[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 129 (Wednesday, July 7, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 36567-36568]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-17169]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 98-AAL-9]


Revision of Class E Airspace; Adak, AK

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action revises 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. The intended effect of this action 
is to update the airspace descriptions and provide adequate controlled 
airspace for Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at Adak, AK.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 0901 UTC, September 9, 1999.

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.ctr.van-H[email protected]. Internet 
address: http://www.alaska.faa.gov/at or at address http://
162.58.28.41/at.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

History

    On April 20, 1999 a proposal to amend part 71 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 71) to revise the Class E airspace at 
Adak, AK, was published in the Federal Register (64 FR 19314). The 
proposal was necessary due to the following: (1) the Naval Air Facility 
(NAF) Adak ceased active military airfield operations on March 31, 
1997; (2) the military tower closed and the airfield converted to an 
uncontrolled airport; (3) the airspace around Adak, AK, has been 
modified to reflect remaining navigational aids and new requirements; 
(4) the Adak military NDB and military Tactical Air Navigational Aid 
(TACAN) will be decommissioned; (5) a new FAA NDB/DME (Mount Moffett 
NDB/DME) will be commissioned; and (6) two new instrument approach 
procedures, NDB/DME and GPS, have been developed for runway (RWY) 23.
    Interested parties were invited to participate in this rulemaking 
proceeding by submitting written comments on the proposal to the FAA. 
No public comments to the proposal were received, thus the rule is 
adopted as written.
    The area will 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 
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 Rule

    This amendment to 14 CFR part 71 revises the Class E airspace at 
Adak, AK, due to the following: (1) the NAF Adak ceased active military 
airfield operations; (2) the military tower closed and the airfield 
converted to an uncontrolled airport; (3) the airspace around Adak, AK, 
has been modified to reflect remaining navigational aids and new 
requirements; (4) the Adak military NDB and military TACAN will be 
decommissioned; (5) a new FAA NDB/DME (Mount Moffett NDB/DME) will be 
commissioned; and (6) two new instrument approach procedures, NDB/DME 
and GPS, have been developed for RWY 23.
    The FAA has determined that these 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 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 7400.9F, Airspace Designations and 
Reporting Points, dated September 10, 1998, and effective September 16, 
1998, is amended as follows:

[[Page 36568]]

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. 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 June 28, 1999.
Willis C. Nelson,
Manager, Air Traffic Division, Alaskan Region.
[FR Doc. 99-17169 Filed 7-6-99; 8:45 am]
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