[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 183 (Thursday, September 22, 2005)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 55531-55533]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-18931]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2005-20643; Airspace Docket No. 05-AAL-13]


Establishment of Class D Airspace; and Revision of Class E 
Airspace; Big Delta, Allen Army Airfield, Fort Greely, AK

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

[[Page 55532]]


ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action establishes Class D airspace and revises Class E 
airspace at Big Delta, Allen Army Airfield (BIG) on Ft. Greely, Alaska. 
This action was taken at the request of the United States Army to 
enable them to establish the appropriate airspace to open an Airport 
Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) at BIG to support operations of the U.S. 
Army Space and Missile Defense Command. This action also enlarges Class 
E Airspace from 700 ft. above the surface to the point at which it is 
sufficient to contain aircraft executing standard instrument approach 
procedures (SIAP). The new BIG ATCT is being established to provide 
airport traffic control service to aircraft operating at BIG due to 
increased airport operations caused by an expanded homeland security 
mission at Ft. Greely.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 0901 UTC, December 22, 2005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Derril Bergt, Alaska Flight Service 
Operations, Federal Aviation Administration, 222 West 7th Avenue, Box 
14, Anchorage, AK 99513-7587; telephone number (907) 271-2796; fax: 
(907) 271-2850; e-mail: [email protected]. Internet address: http://www.alaska.faa.gov/at.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

History

    On Monday, April 18, 2005, the FAA proposed to revise part 71 of 
the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 71) to establish Class D 
airspace and to revise Class E airspace from the surface at Big Delta, 
Allen Army Airfield, Fort Greely, Alaska (70 FR 20096). The action was 
proposed in order to add Class D airspace sufficient in size to provide 
airport traffic control at BIG. The United States Army Space and 
Missile Defense Command is the managing agency for BIG. They plan to 
open a new ATCT on December 22, 2005. The United States Army is taking 
this action in order to provide airport traffic control due to an 
increase in airport traffic caused by an expanded homeland security 
mission at Ft. Greely. Interested parties were invited to participate 
in this rulemaking proceeding by submitting written comments on the 
proposal to the FAA. One letter was received with comments.
    The commenter, Alaska Airmen's Association, requested an exclusion 
corridor, to the west of BIG, through Class D airspace at and below 500 
ft. above ground level (AGL), for aircraft landing at Delta Junction 
Airport (D66). The FAA has considered the Alaska Airmen's Association 
request and agrees that a low altitude exclusion area to allow access 
to D66, to and from the northwest, without communication with BIG ATCT 
during visual flight rules (VFR) conditions is acceptable. When 
conditions are below basic VFR (1,000 ft. ceiling and/or 3 miles 
visibility) a Special VFR Clearance will still be required within Class 
E or D airspace. D66 is contained within Class E airspace extending 
from the surface upward to the base of Class D airspace.
    The Alaska Airmen's Association also requested an exclusion 
corridor from Donnelly Dome to the Big Delta Very High Frequency Omni-
directional Radio Range (BIG) 260 radial at 10 nautical miles (nm), or, 
if this is not feasible, an exclusion area through Class D airspace 
along the Richardson Highway under 500 AGL from the BIG 160 radial at 5 
nm direct to BIG 260 radial at 10 nm. The FAA has considered this 
proposal. The first option, an exclusion corridor from Donnelly Dome to 
the BIG 260 radial at 10 nm, will not be feasible because this routing 
would require the U.S. Army to discontinue use of Restricted Area 2202A 
(R2202A) within the confines of the proposed corridor. U.S. Army has 
informed the FAA that the airspace currently designated as R2202 cannot 
be made available for use as a non-radio corridor for aircraft during 
periods when R2202A is active without impacting training and testing 
negatively. As to the second option proposed, for a no-radio route from 
the BIG 160 radial at 5 nm to the BIG 260 at 10 nm, the close proximity 
of this proposed corridor to aircraft operating to/from Allen Army 
Airfield, and the security issues associated with homeland defense 
activities at Fort Greely preclude approval.
    The area will be depicted on aeronautical charts for pilot 
reference. The coordinates for this airspace docket are based on North 
American Datum 83. The airspace area designated as Class D is published 
in paragraph 5000 of FAA order 7400.9N, Airspace Designations and 
Reporting Points, dated September 1, 2005 and effective September 16, 
2005 which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Class E 
airspace areas designated as surface areas are published in paragraph 
6002 and 6004 of FAA Order 7400.9N, Airspace Designations and Reporting 
Points, dated September 1, 2005, and effective September 16, 2005, 
which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Class E airspace 
areas designated as 700/1200 foot transition areas are published in 
paragraph 6005 of FAA Order 7400.9N, Airspace Designations and 
Reporting Points, dated September 1, 2005 and effective September 16, 
2005 which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Class D and 
Class E airspace designations listed in this document will be revised 
subsequently in the Order.

