[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 141 (Friday, July 22, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 43823-43824]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-17973]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2011-0244 Airspace Docket No. 11-AAL-05]


Revision of Class E Airspace; Yakutat, AK

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action revises Class E airspace at the Yakutat Airport, 
Yakutat, AK. The amendment of eight Standard Instrument Approach 
Procedures (SIAPs) has made this action necessary to enhance safety and 
air traffic management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at 
the airport.

DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, October 20, 2011. The Director of the 
Federal Register approves this incorporation by reference action under 
title 1, Code of Federal Regulations, part 51, subject to the annual 
revision of FAA Order 7400.9 and publication of conforming amendments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Martha Dunn, 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.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ato/service_units/systemops/fs/alaskan/rulemaking/.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

History

    On Tuesday, April 19, 2011, the FAA published a notice of proposed 
rulemaking in the Federal Register to amend Class E airspace to 
accommodate new SIAPS at Yakutat Airport, Yakutat, AK (76 FR 21832).
    Interested parties were invited to participate in this rulemaking 
proceeding by submitting written comments on the proposal to the FAA. 
Three comments were received. One commenter noted that the proposed 
rule incorrectly referred to the Yakutat VORTAC: The correct 
navigational aid is the Yakutat VOR/DME. The rule has been changed to 
correct that error. The second commenter suggested that the portion of 
the proposed Class E airspace overlaying Canadian airspace should be 
excluded. The FAA has found merit in this and has adjusted the airspace 
to exclude that area outside of U.S. airspace. The third commenter 
noted that a portion of the airspace overlies offshore airspace beyond 
12 NM from the shoreline (Control 1487L) which should be revised to 
reflect the change in the 1,200 ft. airspace. The FAA agrees and that 
change is being incorporated in a separate offshore airspace 
rulemaking. The FAA also noted that two of the longitudes used in the 
geographic coordinates for the airspace description were incorrectly 
rounded. This action corrects that error.
    The Class E airspace areas designated as 700/1,200 ft. transition 
areas are published in paragraph 6005 of FAA Order 7400.9U, Airspace 
Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 18, 2010, and effective 
September 15, 2010, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. 
The Class E airspace designations listed in this document will be 
published subsequently in the Order.

The Rule

    This action amends Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 
part 71 by revising Class E airspace to accommodate eight amended 
standard instrument approach procedures at the Yakutat Airport, 
Yakutat, AK. This action provides adequate controlled airspace upward 
from 700 feet and 1,200 feet above the surface for the safety and 
management of IFR operations at Yakutat Airport. A portion of the 1,200 
foot controlled airspace extends over Offshore Airspace Control 1487L 
which has been amended in a separate rulemaking. With the exception

[[Page 43824]]

of editorial changes, and the changes described above, this rule is the 
same as that proposed in the NPRM.
    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. Because 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 safety of aircraft and the efficient use of 
airspace. This regulation is within the scope of that authority because 
it creates additional Class E airspace at the Yakutat Airport, Yakutat, 
AK for the safe and efficient use of the National Airspace System.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71

    Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).

Adoption of the Amendment

    In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation 
Administration amends 14 CFR part 71 as follows:

PART 71--DESIGNATION OF CLASS A, B, C, D, AND E AIRSPACE AREAS; AIR 
TRAFFIC SERVICE 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 7400.9U, Airspace Designations and Reporting 
Points, dated August 18, 2010, and effective September 15, 2010, is 
amended as follows:
* * * * *

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

* * * * *

AAL AK E5 Yakutat, AK [Revised]

Yakutat Airport, AK
    (Lat. 59[deg]30'12'' N., long. 139[deg]39'37'' W.)
Yakutat VOR/DME
    (Lat. 59[deg]30'39'' N., long. 139[deg]38'53'' W.)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within the area bounded by lat. 59[deg]47'42'' N., 139[deg]58'48'' 
W., to lat. 59[deg]37'33'' N., long. 139[deg]40'54'' W., then along 
the 7 mile radius of the Yakutat VOR/DME clockwise to 59[deg]28'54'' 
N., long. 139[deg]25'36'' W., to lat. 59[deg]20'16'' N., long. 
139[deg]10'20'' W., to lat. 59[deg]02'49'' N. long. 139[deg]47'45'' 
W., to lat. 59[deg]30'15'' N. long. 140[deg]36'43'' W., to the point 
of beginning, excluding that area outside 12 miles from the 
shoreline within Gulf of Alaska Low Control Area; and that airspace 
extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface within a 75-mile 
radius of the Yakutat VOR/DME, excluding that area extending over 
Canada, and that area outside 12 miles from the shoreline within 
Control 1487L.

    Issued in Anchorage, AK, on June 30, 2011.
Michael A. Tarr,
Manager, Alaska Flight Services.
[FR Doc. 2011-17973 Filed 7-21-11; 8:45 am]
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