[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 25 (Wednesday, February 6, 2002)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 5530-5531]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-2408]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 02-AAL-1]


Proposed Amendment of Class E Airspace; Merle K. (Mudhole) Smith 
Airport, Cordova, AK

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to amend Class E airspace at Cordova, AK. 
An airspace review was conducted for the Merle K. (Mudhole) Smith 
airport as a result of the development of a new Area Navigation (RNAV) 
Global Positioning System (GPS)--B standard instrument approach 
procedure. Additional Class E surface area airspace is needed to 
protect instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at Cordova, AK. The 
additional Class E surface area airspace will ensure that aircraft 
executing straight-in standard instrument approach procedures to Runway 
27 remain within controlled airspace. Adoption of this proposal would 
result in additional Class E airspace at Cordova, AK and in the re-
designation of class E surface area extensions.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 25, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on the proposal in triplicate to: Manager, 
Operations Branch, AAL-530, Docket No. 02-AAL-1, Federal Aviation 
Administration, 222 West 7th Avenue, Box 14, Anchorage, AK 99513-7587.
    The official docket may be examined in the Office of the Regional 
Counsel for the Alaskan Region at the same address.
    An informal docket may also be examined during normal business 
hours in the Office of the Manager, Operations Branch, Air Traffic 
Division, at the address shown above and on the Internet at Alaskan 
Region's homepage at http://www.alaska.faa.gov/at or at address http://162.58.28.41/at. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Derril Bergt, AAL-538, Federal 
Aviation Administration, 222 West 7th Avenue, Box 14, Anchorage, AK 
99513-7587; telephone number (907) 271-2796; fax: (907) 271-2850; e-
mail: [email protected]. Internet address: http://www.alaska.faa.gov/at or at address http://162.58.28.41/at. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    Interested parties are invited to participate in this proposed 
rulemaking by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as they 
may desire. Comments that provide the factual basis supporting the 
views and suggestions presented are particularly helpful in developing 
reasoned regulatory decisions on the proposal. Comments are 
specifically invited on the overall regulatory, aeronautical, economic, 
environmental, and energy-related aspects of the proposal. 
Communications should identify the airspace docket number and be 
submitted to the address listed above. Commenters wishing the FAA to 
acknowledge receipt of their comments on this action must submit with 
those comments a self-addressed, stamped postcard on which the 
following statement is made: ``Comments to Airspace Docket No. 02-AAL-
1.'' The postcard will be date/time stamped and returned to the 
commenter. All communications received on or before the specified 
closing date for comments will be considered before taking action on 
the proposed rule. The proposal contained in this action may be changed

[[Page 5531]]

in light of comments received. All comments submitted will be available 
for examination in the Operations Branch, Air Traffic Division, Federal 
Aviation Administration, 222 West 7th Avenue, Box 14, Anchorage, AK, 
both before and after the closing date for comments. A report 
summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA personnel 
concerned with this rulemaking will be filed in the docket.

Availability of Notice of Proposed Rulemaking's (NPRM's)

    An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded, using a 
modem and suitable communications software, from the FAA regulations 
section of the Fedworld electronic bulletin board service (telephone: 
703-321-3339) or the Federal Register's electronic bulletin board 
service (telephone: 202-512-1661).
    Internet users may reach the Federal Register's web page for access 
to recently published rulemaking documents at http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/aces/aces140.html.
    Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request 
to the Operations Branch, AAL-530, Federal Aviation Administration, 222 
West 7th Avenue, Box 14, Anchorage, AK 99513-7587. Communications must 
identify the docket number of this NPRM. Persons interested in being 
placed on a mailing list for future NPRM's should contact the 
individual(s) identified in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT 
section.

