[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 230 (Friday, November 29, 2019)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 65670-65671]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-25539]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2019-0535; Airspace Docket No. 19-AWP-20]
RIN 2120-AA66
Amendment of Class D; Los Angeles, CA
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This action corrects a clerical error in the Class D legal
description for Los Angeles International Airport, Los Angeles, CA by
removing the language establishing the airspace as part time. This
action is necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight
rules (IFR) operations at the airport.
DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, January 30, 2020. 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 7400.11D, Airspace Designations and Reporting
Points, and subsequent amendments can be viewed on line at https://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 7400.11D at NARA, email [email protected]
or go to https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Roberts, Federal Aviation
Administration, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center, 2200
S 216th Street, 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 amends the Class D legal description for Los Angeles
International Airport, Los Angeles, CA, in support of IFR operations at
the airport.
History
The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal
Register (84 FR 36502; July 29, 2019) for Docket No. FAA-2019-0535 to
amend the legal description of the LAX Class D. Interested parties were
invited to participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting written
comments on the proposal to the FAA. The FAA received a single comment.
The commenter stated in full ``I recommend keeping the language as part
time and reducing light air traffic for public health and sound scape
enhancements.'' The FAA does not find this to be a substantive comment
about the proposal. The specified airspace does not control where
aircraft fly but defines the area within which all aircraft operators
are subject to operating rules and equipment requirements.
Class D airspace designations are published in paragraph 5000 of
FAA Order 7400.11D, dated August 8, 2019, and effective September 15,
2019, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Class D
airspace designation listed in this document will be published
subsequently in the Order. FAA Order 7400.11, Airspace Designations and
Reporting Points, is published yearly and effective on September 15.
Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference
This document amends FAA Order 7400.11D dated August 8, 2019, and
effective September 15, 2019, which is incorporated by reference in 14
CFR part 71.1. FAA Order 7400.11D is publicly available as listed in
the ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order 7400.11D lists Class
A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and
reporting points.
The Rule
The FAA is amending Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR)
part 71 by removing the language establishing the airspace as part
time. NBAA informed the FAA that the LAX Class D legal description, the
related chart supplement entry, and notes included on the VFR Sectional
contained information that did not clearly identify when the airspace
was in effect. The FAA concurs. The legal description contains language
that implied the Class D airspace was part-time, inconsistent with the
original intent of the airspace. The Chart Supplement does not include
information indicating when the airspace is effective and directs users
to the VFR Terminal Area Chart. The VFR Terminal Area Chart directs
users to the Chart Supplement or NOTAMS for information and NOTAMS are
not appropriate for this use. The original intent was to establish the
Class D airspace as full time. In 2009, as a result of a mid-air
collision in New York and in response to NTSB Recommendation A-09- 86,
Congress requested the FAA evaluate low-level flight around heavy-use
airspace. The FAA committed to evaluations of flight operations in and
around Class Bravo Airspace in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and
Houston. The LAX VFR Airspace Taskforce was convened and made
recommendations to modify the airspace around LAX in a two-step
process. Step one was to establish full-time Class D airspace at LAX.
Step two was to incorporate the Class D airspace into the LAX Class B
at a later date.
Regulatory Notices and Analyses
The FAA has determined that this regulation only involves an
established
[[Page 65671]]
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 5-6.5a. 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 FAA Order 7400.11D,
Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 8, 2019, and
effective September 15, 2019, is amended as follows:
Paragraph 5000 Class D Airspace.
* * * * *
AWP CA D Los Angeles, CA [Amended]
Los Angeles International Airport, CA
(Lat. 33[deg]56'33'' N, long. 118[deg]24'26'' W)
Santa Monica Municipal Airport, CA
(Lat. 34[deg]00'57'' N, long. 118[deg]27'05'' W)
That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including
2,700 feet MSL bounded by a line beginning at lat. 33[deg]57'42'' N,
long. 118[deg]27'23'' W; to lat. 33[deg]58'18'' N, long.
118[deg]26'24'' W; then via the 2.7-mile radius of the Santa Monica
Municipal Airport counterclockwise to lat. 34[deg]00'00'' N, long.
118[deg]24'02'' W; to lat. 34[deg]00'00'' N, long. 118[deg]22'58''
W; to lat. 33[deg]57'42'' N, long. 118[deg]22'10'' W, thence to the
point of beginning. That airspace extending upward from the surface
to and including 2,500 feet MSL bounded by a line beginning at lat.
33[deg]55'50'' N, long. 118[deg]22'06'' W; to lat. 33[deg]54'16'' N,
long. 118[deg]24'17'' W; to lat. 33[deg]52'47'' N, long.
118[deg]26'22'' W; to lat. 33[deg]55'51'' N, long. 118[deg]26'05''
W, thence to the point of beginning.
Issued in Seattle, Washington, on November 19, 2019.
Byron Chew,
Manager, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2019-25539 Filed 11-27-19; 8:45 am]
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