[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 105 (Friday, May 31, 2019)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 25205-25207]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-11301]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2018-1002; Airspace Docket No. 18-AWP-23]
RIN 2120-AA66


Amendment of Class E Airspace; Madera, CA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This action proposes to modify the Class E airspace extending 
upward from 700 feet above the surface at Madera Municipal Airport, 
Madera, CA, eliminate references to the Clovis and Friant Very High 
Frequency Omni-Directional Range/Tactical Air Navigation Aids (VORTAC), 
and update the airports geographic coordinates to match the FAA's 
current aeronautical database. In addition, this action would update 
the airspace lateral dimensions to meet current requirements by

[[Page 25206]]

removing 4.4 miles of airspace extending to the southeast, adding 0.4 
miles to the radius around the Airport Reference Point and adding a 
portion that extends 1 mile either side of 316[deg] bearing from the 
4.4 mile radius to 1.5 miles northwest. This action would support the 
operation of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) under standard instrument 
approach and departure procedures in the National Airspace System.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 15, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on this proposal to the U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Operations, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West 
Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590; telephone: 
1-800-647-5527, or (202) 366-9826. You must identify FAA Docket No. 
FAA-2018-1002; Airspace Docket No. 18-AWP-23, at the beginning of your 
comments. You may also submit comments through the internet at http://www.regulations.gov.
    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: Richard Roberts, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center, 2200 
S 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198-6547; telephone (206) 231-2245.

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 would modify Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet 
above the surface for the Madera Municipal Airport, Madera, CA, to 
support IFR operations in standard instrument approach and departure 
procedures at this airport.

Comments Invited

    Interested parties are invited to participate in 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 and be submitted in 
triplicate to the address listed above. Persons wishing the FAA to 
acknowledge receipt of their comments on this notice must submit with 
those comments a self-addressed, stamped postcard on which the 
following statement is made: ``Comments to Docket No. FAA-2018-1002; 
Airspace Docket No. 18-AWP-23''. 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 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 the 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 during normal 
business hours at the Northwest Mountain Regional Office of the Federal 
Aviation Administration, Air Traffic Organization, Western Service 
Center, Operations Support Group, 2200 S 216th St., Des Moines, WA 
98198-6547.

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 proposing an amendment to Title 14 Code of Federal 
Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 by modifying the Madera Municipal Airport 
Class E5 domestic airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the 
surface of the earth. The Friant and Clovis VORTACs are being 
decommissioned and require the legal descriptions in FAA Order 7400.11C 
be rewritten to eliminate references to these navigational aids. 
Concurrently with the rewriting of the legal descriptions, the FAA 
completed a review of the airspace. As a result of this review, the FAA 
is proposing the removal of 4.4 miles of airspace extending to the 
southeast, adding 0.4 miles to the radius around the Airport Reference 
Point to accommodate circling approaches, and adding a portion that 
extends 1 mile either side of 316[deg] bearing from the 4.4 mile radius 
to 1.5 miles northwest. In addition, this proposal would update the 
airports geographic coordinates to match the FAA's current aeronautical 
database. This action would support the operation of Instrument Flight 
Rules (IFR) under standard instrument approach and departure procedures 
in the National Airspace System.
    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.

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

[[Page 25207]]

necessary to keep them operationally current, and 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 will only 
affect air traffic procedures and air navigation, it is certified that 
this rule, when promulgated, would 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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71

    Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me, 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 14 CFR 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.

* * * * *

AWP CA E5 Madera, CA [Amend]

Madera Muni Airport, CA
    (Lat. 36[deg]59'11'' N, long. 120[deg]06'45'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 4.4-mile radius of the Madera Muni Airport and within 2.8 
miles each side of the 112[deg] bearing from the airport extending 
from the 4.4-mile radius to 6 miles southeast of the airport and 
that airspace 1.8 miles either side of the 80[deg] bearing from a 
point in space, coordinates lat. 37[deg]01'29'' N, long. 
120[deg]09'06'' W, extending from the 4.4 mile radius to 7.2 miles 
from the point in space coordinates and that airspace 1 mile either 
side of the 316[deg] bearing from the Madera Muni Airport extending 
from the 4.4-mile radius to 5.5 miles northwest.

    Issued in Seattle, Washington, on May 17, 2019.
Maria A. Aviles,
Group Manager (A), Operations Support Group, Western Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2019-11301 Filed 5-30-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P