[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 100 (Wednesday, May 23, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 23798-23799]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-10939]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2017-1195; Airspace Docket No. 17-AEA-24]
RIN 2120-AA66


Amendment of Class D Airspace and Class E Airspace; Erie, PA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action amends Class D airspace, Class E surface area 
airspace and Class E airspace designated as an extension to a Class D 
surface area, by updating the name to Erie International Airport/Tom 
Ridge Field, Erie, PA. This action also amends Class E airspace 
extending upward from 700 feet above the surface in Erie, PA, by 
updating the name to St. Vincent Health Center Heliport. This action 
also updates the geographic coordinates of the airport and heliport, 
and replaces the outdated term ``Airport/Facility Directory'' with the 
term ``Chart Supplement'' in the legal descriptions of associated Class 
D and E airspace to match the FAA's aeronautical database. The Class E 
surface airspace is further clarified showing removal of the 
extensions, and the Class E extension airspace is further clarified 
showing removal of the part-time Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) language.

DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, July 19, 2018. 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 7400.11 and publication of conforming amendments.

ADDRESSES: FAA Order 7400.11B, Airspace Designations and Reporting 
Points, and subsequent amendments can be viewed online at http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/. For further information, you can 
contact the Airspace Policy Group, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267-
8783. The Order is also available for inspection at the National 
Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the 
availability of FAA Order 7400.11B at NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go 
to https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.
    FAA Order 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, is 
published yearly and effective on September 15.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Fornito, Operations Support 
Group, Eastern Service Center, Federal Aviation Administration, 1701 
Columbia Ave, College Park, GA 30337; telephone (404) 305-6364.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Authority for This Rulemaking

    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 amends Class D and Class E airspace in the Erie, PA area, to 
support IFR operations under standard instrument approach procedures at 
Erie International Airport/Tom Ridge Field, and St. Vincent Health 
Center Heliport.

History

    The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) in the 
Federal Register (83 FR 8210, February 26, 2018) for Docket No. FAA-
2017-1195 to amend Class D airspace and Class E surface airspace, Class 
E airspace designated as an extension to a Class D surface area, and 
Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet or more above the 
surface at Erie International Airport/Tom Ridge Field and St. Vincent 
Health Center Heliport, Erie, PA.
    Interested parties were invited to participate in this rulemaking 
effort by submitting written comments on the proposal to the FAA. No 
comments were received.
    The FAA further clarifies the rule by adding that the Class E 
surface airspace extensions are removed from the legal description, and 
the part-time Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) language is removed from the 
Class E extension airspace legal description. There is no practical 
change to the airspace as proposed by the FAA, only that we are 
revising it because it did not accurately describe what we proposed.
    Except as described above, this rule is the same as published in 
the NPRM.
    Class D and E airspace designations are published in paragraph 
5000, 6002, 6004, and 6005, respectively, of FAA Order 7400.11B dated 
August 3, 2017, and effective September 15, 2017, which is incorporated 
by reference in 14 CFR part 71.1. The Class D and E airspace 
designations listed in this document will be published subsequently in 
the Order.

Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference

    This document amends FAA Order 7400.11B, Airspace Designations and 
Reporting Points, dated August 3, 2017, and effective September 15, 
2017. FAA Order 7400.11B is publicly available as listed in the 
ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order 7400.11B lists Class A, 
B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and 
reporting points.

