[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 83 (Monday, April 30, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 21280-21281]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-10669]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 00-AAL-20]


Revision of Class E Airspace; Bethel, AK

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action revises Class E airspace at Bethel, AK, in 
two ways: The FAA will cancel the Bethel Very High Frequency (VHF) 
Omnidirectional Range (VOR) instrument approach to runway (RWY) 36 at 
Bethel, AK, and simultaneously reduce the Class E (surface area 
extension) airspace at Bethel, AK; the FAA will correct an 
administrative error by revising the Class E (surface area) airspace 
with an exclusion area for Hanger Lake seaplane base operations. This 
rule will accomplish two actions: Allow for the Napakiak airport to be 
outside of the Bethel Class E (surface area extension) airspace and 
reduce the required controlled airspace for aircraft flying Instrument 
Flight Rules (IFR) operations at Bethel, AK; and fix an administrative 
oversight by adding the Hanger Lake exclusion area to the Class E 
airspace description at Bethel, AK.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 0901 UTC, July 12, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Durand, Operations 
Branch, Federal Aviation Administration, 222 West 7th Avenue, Box 14, 
Anchorage, AK 99513-7587; telephone number (907) 271-5898; 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 February 20, 2001, a proposal to amend part 71 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 71) to revise the Class E airspace at 
Bethel, AK, was published in the Federal Register (66 FR 
10861). This proposal was necessary to accomplish two actions: (1) 
Allow for the Napakiak airport to be outside of the Bethel Class E 
(surface area extension) airspace and reduce the required controlled 
airspace for aircraft flying Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations 
at Bethel, AK; and (2) fix an administrative oversight by adding the 
Hanger Lake exclusion area to the Class E airspace description at 
Bethel, AK.
    On November 11, 2000, the FAA initiated Airspace Study Number 00-
AAL-077NR, Notice of Proposed Revocation of the VOR RWY 36 Approach 
Procedure at Bethel, Alaska. Comments during several meetings over the 
last year with airspace users in the Bethel area indicated that they 
would like to have Napakiak Airport (WNA) excluded from the Class E 
(surface area extension) airspace at Bethel, AK. The Bethel Airport has 
four approaches to RWY 36: (1) Localizer (LOC)/Distance Measuring 
Equipment (DME) Back Course (BC) RWY 36, (2) VOR/DME RWY 36, (3) Global 
Positioning System (GPS) RWY 36, and (4) the VOR RWY 36. The Bethel VOR 
RWY 36 instrument approach, with a procedure turn at 1,600 feet, allows 
aircraft to descend to 700 feet after the procedure turn is completed. 
The FAA protects airspace from the point an aircraft may legally 
descend below 1,000 feet with Class E (surface area) airspace. For 
aircraft going to Bethel Airport, the Napakiak Airport, located 7.1 
nautical miles on a 200 deg. true bearing from Bethel VORTAC, is an 
alternate place to land and wait for weather to improve when the Bethel 
surface area is restricted due to weather.
    The FAA received favorable comments from Craig Air Incorporated, US 
Coast Guard District 17, Kusko Aviation Incorporated, Alaska Airlines, 
and the US Fish and Wildlife Service--Bethel. With the adoption of this 
proposal, the FAA intends to simultaneously cancel the VOR RWY 36 
instrument approach and shorten the Class E airspace to the southwest 
of Bethel. There would be three remaining instrument approaches to the 
Bethel RWY 36: (1) LOC/DME BC RWY 36, (2) VOR/DME RWY 36, and (3) GPS 
RWY 36. This proposal would allow Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations 
to continue at Napakiak Airport during Special VFR operations at Bethel 
Airport, AK.
    Additionally, this proposal would fix an administrative oversight 
by including an exclusion area for the Hanger Lake seaplane base 
operations to the Class E (surface area) airspace description. Changes 
to the Bethel airspace would incorporate an exclusion below 1,100 feet 
MSL between the 061 deg. radial and the 081 deg. radial from 2.9 
nautical miles northeast of the Bethel VORTAC.
    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.

[[Page 21281]]

The Class E airspace areas designated as surface areas are published in 
paragraph 6002 and the Class E airspace areas designated as an 
extension to a Class D or Class E surface area are published in 
paragraph 6004 in 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 would be published 
subsequently in the Order.

The Rule

    This amendment to 14 CFR part 71 revises the Class E airspace at 
Bethel, AK, in two ways: (1) Reduces the amount of controlled airspace 
required southwest of the Bethel airport; and (2) modifies the Class E 
(surface area) airspace description to exclude the Hanger Lake seaplane 
base operations. The area will be depicted on aeronautical charts for 
pilot reference. The intended effects of this rule are: (1) To reduce 
the controlled airspace for IFR operations at Bethel, AK, thus allowing 
for VFR operations at Napakiak Airport during Special VFR operations at 
Bethel Airport and (2) fix an administrative oversight by adding the 
Hanger Lake exclusion area to the Class E airspace description.
    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. 
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 7400.9H, Airspace Designations and 
Reporting Points, dated September 1, 2000, and effective September 
16, 2000, is amended as follows:
* * * * *

Paragraph 6002  Class E airspace designated as surface areas.

* * * * *

AAL AK E2  Bethel, AK [REVISED]

Bethel Airport, AK
    (Lat. 60 deg.46'47" N., long. 161 deg.50'17" W.)
Bethel VORTAC
    (Lat. 60 deg.47'05" N., long. 161 deg.49'27" W.)

    Within a 4.1-mile radius of the Bethel Airport, excluding that 
portion below 1,100 feet MSL between the 061 deg. radial and the 
081 deg. radial from 2.9 miles northeast of the Bethel VORTAC. 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.
* * * * *

Paragraph 6004  Class E airspace designated as an Extension to a 
Class D or Class E surface area.

* * * * *

AAL AK E4  Bethel, AK [REVISED]

Bethel Airport, AK
    (Lat. 60 deg.46'47" N., long. 161 deg.50'17" W.)
Bethel VORTAC
    (Lat. 60 deg.47'05" N., long. 161 deg.49'27" W.)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface within 3 miles 
each side of the 022 deg. radial from the Bethel VORTAC, extending 
from the 4.1-mile radius of the Bethel Airport to 8.2 miles 
northeast of the airport, excluding that portion below 1,100 feet 
MSL between the 061 deg. radial and the 081 deg. radial from 2.9 
miles northeast of the Bethel VORTAC, within 3.4 miles each side of 
the Bethel VORTAC 006 deg. radial, extending from the 4.1-mile 
radius of the Bethel Airport to 11 miles north of the Bethel VORTAC 
and within 3.5 miles each side of the Bethel VORTAC 213 deg. radial 
extending from the 4.1-mile radius of the Bethel Airport to 5 miles 
southwest of the airport.
* * * * *

    Issued in Anchorage, AK, on April 23, 2001.
Trent S. Cummings,
Manager, Air Traffic Division, Alaskan Region.
[FR Doc. 01-10669 Filed 4-27-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P