[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 239 (Friday, December 12, 2003)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 69305-69306]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-30740]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2003-16505; Airspace Docket No. 03-ACE-89]


Modification of Class E Airspace; Cherokee, IA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Direct final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This action modifies the Class E airspace areas at Cherokee, 
IA. A review of controlled airspace for Cherokee Municipal Airport 
indicates it does not comply with the criteria for 700 feet Above 
Ground Level (AGL) airspace required for diverse departures as 
specified in FAA Order 7400.2E, Procedures for Handling Airspace 
Matters. The review also revealed a discrepancy in the airport 
reference point (ARP) for Cherokee Municipal Airport. The ARP is used 
in the legal description for the Cherokee, IA Class E airspace area. 
This action enlarges the Class E airspace at Cherokee, IA to conform to 
the criteria in FAA Order 7400.2E. It also modifies the airspace area 
by adapting it to the revised Cherokee Municipal Airport APR and 
incorporates the revised ARP into the Class E airspace legal 
description.

DATES: This direct final rule is effective on 0901 UTC, April 15, 2004. 
Comments for inclusion in the Rules Docket must be received on or 
before January 23, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on this proposal to the Docket Management 
System, U.S. Department of Transportation, Room Plaza 401, 400 Seventh 
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001. You must identify the docket 
number FAA-2003-16505/Airspace Docket No. 03-ACE-89, at the beginning 
of your comments. You may also submit comments on the Internet at 
http://dms.dot.gov. You may review the public docket containing the 
proposal, any comments received, and any final disposition in person in 
the Docket Office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. The Docket Office (telephone 1-800-647-5527) 
is on the plaza level of the Department of Transportation NASSIF 
Building at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathy Randolph, Air Traffic Division, 
Airspace Branch, ACE-520C, DOT Municipal Headquarters Building, Federal 
Aviation Administration, 901 Locust, Kansas City, MO 64106; telephone: 
(816) 329-2525.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This amendment to 14 CFR 71 modifies the 
Class E airspace area extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
of the earth at Cherokee, IA. An examination of controlled airspace for 
Cherokee Municipal Airport reveals it does not meet the criteria for 
700 AGL airspace required for diverse departures as specified in FAA 
Order 7400.2E. The criteria in FAA Order 7400.2E for an aircraft to 
reach 1200 feet AGL is based on a standard climb gradient of 200 feet 
per mile plus the distance from the ARP to the end of the outermost 
runway. Any fractional part of a mile is converted to the next higher 
tenth of a mile. The examination also revealed a discrepancy in the 
Cherokee Municipal Airport ARP. This amendment enlarges the radius of 
the controlled airspace area around Cherokee Municipal Airport, 
corrects the discrepancy in the Cherokee Municipal Airport ARP and 
beings the legal description into compliance with FAA Order 7400.2E. 
This area will be depicted on appropriate aeronautical charts. Class E 
airspace areas extending upward from 700 feet or more above the surface 
of the earth are published in paragraph 6005 of FAA Order 7400.9L, 
dated September 2, 2003, and effective September 16, 2003, which is 
incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Class E airspace 
designation listed in this document will be published subsequently in 
the Order.

The Direct Final Rule Procedure

    The FAA anticipates that this regulation will not result in adverse 
or negative comment and, therefore, is issuing it as a direct final 
rule. Previous actions of this nature have not been controversial and 
have not resulted in adverse comments or objection. Unless a written 
adverse or negative comment, or a written notice of intent to submit an 
adverse or negative comment is received within the comment period, the 
regulation will become effective on the date specified above. After the 
close of the comment period, the FAA will published a document in the 
Federal Register indicating that no adverse or negative comments were 
received and confirming the date on which the final rule will become 
effective. If the FAA does receive, within the comment period, an 
adverse or negative comment, or written notice of intent to submit such 
a comment, a document withdrawing the direct final rule will be 
published in the Federal Register, and a notice of proposed rulemaking 
may be published with a new comment period.

Comments Invited

    Interested parties are invited to participate in this 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 
both docket numbers 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 Docket No. FAA-2003-16505/Airspace Docket No. 03-ACE-
89.'' The postcard will be date/time stamped and returned to the 
commenter.

Agency Findings

    The regulations adopted herein will not have a substantial direct 
effect on the States, on the relationship between the national 
government and the States, or on the distribution of power and 
responsibilities among the various levels of government. Therefore, it 
is determined that this final rule does not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132.
    The FAA has determined that this regulation is noncontroversial and 
unlikely to result in adverse or negative comments. For the reasons 
discussed in the preamble, I certify that this regulation (1) is not a 
``significant

[[Page 69306]]

regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866; (2) is not a 
``significant rule'' under Department of Transportation (DOT) 
Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); 
and (3) if promulgated, will not have a significant economic impact, 
positive or negative, 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

0
Accordingly, 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

0
1. The authority citation for 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]

0
2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of Federal Aviation 
Administration Order 7400.9L, dated September 2, 2003, and effective 
September 16, 2003, is amended as follows:
* * * * *

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

* * * * *

ACE IA E5 Cherokee, IA

Cherokee Municipal Airport, IA
    (Lat. 42[deg]43'54'' N., long. 95[deg]33'21'' W.)
Pilot Rock NDB
    (Lat. 42[deg]43'56'' N., long. 95[deg]33'11'' W.)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.4-mile radius of Cherokee Municipal Airport and within 
2.6 miles each side of the 185[deg] bearing from the Pilot Rock NDB 
extending from the 6.4-mile radius to 7.4 miles south of the 
airport.
* * * * *

    Issued in Kansas City, MO, on November 28, 2003.
Paul J. Sheridan,
Acting Manager, Air Traffic Division, Central Region.
[FR Doc. 03-30740 Filed 12-11-03; 8:45 am]
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