[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 57 (Friday, March 24, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 14830-14831]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-2878]



[[Page 14830]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2006-24064; Airspace Docket No. 06-AWP-3]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Revision of Class E Airspace; Vandenberg AFB, CA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to revise Class E airspace at Vandenberg 
AFB, CA. During a review of this airspace, it was determined that 
additional controlled airspace was needed for Category E aircraft 
conducting circling maneuvers in conjunction with published Standard 
Instrument Procedures. This airspace change will place aircraft in 
controlled airspace from final descent to runway and protect Category E 
aircraft while conducting a circling approach to land.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 8, 2006.

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-2006-24064; Airspace Docket No. 06-AWP-3, 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 Docket 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 Area Director, Terminal Operations, Western 
Service Area, Federal Aviation Administration, Room 2010, 15000 
Aviation Boulevard, Lawndale, California, 90261.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Francie Hope, Airspace Specialist, 
Western Terminal Service Area, Federal Aviation Administration, 15000 
Aviation Boulevard, Lawndale, California 90261; telephone (310) 725-
6502.

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-2006-24064; 
Airspace Docket No. 06-AWP-3.'' The postcard will be date/time stamped 
and returned to the commenter. All communications received 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 the comments received. A report summarized each 
substantive public contact with FAA personnel concerned with this 
rulemaking will be filed in the docket.

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's Web page at http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html. 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 part 71 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 71) to revise the Class E5 700 foot 
airspace at Vandenberg AFB, CA. Class E5 airspace areas are primarily 
designated to provide additional controlled airspace ancillary to a 
surface area to protect instrument operations for the primary airport, 
without imposing additional communications burdens on airspace users. 
This action is necessary at Vandenberg AFB to provide controlled 
airspace Category E aircraft conducting circling maneuvers in 
conjunction with published Standard Instrument Procedures. Generally, 
Category E aircraft are very large and/or high performance. These 
aircraft require additional airspace when conducting circling 
maneuvers.
    Class E5 airspace areas are published in Paragraph 6005 of FAA 
Order 7400.9N, dated September 1, 2005, and effective September 15, 
2005, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Class E5 
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. 
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 proposed 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.

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--DESIGNATION OF CLASS A, B, C, D, AND E AIRSPACE AREAS; 
AIRWAYS; ROUTES; AND REPORTING POINTS

    1. The authority citation for part 71 continues to read as follows:



[[Page 14831]]


    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g); 40103, 40113, 40120; E.O. 10854, 24 
FR 9565, 3 CFR, 1959-1963 Comp., 389.

Sec.  71.1  [Amended]

    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 15, 
2005, is amended as follows:

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

* * * * *

AWP CA E5 Vandenberg AFB, CA [REVISED]

Vandenberg AFB Airport
    (Lat. 34[deg]43'47'' N., long. 120[deg]34'37'' W.)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 7.8-mile radius of the Vandenberg AFB airport and within 
1.8 miles each side of the Vandenberg AFB ILS localizer southeast 
course, extending from 7.8 miles to 10.3 miles southeast of the 
Vandenberg AFB airport, excluding the Vandenberg Class D airspace, 
the Santa Maria Class D airspace, the Lompoc Class E4 surface area 
airspace, and the Lompoc Class E 700 foot airspace.
* * * * *

    Issued in Los Angeles, California, on March 14, 2006.
Leonard A. Mobley,
Manager, Airspace Branch, AWP-520 Western Terminal Operations
[FR Doc. 06-2878 Filed 3-23-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M