The Rule

    This rule establishes Class D airspace, and revises Class E 
airspace at BIG, Ft. Greely, Alaska. Class E airspace from the surface 
is incorporated into the rule to ensure that D66 remains within 
controlled airspace extending upwards from the surface. The BIG ATCT 
will operate continuously. Class E airspace that is an extension to the 
Class D airspace from the surface is revised to align with the new 
Class D airspace and is enlarged to encompass that area needed to 
provide air traffic control services to aircraft executing standard 
instrument approach procedures to BIG. The intended effect of this rule 
is to provide adequate controlled airspace for the BIG ATCT to provide 
airport traffic control services to VFR and Instrument Flight Rule 
(IFR) aircraft at BIG, Fort Greely, Alaska.
    The FAA has determined that this 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 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 
it creates Class D airspace sufficient in size to provide airport

[[Page 55533]]

traffic control services, and Class E airspace sufficient to contain 
aircraft executing standard instrument approach procedures at BIG, 
Alaska, 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).

Adoption of the Amendment

0
In consideration of the foregoing, 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 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 7400.9N, Airspace Designations and Reporting 
Points, dated September 1, 2005, and effective September 16, 2005, is 
amended as follows:
* * * * *

Paragraph 5000 Class D Airspace.

* * * * *

AAL AK D Big Delta, AK [New]

Big Delta, Allen AAF, AK
    (Lat. 63[deg]59'40'' N., long. 145[deg]43'18'' W.)
Big Delta VORTAC
    (Lat. 64[deg]00'16'' N., long. 145[deg]43'02'' W.)
Delta Junction Airport
    (Lat. 64[deg]03'02'' N., long. 145[deg]43'02'' W.)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including 
3,800 feet MSL within a 6.3-mile radius of the Allen AAF; excluding 
the portion within the boundary of restricted area 2202A, and 
excluding that portion at and below 700 feet above ground level from 
a point one-half mile south of the Delta Junction Airport (D66) 
extending via the 090 bearing to 1 mile east of the Alaska Highway 
and via the 270 bearing to 1 mile west of the Delta River; thence 
northwest parallel to the Alaska Highway and the Delta River, to the 
boundary of Class D airspace.
* * * * *

Paragraph 6002 Class E Airspace Designated as Surface Area.

* * * * *

AAL AK E2 Big Delta, AK [Revised]

Big Delta, Allen AAF, AK
    (Lat. 63[deg]59'40'' N., long. 145[deg]43'18'' W.)
Big Delta VORTAC
    (Lat. 64[deg]00'16'' N., long. 145[deg]43'02'' W.)

    Within a 6.3-mile radius of the Allen AAF; excluding that 
portion within Class D airspace and excluding the portion within the 
boundary of restricted area 2202A
* * * * *

Paragraph 6004 Class E Airspace Designated as an Extension to a 
Class D or E Surface Area.

* * * * *

AAL AK E4 Big Delta, AK [New]

Big Delta, Allen AAF, AK
    (Lat. 63[deg]59'40'' N., long. 145[deg]43'18'' W.)
Big Delta VORTAC
    (Lat. 64[deg]00'16'' N., long. 145[deg]43'02'' W.)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface within 3 miles 
north and 2.6 miles south of the Big Delta VORTAC 039[deg] radial 
extending from the 6.3-mile radius of the Allen AAF to 10.3 miles 
northeast of the airport.
* * * * *

Paragraph 6005 Class E Airspace Areas Extending Upward from 700 
feet of More Above the Surface of the Earth.

* * * * *

AAL AK E5 Big Delta, AK [Revised]

Big Delta, Allen AAF, AK
    (Lat. 63[deg]59'40'' N., long. 145[deg]43'18'' W.)
Big Delta VORTAC
    (Lat. 64[deg]00'16'' N., long. 145[deg]43'02'' W.)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within an 8.6-mile radius of the Allen AAF, excluding the portion 
within the boundary of restricted area 2202A; and within 3 miles 
north and 2.6 miles south of the Big Delta VORTAC 039[deg] radial 
extending from the 8.6-mile radius of the Allen AAF to 10.3 miles 
northeast of the airport excluding Class D airspace.
* * * * *

    Issued in Anchorage, AK, on September 14, 2005.
Michael A. Tarr,
Acting Area Director, Alaska Flight Service Operations.
[FR Doc. 05-18931 Filed 9-21-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P