[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 37 (Wednesday, February 25, 2004)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 8581-8582]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-4181]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2004-17081; Airspace Docket No. 04-AEA-01]


Proposed Amendment to Class E Airspace; Washington, DC

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: This notice proposes to amend the Class E airspace area in the 
Washington, DC, metropolitan area. The development of multiple area 
navigation (RNAV) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAP) and 
the proliferation of airports within the Washington, DC, metropolitan 
area with approved Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations and the 
resulting overlap of designated Class E-5 airspace has made this 
proposal necessary. The proposal would consolidate the Class E-5 
airspace designations for twenty four airports and heliports and result 
in the recision of nineteen separate Class E-5 descriptions through 
separate rulemaking action. The area would be depicted on aeronautical 
charts for pilot reference.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 26, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on the 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-2004-17081/Airspace Docket No. 04-AEA-01 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.
     An informal docket may also be examined during normal business 
hours at the office of the Regional Air Traffic Division, Federal 
Aviation Administration, Eastern Region, 1 Aviation Plaza, Jamaica, NY 
11434-4809.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Francis T. Jordan, Jr., Airspace 
Specialist, Airspace Branch, AEA-520, Eastern Region, 1 Aviation Plaza, 
Jamaica, NY 11434-4809, telephone: (718) 553-4521.

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, 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. FAA-
2004-17081/Airspace Docket No. 04-AEA-01.'' The postcard will be date/
time stamped and returned to the commenter.

 Availability of NPRMs

     An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded through the 
Internet at http://dms.dot.gov. Recently published rulemaking documents 
can also be accessed through the FAA's web page at http://www.faa.gov 
or the Superintendent of Documents Web page at http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara. Additionally, any person may obtain a copy of 
this notice by submitting a request to the Office of Air Traffic 
Airspace Management, ATA-400, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, 
DC 20591 or by calling (202) 267-8783. Communications must identify 
both the docket numbers for this notice. Persons interested in being 
placed on a mailing list for future NPRMs should contact the FAA's 
Office of Rulemaking, (202) 267-9677 to request a copy of Advisory 
Circular No. 11-2A, which describes the application procedure.

The Proposal

    The FAA is considering an amendment to part 71 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 71) to amend the Class E airspace 
within the Washington, DC, metro area. The proposal would consolidate 
the following Class E-5 airspace designations into the Washington, DC, 
designation: Washington/Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, DC; 
Andrews Air Force Base, MD; Lee Airport, MD; Baltimore Washington 
International Airport, MD; Martin State Airport, MD; College Park 
Airport, MD; Maryland State Police Heliport, MD; Tipton Airport, MD; 
Frederick Municipal Airport, MD; Potomac Airport, MD; Montgomery County 
Airpark, MD; Freeway Airport, MD; Bay Bridge Airport, MD; Cowley Shock 
Trauma Center Heliport, MD; Carroll County Airport, MD; Clearview 
Airpark, MD; Davison Army Air Field, VA; Birch Hollow, VA; Washington 
Dulles International Airport, VA; Leesburg Municipal/Godfrey Field, VA; 
Manassas

[[Page 8582]]

Municipal/Harry P. Davis Airport, VA; Mobil Business Resources 
Corporation Heliport, VA; Upperville Airport, VA. This action would 
result in the recision of nineteen Class E-5 designations under a 
separate docket. The affected airspace would subsequently be 
incorporated into the Washington, DC, description. The airspace will be 
defined to accommodate the approaches and contain IFR operations to and 
from those airports. This change would have no impact on aircraft 
operations since the type of airspace designation is not changing. 
Furthermore, the IFR approach procedures for the individual airports 
within the area would not be affected. Class E airspace designations 
for airspace areas extending upward from 700 ft or more above the 
surface 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 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. 
Therefore, this proposed regulation--(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 would only affect air traffic procedures 
and air navigation, it is certified that this proposed rule would not 
have 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--[AMENDED]

    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 7400.9L, dated September 2, 2003, and 
effective September 16, 2003, is proposed to be amended as follows:

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

* * * * *

AEA DC E5 Washington, DC (Revised)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within an area bounded by a line beginning at lat. 
3855'19'' N., long. 7612'28'' W., to 
lat. 3827'18'' N., long. 7703'51'' W., 
to lat. 3836'30'' N., long. 7715'17'' 
W., to lat. 3835'12'' N., long. 
7737'06'' W., to lat. 3857'17'' N., 
long. 7802'29'' W., to lat. 3930'00'' 
N., long. 7809'00'' W., to lat. 
3944'36'' N., long. 7736'08'' W., to 
lat. 3943'28'' N., long. 7700'00'' W., 
to lat. 3936'08'' N., long. 7628'38'' 
W., to lat. 3919'38'' N., long. 
7604'04'' W., to the point of beginning excluding the 
airspace that coincides with the Aberdeen, MD, Hagerstown, MD, 
Winchester, VA, Midland, VA Class E airspace areas and P-56A, P-56B, 
P-73, P-40, R-4009, R-4001A, R4001B, R-6608A, R-6608B and R-6608C 
when they are in effect.
* * * * *

    Issued in Jamaica, New York, on February 17, 2004.
John G. McCartney,
Assistant Manager, Air Traffic Division, Eastern Region.
[FR Doc. 04-4181 Filed 2-24-04; 8:45 am]
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