[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 194 (Monday, October 7, 2002)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 62410-62412]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-25311]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 02-AAL-7]


Proposed Establishment of Class E Airspace; Wasilla, AK

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to establish new Class E airspace at 
Wasilla, AK. A Standard Instrument Approach Procedure (SIAP) is being 
established for the Wasilla Airport. There is no existing Class E 
airspace associated with the Wasilla Airport. Adoption of this proposal 
would result in the addition of Class E airspace extending upward from 
700 feet above the surface at Wasilla, AK.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before November 21, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on the proposal in triplicate to: Manager, 
Operations Branch, AAL-530, Docket No. 02-AAL-7, 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

[[Page 62411]]

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 in triplicate to the address listed above. Commenters wishing 
the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments on this notice must 
submit with those comments a self-addressed, stamped postcard on which 
the following statement is made: ``Comments to Airspace Docket No. 02-
AAL-7.'' 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 notice may be changed 
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 notice 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 airspace 
at Wasilla, AK. The intended effect of this proposal is to establish 
that Class E controlled airspace, from 700 feet above the surface, 
needed to enable IFR operations at Wasilla, AK, to be contained within 
controlled airspace.
    The FAA Instrument Flight Procedures Production and Maintenance 
Branch (AVN-130) has developed a new SIAP for the Wasilla Airport. The 
proposed approach from AVN-130 is designated the Area Navigation 
(Goblal Positioning System) (RNAV GPS) Runway 3, original. It allows 
Category A aircraft (aircraft approach speed less than 91 knots) and 
Category B aircraft (aircraft approach speed of 91 knots or more but 
less than 121 knots) to descend under instrument flight rules (IFR) 
down to approach minimums of 500 feet above ground level with 
visibility as low as 1 mile. This SIAP proposal, because of the low 
approach minimums, would necessitate the establishment of controlled 
airspace down to the surface, i.e., a surface area, due to the high 
density of traffic operating to and from the many public and private 
use airports in close proximity to the Wasilla Airport. A surface area 
surrounding the Wasilla Airport would require all VFR pilots operating 
within that surface area to comply with higher visibility and cloud 
clearance minimums, than exist with the current Class G airspace, and 
to acquire a Special Visual Flight Rules (SVFR) clearance when the 
weather is below basic VFR minimums (1,000 ft. ceiling and 3 miles 
visibility).
    It was decided by the FAA Alaskan Region, contrary to the AVN-130 
proposal, to propose a slightly different SIAP, which would set the 
approach minimums for the new RNAV (GPS) Runway 3 SIAP at 1,000 feet 
above ground level with a visibility requirement of 1\1/4\ miles for 
Category A aircraft and 1\1/2\ miles for Category B aircraft. This 
proposal would ensure that aircraft executing the new RNAV (GPS) Runway 
3 approach remain within controlled airspace while executing this SIAP 
in IFR conditions until 1,000 feet above the surface, at which time 
they would proceed visually to the airport. This action would not 
require establishment of a surface area at this time. Therefore, if 
adopted, this proposal would establish controlled airspace upward from 
700 feet above the surface to allow aircraft executing the SIAP to 
descend to approach minimums (1,000 ft. altitude and 1\1/4\ or 1\1/2\ 
miles visibility) while remaining within controlled airspace.
    New airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.5 mile radius of the Wasilla Airport, excluding that 
airspace from 700 feet above the surface already established for the 
Big Lake Airport, would be created by this action. That airspace 
extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface will remain the same 
if this action is taken.
    The area would 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 in FAA Order 
7400.9K, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 30, 
2002, and effective September 16, 2002, 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

[[Page 62412]]

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 7400.9K, Airspace Designations and 
Reporting Points, dated August 30, 2002, and effective September 16, 
2002, is to be amended as follows:
* * * * *

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

* * * * *

AAL AK E5 Wasilla, AK [New]

Wasilla Airport, AK
    (Lat. 61[deg]34[min]08[sec] N, long. 149[deg]32[min]25[sec] W.)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.5-mile radius of the Wasilla Airport excluding Big Lake 
Class E Airspace.
* * * * *

    Issued in Anchorage, AK, on September 24, 2002.
Stephen P. Creamer,
Assistant Manager, Air Traffic Division, Alaskan Region.
[FR Doc. 02-25311 Filed 10-4-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P