[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 156 (Friday, August 13, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 44114-44116]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-21039]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 99-AAL-6]


Revision of Class D Airspace; Lake Hood, Elmendorf AFB, and 
Merrill Field, AK Revision of Class E Airspace; Elmendorf AFB and 
Merrill Field, AK

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action revises the Class D airspace at Lake Hood, AK, 
Elmendorf Air Force Base (AFB), AK, and Merrill Field, AK, as well as 
the Class E airspace (designated as surface areas) at Elmendorf AFB, 
AK, and Merrill Field, AK. The revision of the Anchorage, Alaska, 
Terminal Airspace Area segment boundaries affecting Lake Hood, AK, 
Elmendorf AFB, AK, and Merrill Field, AK, made this action necessary. 
With the exception of the internal boundary between Merrill Field, AK, 
and Lake Hood, AK, airspace areas, the adoption of this rule will 
result in the alignment of Class D airspace to coincide with the 
revised Anchorage Terminal Airspace segment boundaries, eliminating 
chart clutter and confusion between segment, Class D boundaries, and 
Class E boundaries. The adoption of this rule will also align the 
Elmendorf AFB, AK, and Merrill Field, AK, Class E airspace areas 
(designated as surface areas) with the Class D boundaries.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 0901 UTC, November 4, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Durand, Operations Branch, AAL-
531, Federal Aviation Administration, 222 West 7th Avenue, Box 14, 
Anchorage, AK 99513-7587; telephone number (907) 271-5898; fax: (907) 
271-2850; email: Bob.D[email protected]. Internet address: http://
www.alaska.faa.gov/at.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

History

    On October 1, 1997, the FAA published a Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register (62 FR 190) to revise the 
Anchorage, Alaska, Terminal Area (Docket No. 29029, Notice No. 97-14). 
In this rulemaking, the segment boundaries for the Merrill, Lake Hood, 
and Elmendorf AFB segments were revised. On March 29, 1999, the FAA 
published the final rule in the Federal Register (62 FR 14971) for the 
Anchorage, Alaska, Terminal Area, revising boundaries and descriptions 
for each segment with the effective date as June 17, 1999.
    On April 20, 1999 a proposal to amend part 71 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 71) to revise the Class D and Class E 
airspace in the Anchorage, Alaska, Terminal Area was published in the 
Federal Register (64 FR 19310). The proposal was necessary to match the 
Class D and Class E airspace boundaries to the changes in segment 
boundaries in the Anchorage, Alaska, Terminal Area published in 
airspace docket 29029.
    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, however, the 
coordinates for West High School, Ship Creek, and Point Noname were 
published with errors. The corrected coordinates for West High School 
are 61 deg.12'01''N., 149 deg.55'00''W.; Ship Creek are 
61 deg.13'26''N., 149 deg.53'37''W.; and Point Noname are 
61 deg.15'36''N., 149 deg.55'39''W. Additionally, the Class D internal 
boundary between Lake Hood, AK, and Merrill Field, AK, was modified at 
the request of Merrill Field and Anchorage Airport Traffic Control 
Towers (ATCT) to return to the pre-existing boundaries for the 
following reasons: (1) increase lateral separation between Merrill 
Field's West High and Chester Creek arrival and departure routes; (2) 
increased lateral separation between Merrill Field traffic and Lake 
Hood traffic; (3) operational advantage to both Lake Hood ATCT and 
Merrill Field ATCT whereas aircraft traversing from Point MacKenzie 
Visual Check Point to the West High School Visual Check Point would not 
be spilling over into Lake Hood Class D airspace, requiring additional 
Lake Hood ATCT to Merrill Field ATCT coordination and communication; 
and (4) operational advantage to both Lake Hood ATCT and Merrill Field 
ATCT whereas aircraft, avoiding direct overflight of West High School, 
flying south of and around the school (current operational standard) 
would not be spilling over into Lake Hood Class D airspace.
    The boundary change between Lake Hood and Merrill Field Class D 
airspaces is an internal boundary modification and does not affect the 
external Class D boundaries. The Lake Hood Class D airspace description 
will now read ``* * *  within a line beginning at Point Mackenzie, 
thence direct to the Mouth of Fish Creek, thence direct to the Northern 
Lights Boulevard (Blvd) railroad bridge, thence direct to the 
intersection of Tudor Road and the New Seward Highway, * * *'' The 
Merrill Field Class D and Class E airspace descriptions will now read 
``* * * west along Tudor Road to the New Seward Highway, thence direct 
to the Northern Lights Blvd railroad bridge, thence direct to the Mouth 
of Fish Creek, thence direct to Point MacKenzie, * * *'' The 
coordinates for Northern Lights Blvd railroad bridge and Mouth of Fish 
Creek have been added: Northern Lights Blvd railroad bridge (lat. 
61 deg.11'43''N., long 149 deg.55'48''W.) and Mouth of Fish Creek (lat. 
61 deg.12'21''N., long. 149 deg.55'59''W.).
    The Federal Aviation Administration has determined that these 
changes are editorial in nature and will not increase the scope of this 
rule. Except for the non-substantive change just discussed, 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 D airspace areas are published in 
paragraph 5000 and the Class E

