[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 10 (Thursday, January 15, 2004)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 2296-2297]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-917]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2003-16763; Airspace Docket No. 03-ACE-100]


Modification of Class E Airspace; Springfield, MO

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION:  Direct final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: New and amended Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning 
System (GPS) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) have been 
developed to serve Springfield-Branson Regional Airport, Springfield, 
MO. The Springfield-Branson Regional Airport airport reference point 
(ARP) has been redefined. These actions require modifications to 
Springfield, MO controlled airspace in order to provide airspace 
required for diverse departures and to protect aircraft executing SIAPs 
to Springfield-Branson Regional Airport. An examination of controlled 
airspace for Springfield, MO revealed discrepancies in the legal 
descriptions for the Springfield, MO Class E3 and Class E5 airspace 
areas. The intended effect of this rule is to provide controlled 
airspace of appropriate dimensions to protect aircraft departing from 
and executing SIAPs to Springfield-Branson Regional Airport. The Class 
E5 area is enlarged, discrepancies in the legal descriptions of 
Springfield, MO Class E3 and Class E5 airspace areas are corrected and 
the airspace areas and their legal descriptions are brought into 
compliance with FAA Orders.

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 27, 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-2003-16763/Airspace Docket No. 03-ACE-100, 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 Dockets 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: Brenda Mumper, Air Traffic Division, 
Airspace Branch, ACE-520A, DOT Municipal Headquarters Building, Federal 
Aviation Administration, 901 Locust, Kansas City, MO 64106; telephone: 
(816) 329-2524.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This amendment to 14 CFR 71 modifies the 
Class E airspace area extending upward from the surface designated as 
an extension to the Class C airspace surface area (Class E3) and the 
Class E airspace area extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
(Class E5) at Springfield, MO. RNAV (GPS) RWY 2, ORIGINAL SIAP; RNAV 
(GPS) RWY 20, ORIGINAL SIAP; RNAV (GPS) RWY 14, Amendment 1 SIAP; and 
RNAV (GPS) RWY 32, Amendment 1 SIAP have been developed to serve 
Springfield-Branson Regional Airport. The Springfield-Branson Regional 
Airport ARP has been redefined. The Springfield, MO Class E5 airspace 
area must be enlarged from a 6.7-mile radius of Springfield-Branson 
Regional Airport to a 6.9-mile radius in order to comply with the 
criteria for 700 feet Above Ground Level (AGL) airspace required for 
diverse departures and to contain aircraft executing SIAPs. An 
examination of controlled airspace for Springfield, MO revealed 
discrepancies in the legal descriptions for the Springfield, MO class 
E3 and Class E5 airspace areas. The Springfield-Branson Regional 
Airport ARP and the location of the Springfield collocated very high 
frequency omni-directional radio range and tactical air navigational 
aid (VORTAC) must be amended in the Springfield, MO Class E3 and Class 
E5 legal descriptions to reflect current data. This action corrects the 
discrepancies and brings the airspace areas and their legal 
descriptions into compliance with FAA Order 7400.2E, Procedures for 
Handling Airspace Matters. The areas will be depicted on appropriate 
aeronautical charts. class E airspace areas consisting of airspace 
extending upward from the surface and designated as an extension to a 
Class C surface area are published in paragraph 6003 of FAA Order 
7400.9L, dated September 2, 2003, and effective September 16, 2003, 
which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. Class E airspace 
areas extending upward from 700 feet or more above the surface of the 
earth are published in paragraph 6005 of the same FAA Order. The Class 
E airspace designations listed in this document

[[Page 2297]]

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 objections. Unless 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 publish 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-2003-16763/Airspace Docket No. 03-ACE-
100.'' 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 regualtion 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 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 6003 Class E airspace areas designated as an extension.

    The Class E airspace area listed below consists of airspace 
extending upward from the surface designated as an extension to a 
Class C surface area.
* * * * *

ACE MO E3 Springfield, MO

Springfield-Branson Regional Airport, MO
    (Lat. 37[deg]14'44'' N., long. 93[deg]23'19'' W.)
Springfield VORTAC
    (Lat. 37[deg]21'21'' N., long. 93[deg]20'03'' W.)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface within 1.8 miles 
west and 2.2 miles east of the Springfield VORTAC 200[deg] radial 
extending from the 5-mile radius of Springfield-Branson Regional 
Airport to the VORTAC.
* * * * *

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

* * * * *

ACE MO E5 Springfield, MO

Springfield-Branson Regional Airport, MO
    (Lat. 37[deg]14'44'' N., long. 93[deg]23'19'' W.)
Springfield VORTAC
    (Lat. 37[deg]21'21'' N., long. 93[deg]20'03'' W.)
Springfield-Branson Regional Localizer
    (Lat. 37[deg]15'21'' N., long. 93[deg]22'45'' W.)
Willard NDB
    (Lat. 37[deg]17'58'' N., long. 93[deg]26'27'' W.)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.9-mile radius of Springfield-Branson Regional Airport and 
within 3 miles each side of the 020[deg] radial of the Springfield 
VORTAC extending from the 6.9-mile radius of the airport to 8 miles 
north of the VORTAC and within 1.8 miles each side of the 324[deg] 
bearing from the Willard NDB extending from the 6.9-mile radius of 
the airport to 7 miles northwest of the NDB and within 4 miles each 
side of the Springfield-Branson ILS localizer south course extending 
from the 6.9-mile radius of the airport to 14.5 miles south of the 
airport.
* * * * *

    Issued in Kansas City, MO, on January 5, 2004.
Elizabeth S. Wallis,
Acting Manager, Air Traffic Division, Central Region.
[FR Doc. 04-917 Filed 1-14-04; 8:45 am]
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