[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 3, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 19927-19928]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-7933]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2011-1314; Airspace Docket No. 11-AWP-18]


Amendment of Class E Airspace; Willcox, AZ, and Revocation of 
Class E Airspace; Cochise, AZ

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action modifies Class E airspace at Willcox, AZ, and 
removes Class E airspace at Cochise, AZ. The airspace designation 
listed as Cochise, AZ, is combined with Cochise County Airport, 
Willcox, AZ. Controlled airspace is necessary to accommodate aircraft 
using Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) standard 
instrument approach procedures at Cochise County Airport, Willcox, AZ. 
Decommissioning of the Cochise VHF Omni-Directional Radio Range 
Tactical Air Navigation Aid (VORTAC) has made this action necessary for 
the safety and management of aircraft operations at the airport.

DATES: Effective date, 0901 UTC, May 31, 2012. 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 January 10, 2012, the FAA published in the Federal Register a 
notice of proposed rulemaking to amend controlled airspace at Willcox, 
AZ, and remove the controlled airspace designation at Cochise, AZ (77 
FR 1428). Interested parties were invited to participate in this 
rulemaking effort by submitting written comments on the proposal to the 
FAA. One comment was

[[Page 19928]]

received. The commenter agreed with the airspace change but was 
concerned about the increased air traffic. This airspace amendment will 
not increase the air traffic at Cochise County Airport. The Cochise, AZ 
airspace designation is merely being incorporated into the existing 
Willcox, AZ airspace designation.
    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 Part 71.1. The Class 
E airspace designations 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, at Cochise County Airport, Willcox, AZ. Controlled 
airspace is necessary to accommodate IFR aircraft executing RNAV (GPS) 
standard instrument approach procedures at the airport. This action 
removes the Cochise, AZ airspace designation extending upward from 
1,200 feet above the surface and combines it with the existing Cochise 
County Airport, Willcox, AZ, designation. Decommissioning of the 
Cochise VORTAC has made this action necessary, and enhances the safety 
and management of aircraft operations within the National Airspace 
System.
    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 modifies 
controlled airspace at Cochise County Airport, Willcox, AZ, and removes 
the airspace designation for the Cochise, AZ VORTAC.

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 part 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 AZ E5 Willcox, AZ [Modified]

Cochise County Airport, AZ
    (Lat. 32[deg]14'44'' N., long. 109[deg]53'41'' W.)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within 6.5-mile radius of the Cochise County Airport and within 5 
miles each side of the 225[deg] bearing of the Cochise County 
Airport extending from the 6.5-mile radius to 14.5 miles southwest 
of the airport, and within 5.5 miles southeast and 4.5 miles 
northwest of the 055[deg] bearing of the Cochise County Airport 
extending from the 6.5-mile radius to 14.5 miles northeast of the 
airport. That airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet above the 
surface bounded by a line beginning at lat. 32[deg]22'30'' N., long. 
110[deg]00'02'' W.; to lat. 32[deg]22'00'' N., long. 109[deg]57'30'' 
W.; to lat. 32[deg]30'00'' N., long. 109[deg]54'00'' W.; to lat. 
32[deg]22'40'' N., long. 109[deg]25'00'' W.; to lat. 32[deg]15'30'' 
N., long. 109[deg]27'30'' W.; to lat. 32[deg]14'25'' N., long. 
109[deg]25'22'' W.; to lat. 32[deg]10'20'' N., long. 109[deg]25'22'' 
W.; to lat. 32[deg]10'20'' N., and the Arizona/New Mexico border, 
thence south along the Arizona/New Mexico border to lat. 
31[deg]52'40'' N.; to lat. 31[deg]54'00'' N., long. 109[deg]25'27'' 
W.; to lat. 31[deg]57'05'' N., long. 109[deg]55'02'' W.; to lat. 
32[deg]07'00'' N., long. 109[deg]54'02'' W.; to lat. 32[deg]07'30'' 
N., long. 110[deg]00'02'' W., thence to the point of beginning.

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

* * * * *

AWP AZ E5 Cochise, AZ [Removed]

    Issued in Seattle, Washington, on March 26, 2012.
Robert Henry,
Acting Manager, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2012-7933 Filed 4-2-12; 8:45 am]
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