[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 75 (Tuesday, April 20, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 19314-19316]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-9777]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 98-AAL-9]


Proposed Revision of Class E Airspace; Adak, AK

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: This action would revise the Class E airspace at Adak, AK. The 
upcoming decommission of the military Nondirectional Beacon (NDB) and 
commission of the new NDB/Distance Measuring Equipment (DME), along 
with the establishment of Global Positioning System (GPS) and NDB/DME 
instrument approaches at Adak, AK, have made this action necessary. 
Additionally, the Class E airspace descriptions at Adak, AK, have been 
consolidated into one description. Adoption of this proposal would 
result in an update of the airspace descriptions and provide adequate 
controlled airspace for Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at 
Adak, AK.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 4, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on the proposal in triplicate to: Manager, 
Operations Branch, AAL-530, Docket No. 98-AAL-9, 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:

History

    The Naval Air Facility (NAF) Adak ceased active military airfield 
operations on March 31, 1997. The military tower closed and the 
airfield converted to an uncontrolled airport. Consequently, the 
airspace around Adak, AK, has been modified to reflect remaining 
navigational aids and new requirements. The Adak military NDB and 
military Tactical Air Navigational Aid (TACAN) will be decommissioned. 
A new FAA NDB/DME (Mount Moffett NDB/DME) will be commissioned. Two new 
instrument approach procedures, NDB/DME and GPS, have been developed 
for runway (RWY) 23. These

[[Page 19315]]

actions have been coordinated with the U.S. Navy and the Adak Reuse 
Corporation. The Adak Reuse Corporation has been established under 
federal and State of Alaska oversight to plan and implement the reuse 
of former NAF Adak. The Adak Reuse Corporation has been designated the 
Local Reuse Authority under Base Realignment and Closure Act (BRAC) law 
to be the responsible party to plan airport operations until a new city 
is approved on the island.

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-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 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.
    Internet users may reach the Federal Register's web page for access 
to recently published rulemaking documents at http://
www.access.gpo.gov/su__docs/aces/aces 140.html.
    An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded, using a 
modem and suitable communications software, from the FAA regulations 
section of the Fedworld electronic bulletin board service (telephone: 
703-321-3339) or the Federal Register's electronic bulleting board 
service (telephone: 202-512-1661).

The Proposal

    The FAA proposes to amend 14 CFR part 71 by revising the Class E 
airspace at Adak, AK, due to the establishment of GPS and NDB/DME 
instrument approach procedures to RWY 23 at Adak, AK. Additionally, the 
Class E airspace descriptions will be consolidated into one 
description. The intended effect of this proposal is to provide 
adequate controlled airspace for IFR operations and revise the airspace 
descriptions at Adak, AK.
    The area would be depicted on aeronautical charts for pilot 
reference. The coordinates for this airspace docket are based on North 
American Datum 83. The Class E airspace areas designated as a surface 
area for an airport are published in paragraph 6002 in FAA Order 
7400.9F, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated September 
10, 1998, and effective September 16, 1998, which is incorporated by 
reference in 14 CFR 71.1 (63 FR 50139; September 21, 1998). The Class E 
airspace areas designated as an extension to a Class D or Class E 
surface area are published in FAA Order 7400.9F, paragraph 6004, and 
paragraph 6005 lists the Class E airspace areas designated as an 700/
1200 foot transition area. The Class E airspace listed in this document 
as a surface area or extension to a surface area will be revoked and 
subsequently removed in the Order. The Class E airspace designations 
listed in this document as 700/1200 foot transition areas will be 
revised and published 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 7400.9F, Airspace Designations and 
Reporting Points, dated September 10, 1998, and effective September 16, 
1998, is to be amended as follows:

Paragraph 6002  Class E airspace areas designated as surface areas 
for an airport

* * * * *

AAL AK E2  Adak, AK [Revoked]

* * * * *

Paragraph 6004  Class E airspace areas designated as an extension 
to a Class D or Class E surface area.

* * * * *

AAL AK E4  Adak, AK [Revoked]

* * * * *

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

* * * * *

AAL AK E5  Adak, AK [Revised]

Adak Airport, AK
    (Lat. 51 deg. 52' 41'' N., long. 176 deg. 38' 45'' W.)
Mount Moffett NDB
    (Lat. 51 deg. 52' 19'' N., long. 176 deg. 40' 34'' W.)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 7-mile radius of Adak Airport and within 5.2 miles 
northwest and 4.2 miles southeast of the 061 deg.

[[Page 19316]]

bearing of the Mount Moffett NDB extending from the 7-mile radius to 
11.5 miles northeast of the Adak Airport; and that airspace 
extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface within 11-mile 
radius of the Adak Airport, and within 16 miles of the Adak Airport 
extending clockwise from the 033 deg. bearing to the 081 deg. 
bearing of the Mount Moffett NDB.
* * * * *

    Issued in Anchorage, AK, on April 9, 1999.
Willis C. Nelson,
Manager, Air Traffic Division, Alaskan Region.
[FR Doc. 99-9777 Filed 4-19-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P