[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 118 (Tuesday, June 19, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 28356-28358]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-13050]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2017-1061; Airspace Docket No. 17-AEA-20]
RIN 2120-AA66


Amendment of Class D Airspace and Class E Airspace, and Removal 
of Class E Airspace; Binghamton, NY

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action amends Class D airspace, Class E surface airspace, 
and Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface; 
and removes Class E airspace designated as an extension to a Class D 
surface area; at Greater Binghamton Airport/Edwin A. Link Field 
(formerly Binghamton Regional Airport/Edwin A. Link Field), Binghamton, 
NY. This action accommodates airspace reconfiguration due to the 
decommissioning of the Binghamton VHF omni-directional radio range 
tactical air navigation aid (VORTAC), and cancellation of the VOR 
approaches. Controlled airspace is necessary for the safety and 
management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the airport. 
This action also updates the geographic coordinates of the airport, and 
corrects the airport's name. Additionally, this action replaces the 
outdated term ``Airport/Facility Directory'' with the term ``Chart 
Supplement'' in Class D and E surface airspace descriptions.

DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, September 13, 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 at Greater Binghamton 
Airport/Edwin A. Link Field, Binghamton, NY, to support IFR operations 
at the airport.

History

    The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal

[[Page 28357]]

Register (83 FR 5750, February 9, 2018) for Docket No. FAA-2017-1061 to 
amend Class D airspace and Class E surface airspace, and Class E 
airspace extending upward from 700 feet or more above the surface at 
Greater Binghamton Airport/Edwin A. Link Field, Binghamton, NY 
(formerly Binghamton Regional Airport/Edwin A. Link Field).
    Interested parties were invited to participate in this rulemaking 
effort by submitting written comments on the proposal to the FAA. One 
comment was received requesting a graphic on the airspace proposal. The 
FAA has since posted a graphic to the docket.
    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 proposes to amend FAA Order 7400.11B, Airspace 
Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 3, 2017, and effective 
September 15, 2016. 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, Class E surface airspace, and Class E 
airspace extending upward from 700 feet or more above the surface at 
Greater Binghamton Airport/Edwin A. Link Field, Binghamton, NY 
(formerly Binghamton Regional Airport/Edwin A. Link Field), due to the 
decommissioning of the Binghamton VORTAC, and cancellation of the VOR 
approaches. These changes enhance the safety and management of IFR 
operations at the airport.
    The Class D airspace area is amended to within a 4.4-mile radius 
(from a 4.3-mile radius) of Greater Binghamton Airport/Edwin A. Link 
Field.
    The Class E surface area airspace is amended to within a 4.4-mile 
radius (increased from a 4.3-mile radius) of Greater Binghamton 
Airport/Edwin A. Link Field. The Binghamton VORTAC is removed as it is 
being decommissioned. The SMITE LOM, and ILS Runway 34 Localizer 
navigation aids are no longer needed in the airspace redesign.
    The Class E airspace designated as an extension to a Class D 
surface area is removed as this airspace was only necessary for the 
cancelled approaches.
    Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
is amended to within a 7-mile radius (initially from a boundary line 
formed by the geographic coordinates) of the airport. The exclusionary 
language contained in the legal description is removed to comply with 
FAA Order 7400.2L, Procedures for Handling Airspace Matters. Also, an 
editorial change is made by adding the airport's geographic coordinates 
to the airspace designation.
    The geographic coordinates of the airport also are adjusted in the 
classes of airspace listed above to coincide with the FAA's 
aeronautical database, and the airport name is updated to Greater 
Binghamton Airport/Edwin A. Link Field, formerly Binghamton Regional 
Airport/Edwin A. Link Field.

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.

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:

    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 NY D Binghamton, NY [Amended]

Greater Binghamton Airport/Edwin A. Link Field, NY
    (Lat. 42[deg]12'30'' N, long. 75[deg]58'47'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including 
4,100 feet MSL within a 4.4-mile radius of Greater Binghamton 
Airport/Edwin A. Link 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 NY E2 Binghamton, NY [Amended]

Greater Binghamton Airport/Edwin A. Link Field, NY
    (Lat. 42[deg]12'30'' N, long. 75[deg]58'47'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface within a 4.4-
mile radius of Greater Binghamton Airport/Edwin A. Link 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 NY E4 Binghamton, NY [Removed]

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

* * * * *

[[Page 28358]]

AEA NY E5 Binghamton, NY [Amended]

Greater Binghamton Airport/Edwin A. Link Field, NY
    (Lat. 42[deg]12'30'' N, long. 75[deg]58'47'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 7-mile radius of Greater Binghamton Airport/Edwin A. Link 
Field.

    Issued in College Park, Georgia, on June 6, 2018.
Ryan W. Almasy,
Manager, Operations Support Group, Eastern Service Center, Air Traffic 
Organization.
[FR Doc. 2018-13050 Filed 6-18-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P