[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 91 (Tuesday, May 11, 2004)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 26056-26057]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-10691]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2004-17597 Airspace Docket No. 04-AEA-07]


Proposed Amendment to Class E Airspace; Richmond, VA

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 
Richmond, VA metropolitan area. The development of multiple area 
navigation (RNAV) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAP) for 
numerous airports within the Richmond, VA metropolitan area with 
approved Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations and the resulting 
overlap of designated Class Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations 
and the resulting overlap of designated Class E-5 airspace have made 
this proposal necessary. The proposal would consolidate the Class E-5 
airspace designations for five airports and result in the rescission of 
four 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 June 10, 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-2004-17597/Airspace Docket No. 04-AEA-07 at the beginning of 
your comments. You may

[[Page 26057]]

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-
2004-17597/Airspace Docket No. 04-AEA-07.'' 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 Richmond, VA metropolitan area. The proposal would 
consolidate the following airport Class E-5 airspace designations into 
the Richmond, VA designation: Richmond International Airport (RIC), 
Richmond, VA; New Kent County Airport (W96), Quinton, VA; Chesterfield 
County Airport (FCI), Richmond, VA; Hanover County Municipal Airport 
(OFP), Richmond, VA; Dinwiddie County Airport (PTB), Petersburg, VA. 
This action would result in the rescission of four Class E-5 
designations under a separate docket. The affected airspace would 
subsequently be incorporated into the Richmond, VA 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 
designation 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 VA E5 Richmond, VA (Revised)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within an area bounded by a line beginning at lat. 
37[deg]03[min]52[sec] N., long. 77[deg]47[min]45[sec] W., to lat. 
37[deg]11[min]51[sec] N., long. 77[deg]41[min]25[sec] W., to lat. 
37[deg]27[min]45[sec] N., long. 77[deg]41[min]44[sec] W., to lat. 
37[deg]49[min]25[sec] N., long. 77[deg]32[min]39[sec] W., to lat. 
37[deg]49[min]28[sec] N., long. 77[deg]19[min]42[sec] W., to lat. 
37[deg]34[min]38[sec] N., long. 76[deg]56[min]19[sec] W., to lat. 
37[deg]26[min]41[sec] N., long. 76[deg]55[min]56[sec] W., to lat. 
36[deg]55[min]48[sec] N., long. 77[deg]37[min]56[sec] W., to the 
point of beginning.
* * * * *

    Issued in Jamaica, New York, on May 4, 2004.
John G. McCartney,
Assistant Manager, Air Traffic Division, Eastern Region.
[FR Doc. 04-10691 Filed 5-10-04; 8:45 am]
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