[[Page 44115]]

airspace designated as surface areas 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 D and Class E airspace designations listed in this 
document will be revised and published subsequently in the Order.

The Rule

    This amendment to 14 CFR part 71 revises Class D and Class E 
airspace in the Anchorage, Alaska, Terminal Area. With the exception of 
the internal boundary between Merrill Field, AK, and Lake Hood, AK, 
airspace areas, the intended effect of this action is to align the 
Class D airspace boundaries at Lake Hood, Elmendorf AFB, and Merrill 
Field, AK, to match the revised Anchorage, Alaska, Terminal Area 
segment boundaries and align the Class E airspace areas at Elmendorf 
AFB, AK, and Merrill Field, AK, to match the Class D boundaries.
    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).

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:

Paragraph 5000  Class D Airspace

* * * * *

AAL AK D  Anchorage, Elmendorf AFB, AK [Revised]

Anchorage, Elmendorf AFB, AK
    (Lat. 61 deg.15'11'' N., long. 149 deg.47'38'' W.)
Point Noname
    (Lat. 61 deg.15'36'' N., long. 149 deg.55'39'' W.)
Ship Creek
    (Lat. 61 deg.13'26'' N., long. 149 deg.53'37'' W.)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including 
3,000 feet MSL within a line beginning at Point Noname; thence via 
the north bank of the Knik Arm to the intersection of the 4.7-mile 
radius of Elmendorf AFB; thence clockwise along the 4.7-mile arc of 
Elmendorf AFB to long. 149 deg.46'44'' W., thence south along long. 
149 deg.46'44'' W. to lat. 61 deg.19'10'' N., thence to lat. 
61 deg.17'58'' N. long. 149 deg.44'08'' W., thence to lat. 
61 deg.17'30'' N. long. 149 deg.43'08'' W., thence south along long. 
149 deg.43'08'' W. to the Glenn Highway, thence south and west along 
the Glenn Highway to Muldoon Road, thence direct to the Mouth of 
Ship Creek, thence direct to the point of beginning; excluding that 
airspace within the Anchorage International Airport, AK, Class C 
airspace. This Class D airspace area is effective during the 
specific dates and times established in advance by a Notice to 
Airmen. The effective date and time will thereafter be continuously 
published in the Airport/Facility Directory.
* * * * *

AAL AK D Anchorage, Lake Hood, AK [Revised]

Anchorage, Lake Hood, AK
    (Lat. 61 deg.10'48'' N., long. 149 deg.58'19'' W.)
Anchorage Air Traffic Control Tower
    (Lat. 61 deg.10'36'' N., long. 149 deg.58'59'' W.)
Point MacKenzie
    (Lat. 61 deg.14'14'' N., long. 149 deg.59'12'' W.)
Northern Lights Blvd Railroad Bridge
    (Lat. 61 deg.11'43'' N., long 149 deg.55'48'' W.)
Mouth of Fish Creek
    (Lat. 61 deg.12'21'' N., long. 149 deg.55'59'' W.).

    That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including 
2,500 feet MSL within a line beginning at Point Mackenzie, thence 
direct to the Mouth of Fish Creek, thence direct to the Northern 
Lights Blvd railroad bridge, thence direct to the intersection of 
Tudor Road and the New Seward Highway, thence south along the New 
Seward Highway to the 090 deg. bearing from the Anchorage Air 
Traffic Control Tower, thence west direct to the Anchorage Air 
Traffic Control Tower, thence north along the 350 deg. bearing from 
the Anchorage Air Traffic Control Tower to the north bank of Knik 
Arm, thence via the north bank of Knik Arm to the point of 
beginning; excluding that airspace within the Anchorage 
International Airport, AK, Class C airspace.
* * * * *

AAL AK D  Anchorage, Merrill Field, AK [Revised]

Anchorage, Merrill Field, AK
    (Lat. 61 deg.12'52'' N., long. 149 deg.50'46'' W.)
Point Noname
    (Lat. 61 deg.15'36'' N., long. 149 deg.55'39'' W.)
Point MacKenzie
    (Lat. 61 deg.14'14'' N., long. 149 deg. 59'12''W.)
Ship Creek
    (Lat. 61 deg.13'26'' N., long. 149 deg.53'37''W.)
Northern Lights Blvd Railroad Bridge
    (Lat. 61 deg.11'43'' N., long 149 deg.55'48''W.)
Nouth of Fish Creek
    (Lat. 61 deg.12'21''N., long. 149 deg.55'59''W.).

