[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 46 (Thursday, March 8, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13995-13996]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-5605]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Informal Airspace Workshop; Air Traffic Control Airspace and 
Procedures Revisions for Anchorage Terminal Area, Anchorage, AK

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of public workshop.

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[[Page 13996]]

SUMMARY: The FAA intends to hold an informal airspace workshop to 
solicit comments regarding operational and environmental concerns from 
airspace users and others concerning traffic flows for aircraft 
operating to, from, and in the vicinity of Ted Stevens Anchorage 
International Airport, Lake Hood Seaplane Base, Merrill Field, 
Elmendorf AFB, and various non-towered airports in the Anchorage area. 
The purpose of this workshop is to (1) provide interested parties an 
opportunity to comment on proposed revisions to Visual Flight Rules 
(VFR) routes/corridors in the Anchorage area and (2) gather input for 
consideration in the development of revised air traffic control 
procedures to accommodate the increase in aircraft operations and 
improve aviation safety in the airspace surrounding Anchorage, Alaska. 
Alternatives developed as a result of this and other meetings may 
involve changes to existing regulatory airspace.
    Date/Time: The workshop will from 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM, Tuesday, 
April 17, 2001.
    Place: Multi-Purpose Room, Spenard Community Recreation Center, 
2020 West 48th Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska.
    Public Comments: The FAA actively solicits public comments. 
Comments may be presented at the workshop or submitted afterwards via 
letter, fax, or email. Comments should be received on or before May 18, 
2001 to be included as part of the workshop.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jack Schommer, Operations Branch, AAL-
532, Federal Aviation Administration, 222 West 7th Avenue, Box 14, 
Anchorage, AK 99513-7587; telephone number (907) 271-5903; fax: (907) 
271-2850; email: [email protected]. Internet address: http://www.alaska.faa.gov/at. The Spenard Community Recreation Center 
telephone number is (907) 343-4160.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

History and Background

    Aircraft operations in the Anchorage area have increased 21% for 
the period from January 1, 1996, to December 31, 2000, and are 
projected to increase at an approximate rate of 5% annually through the 
year 2020. Changes to existing air traffic routes and air traffic 
control procedures used in the Anchorage area are necessary in order to 
continue to provide safe and efficient air traffic control service to 
airspace users.

Workshop Agenda

    This workshop is intended to be the first in a series of meetings 
designed to involve the community in our decision making process. The 
workshop will be set up in an open house fashion with multiple stations 
attended by FAA representatives. These stations are intended to provide 
information and collect comments in two specific areas.
    1. The FAA proposes to make changes to the current VFR route 
structure and is seeking comments from the user community and general 
public concerning operational and environmental impacts of the 
proposal.
    2. The FAA recognizes the need to change IFR and VFR traffic flows 
and procedures to accommodate the increases in air traffic operations 
within the Anchorage area and is seeking comments regarding operational 
and environmental concerns from interested parties that can be used in 
the formulation of potential alternatives.

Workshop Procedures

    (a) The workshop will be informal in nature and will be conducted 
by representatives of the FAA Alaskan Region.
    (b) The workshop will be open to all persons on a space-available 
basis. Every effort was made to provide a workshop site with sufficient 
capacity for expected participation. There will be no admission fee nor 
other charges to attend and participate.
    (c) Representatives of Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport 
Traffic Control Tower, Merrill Field Airport Traffic Control Tower, 
Anchorage Terminal Radar Approach Control and Anchorage Air Route 
Traffic Control Center will be present to discuss procedural concepts. 
FAA Air Traffic Division representatives will be present to discuss 
environmental concerns.
    (d) Any person who wishes to submit a position paper to FAA 
representatives pertinent to the revision of ATC airspace or procedures 
may do so.
    (e) The workshop will not be formally recorded. However, informal 
tape recordings may be made to ensure that each respondent's comments 
are noted accurately.
    (f) An official verbatim transcript or minutes of the informal 
airspace workshop will not be made. However, a list of the attendees, 
written statements received from attendees during and after the 
workshop and a digest of discussions during the workshop will be 
included in the administrative record for the project.
    (g) Every reasonable effort will be made to hear the concerns of 
interested persons consistent with a reasonable closing time for the 
workshop.

    Issued in Anchorage, AK, on February 28, 2001.
Stephen P. Creamer,
Assistant Manager, Air Traffic Division, Alaskan Region.
[FR Doc. 01-5605 Filed 3-7-01; 8:45 am]
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