43 deg.26'00'' N., long. 83 deg.51'45'' W.)
Bay City, James Clements Municipal Airport, MI
    (Lat. 43 deg.32'49'' N., long. 83 deg.53'44'' W.)
Midland, Jack Barstow Airport, MI
    (Lat. 43 deg.39'46'' N., long. 84 deg.15'5 41''1 W.)
Saint Mary's Hospital, MI
Point in Space Coordinates
    (Lat. 43 deg.24'54'' N., long. 83 deg.56'5 27''1 W.)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 7.0-mile radius of MBS International Airport, within a 6.4-
mile radius of Saginaw County H.W. Browne Airport, within a 6.4-mile 
radius of James Clements Municipal Airport, within a 6.3-mile radius 
of Jack Barstow Airport, and within a 6.0-mile radius of the Point 
in Space serving Saint Mary's Hospital.
* * * * *
    Issued in Des Plaines, Illinois on January 29, 1999.
Michelle M. Behm,
Acting Manager, Air Traffic Division.
[FR Doc. 99-3288 Filed 2-9-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M