    That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including 
2,500 feet MSL within a line beginning at Point Noname, thence 
direct to the Mouth of Ship Creek, thence direct to the intersection 
of the Glenn Highway and Muldoon Road, thence south along Muldoon 
Road to Tudor Road, thence west along Tudor Road to the New Seward 
Highway, thence direct to the Mouth of Fish Creek, thence direct to 
the Northern Lights Blvd railroad bridge, thence direct to Point 
MacKenzie, thence via the north bank of Knik Arm to the point of 
beginning; excluding that airspace within the Anchorage 
International Airport, AK, Class C airspace. This Class D airspace 
area is effective during the specific dates and times established in 
advance by a Notice to Airmen. The effective date and time will 
thereafter be continuously published in the Airport/Facility 
Directory.
* * * * *

Paragraph 6002 Class E airspace designated as surface areas

* * * * *

AAL AK E2  Anchorage, Elmendorf AFB, AK [Revised]

Anchorage, Elmendorf AFB, AK
    (Lat. 61 deg.15'11''N., long. 149 deg.47'38''W.)
Point Noname
    (Lat. 61 deg.15'36'' N., long. 149 deg.55'39''W.)
Ship Creek
    (Lat. 61 deg.13'26'' N., long. 149 deg. 53'37''W.)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including 
3,000 feet MSL within a line beginning at Point Noname; thence via 
the north bank of the Knik Arm to the intersection of the 4.7-mile 
radius of Elmendorf AFB; thence clockwise along the 4.7-mile arc of 
Elmendorf AFB to long. 149 deg.46'44'' W., thence south along long. 
149 deg.46'44'' W. to lat. 61 deg.19'10'' N., thence to lat. 
61 deg.17'58'' N. long. 149 deg.44'08'' W., thence to lat. 
61 deg.17'30'' N. long. 149 deg.43'08'' W., thence south along long. 
149 deg.43'08'' W. to the Glenn Highway, thence south and west along 
the Glenn Highway to Muldoon Road, thence direct to the Mouth of 
Ship Creek, thence direct to the point of beginning; excluding that 
airspace within the Anchorage International Airport, AK, Class C 
airspace. This Class E airspace area is effective during the 
specific dates and times established in advance by a Notice to 
Airmen. The effective

[[Page 44116]]

date and time will thereafter be continuously published in the 
Airport/Facility Directory.
* * * * *
    AAL AK E2 Anchorage, Merrill Field, AK [Revised]
    Anchorage, Merrill Field, AK (Lat. 61 deg.12'52'' N., long. 
149 deg.50'46'' W.)
Point Noname
    (Lat. 61 deg.15'36'' N., long. 149 deg.55'39'' W.)
Point MacKenzie
    (Lat. 61 deg.14'14'' N., long. 149 deg.59'12'' W.)
Ship Creek
    (Lat. 61 deg.13'26'' N., long. 149 deg.53'37'' W.)
Northern Lights Blvd railroad Bridge
    (Lat. 61 deg.11'43'' N., long 149 deg.55'48'' W.)
Mouth of Fish Creek
    (Lat. 61 deg.12'21'' N., long. 149 deg.55'59'' W.).

    That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including 
2,500 feet MSL within a line beginning at Point Noname, thence 
direct to the Mouth of Ship Creek, thence direct to the intersection 
of the Glenn Highway and Muldoon Road, thence south along Muldoon 
Road to Tudor Road, thence west along Tudor Road to the New Seward 
Highway, thence direct to the Mouth of Fish Creek, thence direct to 
the Northern Lights Blvd railroad bridge, thence direct to Point 
MacKenzie, thence via the north bank of Knik Arm to the point of 
beginning; excluding that airspace within the Anchorage 
International Airport, AK, Class C airspace. This Class E airspace 
area is effective during the specific dates and times established in 
advance by a Notice to Airmen. The effective date and time will 
thereafter be continuously published in the Airport/Facility 
Directory.
* * * * *
    Issued in Anchorage, AK, on August 6, 1999.
Willis C. Nelson,
Manager, Air Traffic Division, Alaskan Region.
[FR Doc. 99-21039 Filed 8-12-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P