[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 169 (Thursday, August 30, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 44214-44216]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-18765]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0131; Airspace Docket No. 18-ASO-4]
RIN 2120-AA66


Amendment of Class D and Class E Airspace; Eastover, SC and 
Sumter, SC

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action amends Class D airspace and Class E airspace 
extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Mc Entire Joint 
National Guard Base (JNGB), Eastover, SC, to accommodate airspace 
reconfiguration due to the decommissioning of the Mc Entire non-
directional radio beacon (NDB) and cancellation of the NDB approach. 
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 Mc Entire JNGB, and Shaw 
AFB, and Sumter Airport, Sumter, SC, and updates the names of Mc Entire 
JNGB and Sumter Airport. In addition, an editorial change is made to 
the airspace designation in both Class D and E airspace.

DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, November 8, 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 on line 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 Avenue, 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 Mc Entire JNGB, Shaw AFB, 
and Sumter Airport, Eastover and Sumter, SC, to support IFR operations 
at these airports.

History

    The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal 
Register (83 FR 14610, April 5, 2018) for Docket No. FAA-2018-0131 to 
amend Class D and Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above 
the surface at Mc Entire JNGB due to the decommissioning of the Mc 
Entire NDB, and cancellation of the NDB approach. The NPRM also advised 
of the proposed amendment to the geographic coordinates of Mc Entire 
JNGB, and Shaw AFB, and Sumter Airport, Sumter, SC, and the Mc Entire 
JNGB TACAN geographic coordinates. Interested parties were invited to 
participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting written comments on 
the proposal to the FAA. One comment was received from the Aircraft 
Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) in support of the proposal. In 
their comment, AOPA stated that the NPRM did not comply with FAA 
guidance in Order 7400.2, Procedures for Handling Airspace Matters, 
because a graphic was not included in the docket. Additionally, AOPA 
encouraged the FAA to follow

[[Page 44215]]

their guidance by making the action effective date concurrent with 
publication of the VFR sectional chart publication date.
    The FAA has determined AOPA's comments raised no substantive issues 
related to the proposed changes to the airspace addressed in the NPRM. 
To the extent the FAA failed to follow its policies related to 
publishing graphics in the docket and coincidental to the sectional 
chart date, we note the following.
    The FAA provided graphics for this proposal on April 25, 2018. 
Nevertheless, specific to AOPA's comment regarding the FAA already 
creating a graphical depiction of new or modified airspace overlaid on 
a Sectional Chart for quality assurance purposes, this is not correct 
nor required in all cases. During the airspace reviews, airspace 
graphics may be created, if deemed necessary, to determine if there are 
terrain issues, or if cases are considered complex. However, in many 
cases, a graphic is not required when developing an airspace proposal.
    With respect to AOPA's comment addressing effective dates, FAA 
Order 7400.2L, para 2-3-7.a.4. states that, to the extent practicable, 
airspace areas and restricted areas should become effective on a 
sectional chart date and that consideration should be given to 
selecting a sectional chart date that matches a 56-day en route chart 
cycle date. The FAA does consider Class E airspace amendment effective 
dates to coincide with the publication of sectional charts, to the 
extent practicable; however, this consideration is accomplished after 
the NPRM comment period ends in the Final Rule. Substantive comments 
received to NPRMs, flight safety concerns, management of IFR operations 
at affected airports, and immediacy of required proposed airspace 
amendments are some of the factors that must be taken into 
consideration when selecting the appropriate effective date. After 
considering all factors, the FAA may determine that selecting an 
effective date that conforms to a 56-day en route chart cycle date that 
is not coincidental to sectional chart dates is better for the NAS and 
its users rather than awaiting the next sectional chart date.

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 airspace extending upward 
from 700 feet or more above the surface of Mc Entire JNGB, due to the 
decommissioning of the Mc Entire NDB, and cancellation of the NDB 
approach. The changes enhance the safety and management of IFR 
operations at the airport.
    The geographic coordinates of the Mc Entire JNGB, Shaw AFB, Sumter 
Airport, Sumter, and the Mc Entire JNGB TACAN also are adjusted to 
coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database, and the airport names 
are updated to Mc Entire JNGB (formerly Mc Entire ANGB), and Sumter 
Airport (formerly Sumter Municipal Airport). Also, this action updates 
the name of the Mc Entire ANGB TACAN navigation aid to the Mc Entire 
JNGB TACAN.
    Finally, an editorial change is made to the airspace designation, 
removing the city from the airport name associated with Mc Entire JNGB 
and Shaw AFB to comply with a recent change to FAA Order 7400.2L, 
Procedures for Handling Airspace Matters.
    Class D and E airspace designations are published in Paragraphs 
5000 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 71.1. The Class E airspace designation listed in 
this document will be published subsequently in the Order.

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, and effective September 15, 2017, is 
amended as follows:

Paragraph 5000 Class D Airspace.

* * * * *

ASO SC D Eastover, SC [Amended]

Mc Entire JNGB, SC
    (Lat. 33[deg]55'15'' N, long. 80[deg]48'04'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including 
2,800 feet MSL within a 4.5-mile radius of Mc Entire JNGB. This 
Class D airspace area is effective during the specific dates and 
times established in advance by a Notice to Airmen. The effective 
date and time will thereafter be continuously published in the Chart 
Supplement.

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

* * * * *

ASO SC E5 Sumter, SC [Amended]

Shaw AFB, SC
    (Lat. 33[deg]58'22'' N, long. 80[deg]28'14'' W)
Mc Entire JNGB
    (Lat. 33[deg]55'15'' N, long. 80[deg]48'04'' W)
Mc Entire JNGB TACAN
    (Lat. 33[deg]55'27'' N, long. 80[deg]48'8'' W)
Sumter Airport, SC

[[Page 44216]]

    (Lat. 33[deg]59'42'' N, long. 80[deg]21'41'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 10-mile radius of Shaw AFB and within a 6.8-mile radius of 
Mc Entire JNGB and within 3 miles each side of Mc Entire JNGB TACAN 
138[deg] radial, extending from the 6.8-mile radius to 12 miles 
southeast of the TACAN and within a 7-mile radius of Sumter Airport; 
excluding that airspace contained within Restricted Area R-6002 when 
it is in use.

    Issued in College Park, Georgia, on August 22, 2018.
Ryan W. Almasy,
Manager, Operations Support Group, Eastern Service Center, Air Traffic 
Organization.
[FR Doc. 2018-18765 Filed 8-29-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P