[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 96 (Thursday, May 20, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 27329-27330]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-10442]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2021-0075; Airspace Docket No. 21-ASO-2]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Amendment of Class E Airspace; Muscle Shoals, AL

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to amend Class E airspace extending 
upward from 700 feet above the surface in Muscle Shoals, AL, due to the 
decommissioning of the Muscle Shoals Very High Frequency Omni-
Directional Radio Range Tactical Air Navigation Aid (VORTAC), and 
cancellation of the associated approach at Northwest Alabama Regional 
Airport. This action would also update the airport name under the Class 
E surface airspace. This action would also make an editorial change 
replacing the term Airport/Facility Directory with the term Chart 
Supplement in the legal descriptions of associated Class E airspace. 
Controlled airspace is necessary for the safety and management of 
instrument flight rules (IFR) operations in the area.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 6, 2021.

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 20590-0001; 
Telephone: (800) 647-5527, or (202) 366-9826. You must identify the 
Docket No. FAA-2021-0075; Airspace Docket No. 21-ASO-2, at the 
beginning of your comments. You may also submit comments through the 
internet at https://www.regulations.gov.
    FAA Order 7400.11E, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, and 
subsequent amendments can be viewed online 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 7400.11E at NARA, email [email protected] 
or go to https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

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 would amend Class E airspace at Northwest Alabama Regional 
Airport, Muscle Shoals, AL, to support IFR operations in the area.

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-
2021-0075 and Airspace Docket No. 21-ASO-2) 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 https://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-2020-0075; Airspace Docket No. 21-ASO-2.'' The postcard 
will be date/time stamped and returned to the commenter.
    All communications received before the specified closing date for 
comments

[[Page 27330]]

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.

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 https://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 7400.11E, Airspace 
Designations and Reporting Points, dated July 21, 2020, and effective 
September 15, 2020. FAA Order 7400.11E is publicly available as listed 
in the ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order 7400.11E lists 
Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and 
reporting points.

The Proposal

    The FAA proposes an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 to amend Class E 
airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Northwest 
Alabama Regional Airport, Muscle Shoals, AL, as the Muscle Shoals 
VORTAC has been decommissioned, and associated approaches cancelled. 
The radius of the airport would decrease from 7 miles to 6.8 miles, 
adding a 12.5-mile extension to the east and an 8.1-mile extension to 
the south. Also, the FAA proposes to update the airport name to 
Northwest Alabama Regional Airport, (formerly Muscle Shoals Regional 
Airport) in both the surface E airspace and Class E airspace extending 
upward from 700 feet above the surface. In addition, the FAA proposes 
to replace the outdated term Airport/Facility Directory with the term 
Chart Supplement in the associated Class E airspace legal description 
for this airport.
    Class E airspace designations are published in Paragraphs 6002 and 
6005, respectively, of FAA Order 7400.11E, dated July 21, 2020, and 
effective September 15, 2020, 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.
    FAA Order 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, is 
published yearly and effective on September 15.

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 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 will 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 FAA Order 7400.11E, 
Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated July 21, 2020, and 
effective September 15, 2020, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6002 Class E Surface Airspace.

* * * * *

ASO AL E2 Muscle Shoals, AL [Amended]

Northwest Alabama Regional Airport, AL
    (Lat. 34[deg]44'43'' N , long. 87[deg]36'37'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface within a 4.2-
mile radius of Northwest Alabama Regional Airport. This Class E 
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 AL E5 Muscle Shoals, AL [Amended]

Northwest Alabama Regional Airport, AL
    (Lat. 34[deg]44'43'' N, long. 87[deg]36'37'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet or more above the 
surface within a 6.8-mile radius of Northwest Alabama Regional 
Airport, and within 3.7-miles each side of the 114[deg] bearing from 
the airport, extending from the 6.8-mile radius to 12.5-miles east 
of the airport, and within 1.2-miles each side of the 181[deg] 
bearing from the airport, extending from the 6.8-mile radius to 8.1-
miles south of the airport.

    Issued in College Park, Georgia, on April 29, 2021.
Andreese C. Davis,
Manager, Airspace & Procedures Team South, Eastern Service Center, Air 
Traffic Organization.
[FR Doc. 2021-10442 Filed 5-19-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P