[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 24 (Tuesday, February 5, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 7993-7994]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-02324]



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 Rules and Regulations
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  Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 24 / Tuesday, February 5, 2013 / 
Rules and Regulations  

[[Page 7993]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2011-0621; Airspace Docket No. 11-ASO-28]


Amendment of Class D and E Airspace; Tri-Cities, TN; Revocation 
of Class E Airspace; Tri-City, TN

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This action amends Class D and Class E airspace and removes 
Class E airspace in the Tri-Cities, TN, area, to accommodate the new 
Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) Standard 
Instrument Approach Procedures at Tri-Cities Regional Airport. This 
action enhances the safety and airspace management of Instrument Flight 
Rules (IFR) operations within the National Airspace System. This action 
also updates the geographic coordinates, airport name, and airspace 
designation. Also, this action corrects errors in the Class E 
descriptor.

DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, May 2, 2013. 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: John Fornito, Operations Support 
Group, Eastern Service Center, Federal Aviation Administration, P.O. 
Box 20636, Atlanta, Georgia 30320; telephone (404) 305-6364.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

History

    On September 28, 2012, the FAA published in the Federal Register a 
supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM) to amend Class D and 
Class E airspace in the Tri-Cities, TN, area (77 FR 59573). The SNPRM 
would list Hawkins County Airport and Virginia Highlands Airport under 
their own designator, and would correct the Tri-Cities Regional Airport 
city designator from Blountville, TN, to Tri-Cities, TN, as originally 
proposed in the NPRM of April 28, 2012 (77 FR 21505). 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 of the SNPRM, the FAA found 
errors in the descriptors of the Class E surface airspace and Class E 
airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface. This action 
makes the corrections. Class D and E airspace designations are 
published in paragraph 5000, 6002, 6004, and 6005, respectively, of FAA 
Order 7400.9W dated August 8, 2012, and effective September 15, 2012, 
which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Class D and E 
airspace designations listed in this document will be published 
subsequently in the Order. With the exception of editorial changes, and 
the changes described above, this rule is the same as that proposed in 
the SNPRM.

The Rule

    This amendment to Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 
part 71 amends Class D and Class E surface airspace, removes Class E 
airspace designated as an extension to Class D, and amends Class E 
airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Tri-
Cities, TN, to provide the controlled airspace required to accommodate 
the new RNAV (GPS) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures developed 
for Tri-Cities Regional Airport. Also, the coordinates of the airport 
are corrected to be in concert with the FAAs aeronautical database. The 
city designator for Tri-Cities Regional Airport is changed from 
Blountville, TN, to Tri-Cities, TN; the current Class E airspace 
extending upward from 700 feet above the surface for Hawkins County 
Airport, Rogersville, TN, and Virginia Highlands Airport, VA, is now 
listed under their own city designator. This action furthers the safety 
and management of controlled airspace within the National Airspace 
System.
    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, is 
non-controversial and unlikely to result in adverse or negative 
comments. 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, 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 United States Code. Subtitle I, 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 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 establishes controlled airspace in the Tri-Cities, TN.

Lists 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 Part 71 continues to read as follows:


[[Page 7994]]


    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 7400.9W, Airspace Designations and Reporting 
Points, dated August 8, 2012, effective September 15, 2012, is amended 
as follows:

Paragraph 5000 Class D Airspace

* * * * *

ASO TN D Tri-Cities, TN [Amended]

Tri-Cities Regional Airport, TN/VA
    (Lat. 36[deg]28'31'' N., long. 82[deg]24'27'' W.)
Edwards Heliport, TN
    (Lat. 36[deg]25'57'' N., long. 82[deg]17'37'' W.)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including 
4,000 feet MSL within a 6.8-mile radius of Tri-Cities Regional 
Airport, excluding the 2.5-mile radius of Edwards Heliport. This 
Class D airspace area is effective during the specific days and 
times established in advance by a Notice to Airmen. The effective 
days and times will thereafter be continuously published in the 
Airport/Facility Directory.

Paragraph 6002 Class E Airspace Designated as Surface Areas

* * * * *

ASO TN E2 Tri-Cities, TN [Amended]

Tri-Cities Regional Airport, TN/VA
    (Lat. 36[deg]28'31'' N., long. 82[deg]24'27'' W.)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface within a 6.8-
mile radius of Tri-Cities Regional Airport. This Class E airspace 
area is effective during the specific days and times established in 
advance by a Notice to Airmen. The effective days and times will 
thereafter be continuously published in the Airport/Facility 
Directory.

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

* * * * *

ASO TN E4 Tri-City, TN [Removed]

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

* * * * *

ASO TN E5 Tri-Cities, TN [Amended]

Tri-Cities Regional Airport, TN/VA
    (Lat. 36[deg]28'31'' N., long. 82[deg]24'27'' W.)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 9.3-mile radius of Tri-Cities Regional Airport and within 
4-miles west and 8-miles east of the 223[deg] bearing from the 
airport extending from the 9.3-mile radius to 23 miles southwest of 
the airport, and within 2-miles either side of the 43[deg] bearing 
from the airport extending from the 9.3-mile radius to 14.5 miles 
northeast of the airport.
* * * * *

ASO TN E5 Rogersville, TN [New]

Hawkins County Airport, TN
    (Lat. 36[deg]27'27'' N., long. 82[deg]53'06'' W.)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 7-mile radius of Hawkins County Airport, and within 7 miles 
each side of Runway 07/25 centerline, extending from the 7-mile 
radius to 12 miles east of Hawkins County Airport.
* * * * *

ASO VA E5 Abingdon, VA [New]

Virginia Highlands Airport, VA
    (Lat. 36[deg]41'14'' N., long. 82[deg]02'00'' W.)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 17-mile radius of Virginia Highlands Airport.

    Issued in College Park, Georgia, on January 23, 2013.
Barry A. Knight,
Manager, Operations Support Group, Eastern Service Center, Air Traffic 
Organization.
[FR Doc. 2013-02324 Filed 2-4-13; 8:45 am]
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