[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 75 (Tuesday, April 20, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 19317-19318]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-9795]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 99-ACE-19]


Amendment of Class E Airspace; Decorah, IA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: This notice proposes to amend Class E airspace area at 
Decorah, IA. A Global Positioning System (GPS), COPTER GPS 339 deg. 
point in space, Standard Instrument Approach Procedure (SIAP) has been 
developed to serve Winneshiek County Memorial Hospital Heliport, 
Decorah, IA. Controlled airspace extending upward from 700 feet Above 
Ground Level (AGL) is needed to accommodate aircraft executing the 
SIAP.
    In addition, the Class E airspace for Decorah, IA, has been 
enlarged to conform to the criteria for 700 feet AGL airspace required 
for diverse departures as specified in FAA Order 7400.2D.
    The intended effect of this rule is to provide additional 
controlled airspace for aircraft operating under Instrument Flight 
Rules (IFR) and comply with the criteria of FAA Order 7400.2D.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 17, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on the proposal in triplicate to: Manager, 
Airspace Branch, ACE-520, Federal Aviation Administration, Docket No. 
99-ACE-19, 601 East 12th Street, Kansas City, MO 64106.
    The official docket may be examined in the Office of the Regional 
Counsel for the Central Region at the same address between 9:00 a.m. 
and 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    An information docket may also be examined during normal business 
hours in the office of the Manager, Airspace Branch, Air Traffic 
Division, at the address listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathy Randolph, Air Traffic Division, 
Airspace Branch, ACE-520C, Federal Aviation Administration, 601 East 
12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone number: (816) 426-
3408.

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, 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-ACE-19.'' The postcard will be 
date/time stamped and returned to the commenter. All communications 
received on or before the 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 Rules Docket 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 NPRMs

    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, SW, 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 NPRMs 
should also request a copy of Advisory Circular No. 11-2A, which 
describes the procedures.

The Proposal

    The FAA is considering an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 to revises 
the Class E airspace at Decorah, IA. A COPTER GPS 339 deg. SIAP has 
been developed to serve the Winneshiek County Memorial Hospital 
Heliport, Decorah, IA. Controlled airspace extending upward from 700 
feet AGL is needed to contain aircraft executing this SIAP. In 
addition, a review of the Class E airspace area for Decorah, IA, 
indicates it does not meet the criteria for 700 feet AGL airspace 
required for diverse departures as specified in FAA Order 7400.2D. The 
criteria in FAA Order 7400.2D for an aircraft to reach 1200 feet AGL is 
based on a standard climb gradient of 200 feet per mile plus the 
distance from the Airport Reference Point (ARP) to the end of the 
outermost runway. Any fractional part of a mile is converted to the 
next higher tenth of a mile.
    The intended effect of this action is to provide segregation of 
aircraft operating under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) from aircraft 
operating in visual weather conditions. The area would be depicted on 
appropriate aeronautical charts thereby enabling pilots to 
circumnavigate the area or otherwise comply with IFR procedures. 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.

[[Page 19318]]

    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 
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

    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   [Revised]

    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 amended as follows:

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

* * * * *

ACE IA E5  Decorah, IA [Revised

Decorah Municipal Airport, IA
    (Lat. 43 deg.16'32'' N., long. 91 deg.44'22'' W.)
Waukon VORTAC
    (Lat. 43 deg.16'48'' N., long. 91 deg.32'15'' W.)
Decorah NDB
    (Lat. 43 deg.16'32'' N., long. 91 deg.44'11'' W.)
Winneshiek County Memorial Hospital, IA
Point in Space Coordinates
    (Lat. 43 deg.16'57'' N., long. 91 deg.45'56'' W.)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.4-mile radius of Decorah Municipal Airport and within 2.0 
miles each side of the 267 deg. radial of the Waukon VORTAC 
extending from the 6.4-mile radius to the VORTAC and within 2.6 
miles each side of the 122 deg. bearing from the Decorah NDB 
extending from the 6.4-mile radius to 7.0 miles southeast of the 
airport, and within a 6.0-mile radius of the point in space serving 
Winneshiek County Memorial Hospital.
* * * * *
    Issued in Kansas City, MO, on March 18, 1999.
Herman J. Lyons, Jr.,
Manager, Air Traffic Division, Central Region.
[FR Doc. 99-9795 Filed 4-19-99; 8:45 am]
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