[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 217 (Wednesday, November 9, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 69608-69609]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-28931]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

Docket No. FAA-2011-0585; Airspace Docket No. 11-AWP-9


Modification of Class E Airspace; Blythe, CA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action modifies Class E airspace at Blythe, CA, to 
accommodate aircraft using Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning 
System (GPS) standard instrument approach procedures at Blythe Airport. 
This action also corrects geographic coordinates in the regulatory 
text. This improves the safety and management of Instrument Flight 
Rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

DATES: Effective date, 0901 UTC, December 15, 2011. The Director of the 
Federal Register approves this incorporation by reference action under 
1 CFR part 51, subject to the annual revision of FAA Order 7400.9 and 
publication of conforming amendments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eldon Taylor, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center, 1601 
Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA, 98057; telephone (425) 203-4537.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

History

    On August 2, 2011, the FAA published in the Federal Register a 
notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to modify controlled airspace at 
Blythe, CA (76 FR 46212). Interested parties were invited to 
participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting written comments on 
the proposal to the FAA. No comments were received. Subsequent to 
publication, the FAA found that the boundaries for the controlled 
airspace needed to be adjusted; this action makes that adjustment.
    Class E airspace designations are published in paragraph 6005, of 
FAA Order 7400.9V dated August 9, 2011, and effective September 15, 
2011, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Class E 
airspace designations

[[Page 69609]]

listed in this document will be published subsequently in that Order.

The Rule

    This action amends Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 
Part 71 by modifying Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet 
above the surface to accommodate IFR aircraft executing RNAV (GPS) 
standard instrument approach procedures at Blythe Airport. Also, the 
boundary coordinates in the regulatory text for the Class E 1,200-foot 
airspace area is adjusted to be in concert with the FAA's aeronautical 
database. This action is necessary for the safety and management of IFR 
operations. With the exception of editorial changes and the changes 
noted above, this rule is the same as that proposed in the NPRM.
    The FAA has determined this regulation only involves an established 
body of technical regulations for which frequent and routine amendments 
are necessary to keep them operationally current. Therefore, this 
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 
will only affect air traffic procedures and air navigation, it is 
certified 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 U.S. 
Code. Subtitle 1, section 106 discusses 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 I, section 40103. Under that section, the FAA is charged with 
prescribing regulations to assign the use of airspace necessary to 
ensure the safety of aircraft and the efficient use of airspace. This 
regulation is within the scope of that authority as it creates 
additional controlled airspace at Blythe Airport, Blythe, CA.

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 the Federal 
Aviation Administration Order 7400.9V, Airspace Designations and 
Reporting Points, dated August 9, 2011, and effective September 15, 
2011 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 Blythe, CA [Modified]

Blythe Airport, CA
    (Lat. 33[deg]37'09'' N., long. 114[deg]43'01'' W.)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.7-mile radius of the Blythe Airport, and within 4 miles 
south and 1.2 miles north of the 264[deg] bearing from the airport 
extending from the 6.7-mile radius to 10 miles west of the airport. 
That airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface 
within an area bounded by lat. 33[deg]50'00'' N., long. 
114[deg]21'00'' W.; to lat. 33[deg]42'00'' N., long. 114[deg]17'00'' 
W.; to lat. 33[deg]41'30'' N., long. 114[deg]07'30'' W.; to lat. 
33[deg]27'00'' N., long. 114[deg]09'00'' W.; to lat. 33[deg]28'00'' 
N., long. 114[deg]13'00'' W.; to lat. 33[deg]28'28'' N., long. 
114[deg]27'12'' W., thence clockwise along the 15.8-mile radius of 
Blythe Airport to lat. 33[deg]26'30'' N., long. 114[deg]57'00'' W., 
to lat. 33[deg]26'00'' N., long. 115[deg]04'00'' W.; to lat. 
33[deg]53'00'' N., long. 115[deg]07'00'' W.; to lat. 34[deg]15'00'' 
N., long. 114[deg]50'00'' W.; to lat. 34[deg]15'00'' N., long. 
114[deg]28'00'' W.; to lat. 33[deg]52'00'' N., long. 114[deg]29'00'' 
W., thence to the point of beginning.


    Issued in Seattle, Washington, on October 3, 2011.
John Warner,
Manager, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2011-28931 Filed 11-8-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P