The Rule

    This amendment to Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 
part 71 amends Class D airspace, and Class E surface area airspace, and 
Class E airspace designated as an extension to a Class D surface area, 
by updating the airport name to Erie International Airport/Tom Ridge 
Field (formerly Erie International Airport). The geographic coordinates 
of the airport, in all airspace classes are adjusted to coincide with 
the FAA's aeronautical database.
    Also, this action removes the airspace extensions from the Class E 
surface airspace legal description of the airport as it duplicates the 
Class E airspace designated as an extension to a Class D surface area 
(which is now continuous). This action also removes the part-time NOTAM 
language from the Class E airspace designated as an extension 
(inadvertently omitted in the NPRM).
    Additionally, this action makes an editorial change to the airspace 
legal description replacing ``Airport/Facility Directory'' with ``Chart 
Supplement'' in the associated airspace.
    This action also amends Class E airspace extending upward from 700 
feet above the surface by updating the airport name to Erie 
International Airport/Tom Ridge Field (formerly Erie International Tom 
Ridge Field Airport), and the heliport name to St. Vincent Health 
Center Heliport (formerly Life Star Base Heliport), Erie, PA, to be in

[[Page 23799]]

concert with the FAA's aeronautical database.

Regulatory Notices and Analyses

    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. Since this is a routine matter that 
only affects air traffic procedures and air navigation, it is certified 
that this rule, when promulgated, does not have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria of 
the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

Environmental Review

    The FAA has determined that this action qualifies for categorical 
exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act in accordance 
with FAA Order 1050.1F, ``Environmental Impacts: Policies and 
Procedures,'' paragraph 5-6.5a. This airspace action is not expected to 
cause any potentially significant environmental impacts, and no 
extraordinary circumstances exist that warrant preparation of an 
environmental assessment.

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 part 71 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  49 U.S.C. 106(f), 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 7400.11B, Airspace Designations and Reporting 
Points, dated August 3, 2017, effective September 15, 2017, is amended 
as follows:

Paragraph 5000 Class D Airspace.

* * * * *

AEA PA D Erie, PA [Amended]

Erie International Airport/Tom Ridge Field, PA
    (Lat. 42[deg]04''59'' N, long. 80[deg]10'26'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including 
3,200 feet MSL within a 4.2-mile radius of Erie International 
Airport/Tom Ridge Field. 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 Chart Supplement.

Paragraph 6002 Class E Surface Area Airspace.

* * * * *

AEA PA E2 Erie, PA [Amended]

Erie International Airport/Tom Ridge Field, PA
    (Lat. 42[deg]04'59'' N, long. 80[deg]10'26'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface within a 4.2-
mile radius of Erie International Airport/Tom Ridge Field. 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 
Chart Supplement.

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

* * * * *

AEA PA E4 Erie, PA [Amended]

Erie International Airport/Tom Ridge Field, PA
    (Lat. 42[deg]04'59'' N, long. 80[deg]10'26'' W)
Erie VORTAC
    (Lat. 42[deg]01'03'' N, long. 80[deg]17'34'' W)
Erie Localizer RWY 6
    (Lat. 42[deg]05'30'' N, long. 80[deg]09'22'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface extending 
northeast of the Erie International Airport/Tom Ridge Field 4.2-mile 
radius from within 4 miles northwest of the Erie VORTAC 054[deg] 
radial to 3.5 miles southeast of the Erie ILS localizer northeast 
course then extending southwest from a point located along the Erie 
localizer northeast course 9.2 miles northeast of lat. 
42[deg]07'30'' N, long. 80[deg]05'36''W, to the 4.2-mile radius of 
the airport.

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

* * * * *

AEA PA E5 Erie, PA [Amended]

Erie International Airport/Tom Ridge Field, PA
    (Lat. 42[deg]04'59'' N, long. 80[deg]10'26'' W)
St. Vincent Health Center Heliport, PA
    (Lat. 42[deg]06'43'' N, long. 80[deg]04'51'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.7-mile radius of Erie International Airport/Tom Ridge 
Field, and within 4.4 miles each side of the 054[deg] bearing from 
the airport extending from the 6.7-mile radius to 14 miles northeast 
of the airport and within a 6-mile radius of St. Vincent Health 
Center Heliport.

    Issued in College Park, Georgia, on May 16, 2018.
Ryan W. Almasy,
Manager, Operations Support Group, Eastern Service Center, Air Traffic 
Organization.
[FR Doc. 2018-10939 Filed 5-22-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P