[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 183 (Thursday, September 20, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 47581-47583]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-20224]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0744; Airspace Docket No. 18-ASO-14]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Establishment of Class E Airspace, and Amendment of 
Class D Airspace and Class E Airspace; Dothan, AL

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to establish Class E surface airspace at 
Dothan Regional Airport, Dothan, AL. The Class E surface airspace would 
be established for the safety of aircraft landing and departing the 
airport when the air traffic control tower is closed. Also, this action 
proposes to amend Class D airspace by updating the airport's name and 
geographic coordinates, as well as replacing the outdated term 
`Airport/Facility Directory' with `Chart Supplement'. Additionally, the 
geographic coordinates of the airport and Wiregrass VORTAC would be 
adjusted in the associated Class E airspace to match the FAA's 
aeronautical database; as well as removing the part-time status of the 
airspace for Class E airspace designated as an extension to a Class D 
surface area. Controlled airspace is necessary for the safety and 
management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at this airport.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before November 5, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on this rule to: U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Operations, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West 
Bldg. Ground Floor, Rm. W12-140, Washington, DC 20590; Telephone: 1-
800-647-5527, or (202) 366-9826. You must identify the Docket No. FAA-
2018-0744; Airspace Docket No. 18-ASO-14, at the beginning of

[[Page 47582]]

your comments. You may also submit and review received comments through 
the internet at http://www.regulations.gov. You may review the public 
docket containing the proposal, any comments received, and any final 
disposition in person in the Dockets Office between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 
p.m., Monday through Friday, except federal holidays.
    FAA Order 7400.11C, 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 7400.11C 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 proposed 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 would establish Class E surface airspace and amend 
Class D airspace and Class E airspace at Dothan Regional Airport, 
Dothan, AL, to support IFR operations at this airport.

Comments Invited

    Interested persons are invited to comment on this proposed 
rulemaking by submitting such written data, views, or arguments, as 
they may desire. Comments that provide the factual basis supporting the 
views and suggestions presented are particularly helpful in developing 
reasoned regulatory decisions on the proposal. Comments are 
specifically invited on the overall regulatory, aeronautical, economic, 
environmental, and energy-related aspects of the proposal.
    Communications should identify both docket numbers (Docket No. FAA-
2018-0744 and Airspace Docket No. 18-ASO-14) and be submitted in 
triplicate to DOT Docket Operations (see ADDRESSES section for the 
address and phone number.) You may also submit comments through the 
internet at http://www.regulations.gov.
    Persons wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments on 
this action must submit with those comments a self-addressed stamped 
postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments to FAA 
Docket No. FAA-2018-0744; Airspace Docket No. 18-ASO-14.'' The postcard 
will be date/time stamped and returned to the commenter.
    All communications received before the specified closing date for 
comments will be considered before taking action on the proposed rule. 
The proposal contained in this document may be changed in light of the 
comments received. All comments submitted will be available for 
examination in the public docket both before and after the comment 
closing date. A report summarizing each substantive public contact with 
FAA personnel concerned with this rulemaking will be filed in the 
docket. All communications received on or before the specified closing 
date for comments will be considered before taking action on the 
proposed rule. The proposal contained in this notice may be changed in 
light of the comments received. A report summarizing each substantive 
public contact with FAA personnel concerned with this rulemaking will 
be filed in the docket.

Availability of NPRMs

    An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded through the 
internet at http://www.regulations.gov. Recently published rulemaking 
documents can also be accessed through the FAA's web page at http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/airspace_amendments/.
    You may review the public docket containing the proposal, any 
comments received and any final disposition in person in the Dockets 
Office (see the ADDRESSES section for address and phone number) between 
9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except federal 
holidays. An informal docket may also be examined between 8:00 a.m. and 
4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except federal holidays at the office 
of the Eastern Service Center, Federal Aviation Administration, Room 
350, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337.

Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference

    This document proposes to amend FAA Order 7400.11C, Airspace 
Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 13, 2018, and effective 
September 15, 2018. FAA Order 7400.11C is publicly available as listed 
in the ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order 7400.11C lists 
Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and 
reporting points.

