[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 121 (Friday, June 24, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 36540-36542]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-12562]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2005-21447; Airspace Docket No. 05-AAL-17]


Proposed Revision of Class E Airspace; Cordova, AK

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to revise the Class E airspace at 
Cordova, AK. New and revised Standard Instrument Approach Procedures 
(SIAPs) are being published for Cordova, AK. Additional Class E 
airspace is needed to contain aircraft executing instrument approaches 
at Merle K. (Mudhole) Smith Airport. Adoption of this proposal would 
result in additional Class E surface area and Class E airspace upward 
from 700 feet (ft.) and 1,200 ft. above the surface at Cordova, AK.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before August 8, 2005.

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-2005-21447/Airspace Docket No. 05-AAL-17, 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 Manager, Safety, Alaska Flight Services 
Operations, Federal Aviation Administration, 222 West 7th Avenue, Box 
14, Anchorage, AK 99513-7587.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Derril Bergt, Federal Aviation 
Administration, 222 West 7th Avenue, Box 14, Anchorage, AK 99513-7587; 
telephone number (907) 271-5898; fax: (907) 271-2850; e-mail: 
[email protected]. Internet address: http://www.alaska.faa.gov/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 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-2005-21447/
Airspace Docket No. 05-AAL-17.'' 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 public docket 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 through the 
Internet at http://dms.dot.gov. Recently published rulemaking documents 
can also be accessed through the FAA's Web

[[Page 36541]]

page at http://www.faa.gov or the Superintendent of Document's 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 Federal Aviation Administration, 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 docket numbers for this notice. Persons interested in 
being placed on a mailing list for future NPRM's should contact the 
FAA's Office of Rulemaking, (202) 267-9677, to request a copy of 
Advisory Circular No. 11-2A, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Distribution 
System, which describes the application procedure.

The Proposal

    The FAA is considering an amendment to the Code of Federal 
Regulations (14 CFR Part 71), by adding Class E airspace at Cordova, 
AK. The intended effect of this proposal is to revise the Class E 
surface area and Class E airspace upward from 700 ft. and 1,200 ft 
above the surface to contain Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations 
at Cordova, AK.
    The FAA Instrument Flight Procedures Production and Maintenance 
Branch has developed new and revised SIAPs for the Merle K. (Mudhole) 
Smith Airport. The approaches are (1) Area Navigation (Global 
Positioning System) (RNAV (GPS)) Runway (RWY) 27, original; (2) RNAV 
(GPS) -B, Amendment 1; and (3) Non-directional Beacon /Distance 
Measuring Equipment (NDB/DME) -A, original. Revised Class E surface 
area and Class E controlled airspace extending upward from 700 ft. and 
1,200 ft. above the surface of the Cordova Airport would be created by 
this action. The proposed airspace is sufficient to contain aircraft 
executing the new and revised instrument procedures for the Merle K. 
(Mudhole) Smith Airport.
    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 surface 
areas are published in paragraph 6002, and the Class E airspace areas 
designated as 700/1200 foot transition areas are published in paragraph 
6005 in FAA Order 7400.9M, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, 
dated August 30, 2004, and effective September 16, 2004, 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 under the 
criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
    The FAA's authority to issue rules regarding aviation safety is 
found in Title 49 of the United States Code. Subtitle 1, Section 106 
describes the authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII, 
Aviation Programs, describes in more detail the scope of the agency's 
authority.
    This rulemaking is promulgated under the authority described in 
Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart 1, Section 40103, Sovereignty and use of 
airspace. Under that section, the FAA is charged with prescribing 
regulations to ensure the safe and efficient use of the navigable 
airspace. This regulation is within the scope of that authority because 
in proposes to revise Class E airspace sufficient to contain aircraft 
executing instrument procedures at Merle K. (Mudhole) Smith Airport and 
represents the FAA's continuing effort to safely and efficiently use 
the navigable airspace.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71

    Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).

The Proposed Amendment

0
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

0
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]

0
2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of Federal Aviation 
Administration Order 7400.9M, Airspace Designations and Reporting 
Points, dated August 30, 2004, and effective September 16, 2004, is to 
be amended as follows:
* * * * *

Paragraph 6002 Class E airspace Designated as Surface Areas.

* * * * *

AAL AK E2 Cordova, AK [Revised]

Cordova, Merle K. (MUDHOLE) Smith Airport, AK
    (Lat. 60[deg]29'31'' N., Long. 145[deg]28'39'' W.)
Glacier River NDB
    (Lat. 60[deg]29'56'' N., Long. 145[deg]28'28'' W.)

    Within a 4.1-mile radius of the Merle K. (Mudhole) Smith Airport 
and within 2 miles each side of the 115[deg] bearing from the 
Glacier River NDB extending from the 4.1-mile radius to 6 miles 
southeast of the airport, and within 2 miles each side of the 
124[deg] bearing from the Glacier River NDB extending from the 4.1-
mile radius to 10.4 miles southeast of the airport, and within 3.2 
miles northwest and 2.1 miles southeast of the 222[deg] bearing from 
the Glacier River NDB extending from the 4.1-mile radius to 10 miles 
southwest of the airport, excluding that airspace north of a line 
from lat. 60[deg]31'03'' N., long. 145[deg]20'59'' W. to lat. 
60[deg]32'45'' N., long. 145[deg]33'43'' W.
* * * * *

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

* * * * *

AAL AK E5 Cordova, AK [Revised]

Cordova, Merle K. (MUDHOLE) Smith Airport, AK
    (Lat. 60[deg]29'31'' N., Long. 145[deg]28'39' W.)
Glacier River NDB
    (Lat. 60[deg]29'56'' N., Long. 145[deg]28'28'' W.)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within an 6.6-mile radius of the Merle K. (Mudhole) Smith Airport 
and within 4 miles each side of the 222[deg] bearing from the 
Glacier River NDB extending from the 6.6-mile radius to 20 miles 
southwest of the airport; and that airspace extending upward from 
1,200 feet above the surface within a 30-mile radius of the airport 
and within 6 miles each side of the 115[deg] bearing from the 
Glacier River NDB extending from the 30-mile radius to 45 miles east 
of the airport, excluding that airspace within Control 1487L. and 
more than 12-miles from the shoreline.
* * * * *


[[Page 36542]]


    Issued in Anchorage, AK, on June 16, 2005.
Michael A. Tarr,
Acting Area Director, Alaska Flight Services Area Office.
[FR Doc. 05-12562 Filed 6-23-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P