[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 152 (Wednesday, August 11, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 43911-43913]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-16831]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2021-0275; Airspace Docket No. 20-AAL-39]
RIN 2120-AA66
Modification of Class E Airspace; Gulkana, AK
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This action modifies the Class E airspace, designated as a
surface area at Gulkana Airport, Gulkana, AK. This action also modifies
the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface.
The NPRM for this action proposed a modification to the Class E
airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface, however,
the proposed change has been removed from the Final Rule. Additionally,
this action removes the Gulkana VORTAC and the Glenallen NDB from the
Class E2 text header and airspace description. Further, this action
removes the Gulkana VOR/DME from the Class E5 text header and airspace
description. Lastly, this action implements administrative updates to
the Class E2 and E5 text headers and the Class E2 airspace description.
The airspace is designed to support instrument flight rules (IFR)
operations at the airport.
DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, December 2, 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
[[Page 43912]]
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 Gulkana Airport,
Gulkana, AK, 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 22366; April 28, 2021) for Docket No. FAA-2021-0275 to
modify the Class E airspace at Gulkana Airport, Gulkana, AK. Interested
parties were invited to participate in this rulemaking effort by
submitting written comments on the proposal to the FAA. No comments
were received.
After the publication of the NRPM, the FAA identified a change to
the RNAV (GPS) RWY 15 approach, affecting the Class E airspace
extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface. As a result, the
FAA is removing the proposed change to this Class E airspace area from
the Final Rule. The airspace will remain within a 76-mile radius of
Gulkana Airport.
Class E2 and Class E5 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.
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 a surface area, at Gulkana Airport, Gulkana, AK. The
areas extending north and south of the 4-mile radius are removed, the
areas are no longer required to contain IFR aircraft descending below
1,000 feet above the surface. This action also removes the following
verbiage from this airspace area ``to and including 4,100 feet MSL''.
The ceiling of this airspace area is now aligned to the floor of the
overlying controlled airspace, which begins at 700 feet above the
surface.
This action also modifies the Class E airspace extending upward
from 700 feet above the surface. This airspace is designed to contain
IFR departures to 1,200 feet above the surface and IFR arrivals
descending below 1,500 feet above the surface. To properly contain IFR
aircraft arriving and departing from the airport, the circular radius
of the airspace is reduced from 6.5 miles to 5 miles. The area
extending south of the 5-mile radius is enlarged to contain aircraft
holding for the RNAV (GPS) RWY 33R approach. The area extending north
of the 5-mile radius is also modified slightly; this modification
accounts for using the airport as the sole reference for the airspace's
description.
Additionally, this action removes the Gulkana VORTAC and the
Glenallen NDB from the Class E2 text header and airspace description.
This action also removes the Gulkana VOR/DME from the Class E5 text
header and airspace description. The navigational aids (NAVAID) are not
needed to define the airspace and removal of the NAVAIDs simplifies the
airspaces' descriptions.
Lastly, the action implements administrative updates to the
airspaces' text headers and airspace descriptions. On the second line
of the Class E5 text header, the redundant use of Gulkana has been
removed. On the third line of the Class E2 and E5 text headers, the
geographic coordinates are updated to ``lat. 62[deg]09'16'' N, long.
145[deg]27'19'' W'' In the last sentence of the Class E2 airspace
description, the term ``Airport/Facility Directory'' is updated to
``Chart Supplement.''
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 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 6002 Class E Airspace Areas Designated as Surface Areas.
* * * * *
AAL AK E2 Gulkana, AK [Amended]
Gulkana Airport, AK
(Lat. 62[deg]09'16'' N, long. 145[deg]27'19'' W)
That airspace extending upward from the surface within a 4-mile
radius of the airport. This Class E airspace area is effective
during specific dates and times established in advance by 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.
* * * * *
AAL AK E5 Gulkana, AK [Amended]
Gulkana Airport, AK
(Lat. 62[deg]09'16'' N, long. 145[deg]27'19'' W)
[[Page 43913]]
That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface
within a 5-mile radius of the airport, and within 5 miles each side
of the 169[deg] bearing from the airport, extending from the 5-mile
radius to 24 miles south of the airport, and within 4 miles each
side of the 351[deg] bearing from the airport, extending from the 5-
mile radius to 12.5 miles north of the airport; and that airspace
extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface within a 67-mile
radius of the airport.
Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on August 2, 2021.
B.G. Chew,
Acting Group Manager, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2021-16831 Filed 8-10-21; 8:45 am]
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