[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 81 (Friday, April 26, 2019)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 17736-17737]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-08473]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2019-0039; Airspace Docket No. 19-AGL-4]
RIN 2120-AA66
Amendment of Class E Airspace; Connersville and Richmond, IN
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This action modifies Class E airspace extending upward from
700 feet above the surface at Mettel Field Airport, Connersville, IN,
and Richmond Municipal Airport, Richmond, IN. This action is due to an
airspace review caused by the decommissioning of the Richmond VHF
omnidirectional range (VOR), which provided navigation information to
the instrument procedures at these airports, as part of the VOR Minimum
Operational Network (MON) Program. The geographic coordinates of the
airports are also being updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautic
database. Airspace redesign is necessary for the safety and management
of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at these airports.
DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, August 15, 2019. 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 7400.11C, 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 7400.11C 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: Jeffrey Claypool, Federal Aviation
Administration, Operations Support Group, Central Service Center, 10101
Hillwood Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5711.
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 E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the
surface at Mettel Field Airport, Connersville, IN, and Richmond
Municipal Airport, Richmond, IN, to support IFR operations at these
airports.
History
The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal
Register (84 FR 5014; February 20, 2019) for Docket No. FAA-2019-0039
to amend Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the
surface at Mettel Field Airport, Connersville, IN, and Richmond
Municipal Airport, Richmond, IN. Interested parties were invited to
participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting written comments on
the proposal to the FAA. One comment was received, and the FAA provides
the following response.
Class E airspace extending from 700 feet above the surface of an
airport is provided for transition to and from the terminal or en route
environment within the National Airspace System. The size and design of
this airspace is determined by FAA Order 7400.2M, Procedures for
Handling Airspace Matters, and takes both instrument and visual flight
rules approach and departure procedures at the airports into
consideration. The design of the airspace provides the transitional
airspace required without absorbing more of the Class G airspace than
is required. In the cases of Mettel Field Airport, Connersville, IN,
and Richmond Municipal Airport, Richmond, IN, Class E airspace
extending upward from 700 feet above the surface already exists at both
airports and no additional airspace is included in the proposal. The
airspace
[[Page 17737]]
radius at these airports is being reduced by 1 mile and 0.5 miles,
respectively, due to changes at the airports and in the approach and
departure procedures at each airport in compliance with FAA Order
7400.2M while taking the approach and departure procedures at each
airport into consideration.
The comment regarding problems in scheduling landings at these
airports is not an issue that can be addressed by airspace design but
with airport management, and should be addressed with the appropriate
airport authority.
Additionally, subsequent to publication, the FAA discovered a
typographic error in the geographic coordinates for Reid Municipal
Heliport contained within the Richmond, IN, airspace legal description.
That error is corrected in this action.
Class E airspace designations are published in paragraph 6005 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 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 7400.11C, 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 Rule
This amendment to Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR)
part 71 by:
Modifying the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above
the surface to within a 6.6-mile radius (reduced from a 7.6-mile
radius) of Mettel Field Airport, Connersville, IN; updating the
geographic coordinates of the airport to coincide with the FAA's
aeronautic database; and removing the city from the airport name and
the exclusion verbiage to comply with FAA Order 7400.2M, Procedures for
Handling Airspace Matters; and
Modifying the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above
the surface to within a 6.5-mile radius (reduced from a 7-mile radius)
of Richmond Municipal Airport, Richmond, IN; updating the geographic
coordinates of Richmond Municipal Airport and Reid Hospital Heliport,
Richmond, IN, to coincide with the FAA's aeronautic database; and
correcting the typographic error for the geographic coordinates for
Reid Hospital Heliport.
This action is the result of an airspace review caused by the
decommissioning of the Richmond VOR, which provided navigation
information for the instrument procedures at these airports, as part of
the VOR MON Program.
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, 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 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 5-6.5.a. 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 FAA Order 7400.11C,
Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 13, 2018, and
effective September 15, 2018, is amended as follows:
Paragraph 6005 Class E Airspace Areas Extending Upward From 700
Feet or More Above the Surface of the Earth.
* * * * *
AGL IN E5 Connersville, IN [Amended]
Mettel Field Airport, IN
(Lat. 39[deg]41'54'' N, long. 85[deg]07'52'' W)
That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface
within a 6.6-mile radius of the Mettel Field Airport.
* * * * *
AGL IN E5 Richmond, IN [Amended]
Richmond Municipal Airport, IN
(Lat. 39[deg]45'22'' N, long. 84[deg]50'34'' W)
Reid Hospital Heliport, IN, Point In Space Coordinates
(Lat. 39[deg]51'51'' N, long. 84[deg]52'58'' W)
That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface
within a 6.5-mile radius of Richmond Municipal Airport, and within a
6-mile radius of the Point in Space serving Reid Hospital Heliport.
Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on April 22, 2019.
John A. Witucki,
Acting Manager, Operations Support Group, ATO Central Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2019-08473 Filed 4-25-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P