The Proposal

    The FAA proposes to amend 14 CFR part 71 by adding Class E surface 
area airspace at Cordova, AK. The intended effect of this proposal is 
to add Class E surface area airspace necessary to contain IFR 
operations at the Merle K. (Mudhole) Smith airport, Cordova, AK. In 
addition, extensions to the Class E surface area have been previously 
designated incorrectly. This proposal would re-designate those 
extensions from E2 surface area airspace to E4 surface area extension 
airspace.
    The FAA is adding a standard instrument approach procedure to the 
Merle K. (Mudhole) Smith airport. The new approach name is ``RNAV 
(GPS)--B'' and is designed to be a circling approach to the airport. 
The ``RNAV (GPS)--B'' approach begins southwest of the Merle K. 
(Mudhole) Smith airport with an inbound course of 062Sec. true. 
Although the Class E airspace surrounding the Merle K. (Mudhole) Smith 
airport is sufficient to contain the ``RNAV (GPS)--B'' instrument 
approach procedure, it was found during the airspace review for the new 
approach that an extension to Class E surface area airspace must be 
made to ensure that the instrument approach procedures that are aligned 
with Runway 27 at the Merle K. (Mudhole) Smith airport are entirely 
contained within controlled airspace. In addition, it was found that 
airspace within a 4.1mile radius of the Merle K. (Mudhole) Smith 
airport is correctly designated as Class E2 airspace. However, all 
extensions here-to-fore designated as Class E2 surface areas beyond the 
4.1 mile radius should be re-designated as Class E4 surface area 
airspace.
    The proposed Class E surface area airspace would be depicted on 
aeronautical charts for pilot reference. The coordinates for this 
airspace docket are based on North American Datum 83. The Class E2 
airspace areas designated as surface areas are published in paragraph 
6002 in FAA Order 7400.9J; the Class E4 airspace areas designated as an 
extension to a Class D or Class E surface area are published in 
paragraph 6004 in FAA Order 7400.9J; Airspace Designations and 
Reporting Points, dated August 31, 2001, and effective September 16, 
2001, 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 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).

The Proposed Amendment

    In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation 
Administration proposes to amend 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 7400.9J, Airspace Designations and 
Reporting Points, dated August 31, 2001, and effective September 16, 
2001, is amended as follows:

* * * * *

Paragraph 6002  Class E airspace designated as surface areas.

* * * * *

AAL AK E2  Cordova, AK [REVISED]

Cordova, Merle K. (MUDHOLE) Smith Airport, AK
    (Lat. 60 deg.29'31" N., long. 145 deg.28'39" W.)
Glacier River NDB
    (Lat. 60 deg.29'56" N., long. 145 deg.28'28" W.)

    Within a 4.1-mile radius of the Merle K. (MUDHOLE) Smith airport 
excluding that airspace north of a line from lat. 60 deg.32'48" N, 
long. 145 deg.34'06" W; to lat. 60 deg.31'00" N, long. 
145 deg.20'00" W.

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

* * * * *

AAL AK E4 Cordova, AK [NEW]

Cordova, Merle K. (MUDHOLE) Smith Airport, AK
    (Lat. 60 deg.29'31" N., long. 145 deg.28'39" W.)]
Glacier River NDB
    (Lat. 60 deg.29'56" N., long. 145 deg.28'28" W.)
    That airspace from a 4.1-mile radius of the Merle K. (MUDHOLE) 
Smith airport and within 2.1 miles each side of the 222 deg. bearing 
from the Glacier River NDB extending from the 4.1-mile radius to 10 
miles southwest of the airport and within 2 miles either side of the 
114 deg. bearing from the Glacier River NDB extending from the 4.1-
mile radius to 6 miles southeast of the airport and within 2.2 miles 
each side of the 142 deg. bearing from the NDB extending from the 
4.1-mile radius to 10.4 miles southeast of the airport.
* * * * *

    Issued in Anchorage, AK, on January 18, 2002.
Stephen P. Creamer,
Assistant Manager, Air Traffic Division, Alaskan Region.
[FR Doc. 02-2408 Filed 2-5-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P