[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 124 (Thursday, July 1, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 34937-34938]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-14069]
[[Page 34937]]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2020-1126; Airspace Docket No. 19-ANM-10]
RIN 2120-AA66
Amendment of Class E airspace; Great Falls, MT
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This action modifies the Class E airspace, designated as an
extension to a Class D or Class E surface area, at Great Falls
International Airport. This action also modifies the Class E airspace
extending upward from 700 feet above the surface. Additionally, this
action modifies the Class E airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet
above the surface. This action removes the Great Falls VORTAC from the
Class E4 and Class E5 text headers and airspace descriptions. Further,
this action removes Malmstrom AFB from the Class E5 text header and
airspace description. Lastly, this action implements several
administrative corrections to the airspaces' legal descriptions.
DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, October 7, 2021. The Director of the Federal
Register approves this incorporation by reference action under 1 CFR
part 51, subject to the annual revision of FAA Order 7400.11 and
publication of conforming amendments.
ADDRESSES: 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: Matthew Van Der Wal, Federal Aviation
Administration, Western Service Center, Operations Support Group, 2200
S. 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone (206) 231-3695.
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 modifies the Class E airspace at Great Falls International
Airport, Great Falls, MT, to ensure the safety and management of IFR
operations at the airport.
History
The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal
Register (86 FR 3891, January 15, 2021) for Docket No. FAA-2020-1126 to
modify the Class E airspace at Great Falls International Airport, Great
Falls, MT. Interested parties were invited to participate in this
rulemaking effort by submitting written comments on the proposal to the
FAA. No comments were received.
Subsequent to publication of the NPRM, the FAA identified an error
in the description for the airspace extending upward from 700 feet
above the surface. In the NPRM a portion of this airspace was described
as ``within 8 miles south and 4 miles north of the 222[deg] from the
airport, extending from 2.6 miles southwest of the airport to 18.7
miles southwest of the airport.'' The Final Rule corrects this
description to read ``within 8 miles south and 4 miles north of the
225[deg] bearing from the airport, extending from 2.6 miles southwest
of the airport to 18.7 miles southwest of the airport.''
Class D, E4, and E5 airspace designations are published in
paragraph 5000, 6004, 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 D and Class E
airspace designation 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 7400.11E, 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 Rule
This amendment to 14 CFR part 71 modifies the Class E airspace,
designated as an extension to a Class D or Class E surface area, at
Great Falls International Airport. This action reduces the size of the
area to properly contain IFR aircraft descending below 1,000 feet above
the surface.
This action also modifies the Class E airspace extending upward
from 700 feet above the surface. This action significantly reduces the
size of this area to properly contain IFR departures to 1,200 feet
above the surface and IFR arrivals descending below 1,500 feet above
the surface.
Additionally, this action modifies the Class E airspace extending
upward from 1,200 feet above the surface. This action reduces the size
of this area to properly contain IFR aircraft transitioning to/from the
terminal and en route environments.
This action also removes the Great Falls VORTAC from the Class E4
and Class E5 text headers and airspace descriptions. The Navigational
Aid (NAVAID) is not needed to describe the airspace areas. Removal of
the NAVAID allows the airspace to be described from a single point,
which simplifies the airspaces' descriptions.
Further, this action removes Malmstrom AFB from the Class E5 text
header and airspace description. Reference to Malmstrom AFB is not
needed to describe the airspace area. Removal of Malmstrom AFB allows
the airspace to be described from a single point, which simplifies the
airspace's description.
Lastly, this action implements several administrative amendments to
the airspaces' legal descriptions. The first line of the Class D and
Class E4 text headers is amended to remove the airport name. The
airport's geographic coordinates in the Class D, Class E4, and Class E5
text header are updated to lat. 47[deg]28'56'' N, long. 111[deg]22'13''
W.
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 regulation only involves an
established body of technical regulations for which frequent and
routine amendments are
[[Page 34938]]
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 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
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 the preparation of an
environmental assessment.
List 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 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 7400.11E,
Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated July 21, 2020, and
effective September 15, 2020, is amended as follows:
Paragraph 5000 Class D Airspace.
* * * * *
ANM MT D Great Falls, MT [Amended]
Great Falls International Airport, MT
(Lat. 47[deg]28'56'' N, long. 111[deg]22'13'' W)
That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including
6,200 feet MSL within a 5.5-mile radius of Great Falls International
Airport.
Paragraph 6004 Class E Airspace Areas Designated as an Extension to
a Class D or Class E Surface Area.
* * * * *
ANM MT E4 Great Falls, MT [Amended]
Great Falls International Airport, MT
(Lat. 47[deg]28'56'' N, long. 111[deg]22'13'' W)
That airspace extending upward from the surface within 1 mile
each side of the 224[deg] bearing from the airport, extending from
the 5.5-mile radius to 9.6 miles southwest of Great Falls
International Airport.
Paragraph 6005 Class E Airspace Areas Extending Upward From 700
Feet or More Above the Surface of the Earth.
* * * * *
ANM MT E5 Great Falls, MT [Amended]
Great Falls International Airport, MT
(Lat. 47[deg]28'56'' N, long. 111[deg]22'13'' W)
That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface
within a 7-mile radius of the airport, and within 3.4 miles each
side of the 047[deg] bearing from the airport, extending from the 7-
mile radius to 12 miles northeast of the airport, and within 8 miles
south and 4 miles north of the 225[deg] bearing from the airport,
extending from 2.6 miles southwest of the airport to 18.7 miles
southwest of the airport; and that airspace extending upward from
1,200 feet above the surface within a 48-mile radius of Great Falls
International Airport.
Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on June 25, 2021.
B.G. Chew,
Acting Group Manager, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2021-14069 Filed 6-30-21; 8:45 am]
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