The Proposal

    The FAA is considering an amendment to Title 14, Code of Federal 
Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 by:
    Amending Class D airspace at Dothan Regional Airport, Dothan, AL by 
recognizing the airport name change to Dothan Regional Airport 
(formerly Dothan Airport), and adjusting the geographic coordinates of 
the airport to be in concert with the FAA's aeronautical database. 
Also, this action would make an editorial change replacing the term 
``Airport/Facility Directory'' with the term ``Chart Supplement'' in 
the airspace legal description;
    Establishing Class E surface area airspace within a 4.7-mile radius 
of Dothan Regional Airport, Dothan, AL, for the safety of aircraft 
landing and departing the airport after the air traffic control tower 
closes;
    Amending Class E airspace designated as an extension to a Class D 
surface area by adjusting the geographic coordinates of the airport and 
the Wiregrass VORTAC to be in concert with the FAA's aeronautical 
database.
    In addition, the part-time status would be removed from this 
airspace description, as the airspace is continuously active; and
    Amending Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the 
surface at Dothan Regional Airport, Dothan, AL, by adjusting the 
geographic coordinates of the airport and the Wiregrass VORTAC to be in 
concert with the FAA's aeronautical database, and by recognizing the 
airport name change to Dothan Regional Airport (formerly Dothan 
Airport).

[[Page 47583]]

    Class D and Class E airspace designations are published in 
Paragraphs 5000, 6002, 6004, and 6005, respectively of FAA Order 
7400.11C, dated August 13, 2018, and effective September 15, 2018, 
which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Class D and 
Class E airspace designations listed in this document will be published 
subsequently in the Order.

Regulatory Notices and Analyses

    The FAA has determined that this proposed 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 
will only affect air traffic procedures and air navigation, it is 
certified that this proposed 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.

Environmental Review

    This proposal would be subject to an environmental analysis in 
accordance with FAA Order 1050.1F, ``Environmental Impacts: Policies 
and Procedures'' prior to any FAA final regulatory action.

Lists of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71

    Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).

The Proposed Amendment

    In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation 
Administration proposes to amend 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 7400.11C, Airspace Designations and Reporting 
Points, dated August 13, 2018, and effective September 15, 2018, is 
amended as follows:

Paragraph 5000 Class D Airspace.

* * * * *

ASO AL D Dothan, AL [Amended]

Dothan Regional Airport, AL
    (Lat. 31[deg]19'16'' N, long. 85[deg]26'58'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including 
2,900 feet MSL within a 4.7-mile radius of Dothan Regional Airport. 
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 6002 Class E Airspace Designated as Surface Areas.

* * * * *

ASO AL E2 Dothan, AL [New]

Dothan Regional Airport, AL
    (Lat. 31[deg]19'16'' N, long. 85[deg]26'58'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface within a 4.7-
mile radius of Dothan Regional Airport. This Class E surface 
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 6004 Class E Airspace Designated as an Extension to a 
Class D Surface Area.

* * * * *

ASO AL E4 Dothan, AL [Amended]

Dothan Regional Airport, AL
    (Lat. 31[deg]19'16'' N, long. 85[deg]26'58'' W)
Wiregrass VORTAC
    (Lat. 31[deg]17'05'' N, long. 85[deg]25'52'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface within 3.2 miles 
each side of the Wiregrass VORTAC 156[deg] radial, extending from 
the 4.7-mile radius of Dothan Regional Airport to 7-miles southeast 
of the VORTAC.

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

* * * * *

ASO AL E5 Dothan, AL [Amended]

Dothan Regional Airport, AL
    (Lat. 31[deg]19'16'' N, long. 85[deg]26'58'' W)
Wiregrass VORTAC
    (Lat. 31[deg]17'05'' N, long. 85[deg]25'52'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.7-mile radius of Dothan Regional Airport within 3.2 miles 
each side of Wiregrass VORTAC 156[deg] radial, extending from the 
6.7-mile radius to 7 miles SE of the VORTAC excluding that airspace 
within the Fort Rucker, AL, Class E airspace area.

    Issued in College Park, Georgia, on September 10, 2018.
Christopher Cox,
Acting Manager, Operations Support Group, Eastern Service Center, Air 
Traffic Organization.
[FR Doc. 2018-20224 Filed 9-19-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P