[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 7 (Wednesday, January 10, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 1831-1832]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-701]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 00-AAL-15]


Establishment of Class E Airspace; Indian Mountain, AK

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action establishes Class E airspace at the Long Range 
Radar site (LRRS) at Indian Mountain, AK. The United States Air Force 
requested this action to create controlled airspace for the instrument 
approach and departure procedures to runway (RWY) 16 and from RWY 34 at 
Indian Mountain, AK. This action is necessary in order for the approach 
and departure procedures to be published in the U.S. Government Flight 
Information Publication, U.S. Terminal Procedures--Alaska. This rule 
provides adequate controlled airspace for aircraft flying Instrument 
Flight Rules (IFR) operations at Indian Mountain, AK.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 0901 UTC, March 22, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Major Roger Stirm, Department of the 
Air Force Representative, Federal Aviation Administration, 222 West 7th 
Avenue, Box 14, Anchorage, AK 99513-7587; telephone number (907) 271-
5892; fax: (907) 271-2850; email: [email protected]. Internet 
address: http://www.alaska.faa.gov/at or at address http://162.58.28.41/at.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

History

    On September 25, 2000, a proposal to amend part 71 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 71) to establish the Class E airspace 
at Indian Mountain, AK, was published as a Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register (65 FR 57573). The proposal 
was requested by the U.S. Air Force to create controlled airspace for 
the instrument approach and departure procedures to RWY 16 and from RWY 
34 at Indian Mountain, AK. This action is necessary in order for the 
approach and departure procedures to be published in the U.S. 
Government Flight Information Publication, U.S. Terminal Procedures--
Alaska. This rule provides adequate controlled airspace for aircraft 
flying IFR operations at Indian Mountain, AK.
    Interested parties were invited to participate in this rulemaking 
proceeding by submitting written comments on the proposal to the 
commenters and the FAA. Public comments to the proposal were submitted 
by two pilots from United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), 
Alaska Aviation Safety Foundation, Alaska Airmen's Association, and 
Alaska Communications Systems (ACS) Chief Pilot. Each expressed concern 
with the size of the proposed Class E airspace. The substance of their 
concern was that the proposed Class E airspace was larger than needed. 
In addition, Mr. Felix M. Maguire representing both the Alaska Airmen's 
Association and ACS as their Chief Pilot expressed concern that the 
approach was barely within the proposed airspace and that the missed 
approach was entirely outside the proposed airspace. The U.S. Air Force 
pointed out that the procedures used by Mr. Maguire to evaluate 
airspace needs were not developed by the U.S. Air Force and therefore 
have no validity in correctly analyzing the requested airspace. The FAA 
has considered these comments. The U.S. Air Force, after re-evaluation, 
responded with a revised request for Class E airspace at Indian 
Mountain (PAIM). This request substantially reduced the size of the 
original request and did not include any additional airspace, outside 
what was proposed in the original NPRM. As for Mr. Maguire's concern 
about the approach procedure being barely within the proposed airspace 
and that the missed approach was entirely outside the proposed 
airspace, the FAA concurs. The additional airspace south of Indian 
Mountain (PAIM) needed for missed approach and departure procedures is 
already 1,200 foot Class E airspace and therefore, is not needed in 
this rulemaking. The majority of the revised requested airspace 
encompasses the primary holding assessment area in accordance with FAA 
Order 7130.3. The FAA has determined that the requested airspace is 
needed to provide adequate controlled airspace for aircraft flying IFR 
operations at Indian Mountain LRRS, Alaska. The coordinates for Indian 
Mountain LRRS were published with an error in the latitude coordinates 
and is corrected to read as follows: (lat. 65 deg. 59' 34" N., long. 
153 deg. 42' 16" W.). The airspace description does overlap existing 
Class E airspace and the exclusionary verbiage was inadvertently left 
out. The following verbiage has been added to the end of the airspace 
description: ``excluding the existing Class E airspace.'' Accordingly, 
as discussed, since the revised airspace description is less of a 
burden to the public, the rule is adopted with the incorporated 
airspace revisions.
    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 700/1200 
foot transition areas are published in paragraph 6005 of FAA Order 
7400.9H, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated September 1, 
2000, and effective September 16, 2000, which is incorporated by 
reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The 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 establishes Class E airspace at 
Indian Mountain, AK, through a request by the U.S. Air Force to create 
controlled airspace for the instrument approach and departure 
procedures to RWY 16 and from RWY 34 at Indian Mountain, AK. This 
action is necessary in order for the approach and departure procedures 
to be published in the U.S. Government Flight Information Publication, 
U.S. Terminal Procedures--Alaska. The area will be depicted on 
aeronautical charts for pilot reference. The intended effect of this 
rule is to provide adequate controlled airspace for IFR operations at 
Indian Mountain, AK.
    The FAA has determined that this regulation only involves 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

[[Page 1832]]

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 7400.9H, Airspace Designations and 
Reporting Points, dated September 1, 2000, and effective September 16, 
2000, is amended as follows:
* * * * *

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

* * * * *

AAL AK E5 Indian Mountain, AK  [New]

Indian Mountain LRRS, AK

(lat. 65 deg. 59' 34" N., long. 153 deg. 42' 16" W.)
    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 4 mile radius of Indian Mountain LRRS; and that adjacent 
airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface from 
lat. 66 deg. 00' 00" N long. 154 deg. 05' 00" W, to lat. 66 deg. 00' 
00" N long. 153 deg. 00' 00" W, to lat. 66 deg. 09' 00" N long. 
153 deg. 00' 00" W, to lat. 66 deg. 09' 00" N long. 153 deg. 40' 00" 
W, to lat. 66 deg. 06' 00" N long. 154 deg. 00' 00", thence to the 
point of the beginning, excluding the existing Class E airspace.

* * * * *

    Issued in Anchorage, AK, on January 2, 2001.
Stephen P. Creamer,
Acting Manager, Air Traffic Division, Alaskan Region.
[FR Doc. 01-701 Filed 1-9-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U