[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 183 (Friday, September 24, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 52959-52961]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-20480]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2021-0536; Airspace Docket No. 21-ASO-20]
RIN 2120-AA66


Establishment of Class D Airspace, and Amendment of Class E 
Airspace; Gulf Shores, AL

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action establishes Class D airspace, and amends Class E 
airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface for Jack 
Edwards National Airport, Gulf Shores, AL, as a new air traffic control 
tower will service the airport. This action also updates the airport's 
name and geographic coordinates under the existing Class E

[[Page 52960]]

airspace. Controlled airspace is necessary for the safety and 
management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations in the area.

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 JO 7400.11 
and publication of conforming amendments.

ADDRESSES: FAA Order JO 7400.11F, 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 JO 7400.11F 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 Ave., 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 establishes Class D airspace and amends Class E airspace for Jack 
Edwards National Airport, Gulf Shores, AL.

History

    The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal 
Register (86 FR 37939, July 19, 2021) for Docket No. FAA-2021-0536 to 
establish Class D airspace and amend Class E airspace extending upward 
from 700 feet above the surface for Jack Edwards National Airport, Gulf 
Shores, AL, as a new air traffic control tower will service the 
airport. This action also proposed updating the airport's name and 
geographic coordinates under the existing Class E airspace.
    Interested parties were invited to participate in this rulemaking 
effort by submitting written comments on the proposal to the FAA. No 
comments were received.
    Class D and Class E airspace designations are published in 
Paragraphs 5000, and 6005, respectively, of FAA Order JO 7400.11F, 
dated August 10, 2021, and effective September 15, 2021, which is 
incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Class D and E airspace 
designations 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 JO 7400.11F, Airspace Designations 
and Reporting Points, dated August 10, 2021, and effective September 
15, 2021. FAA Order JO 7400.11F is publicly available as listed in the 
ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order JO 7400.11F lists Class 
A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic routes, and reporting 
points.

The Rule

    The FAA is amending 14 CFR part 71 by establishing Class D airspace 
for Jack Edwards National Airport, Gulf Shores, AL, as a new air 
traffic control tower will service the airport. Also, an airspace 
evaluation resulted in increasing the radius of the existing Class E 
airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface to 6.8 miles 
from 6.5 miles. In addition, the FAA is updating the name and 
geographic coordinates of the airport to coincide with the FAA's 
aeronautical database. Finally, the city name is removed from the 
airspace header under the existing Class E airspace to comply with the 
7400.2M. These changes are necessary for continued safety and 
management of IFR operations in the area.
    FAA Order JO 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. 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 only 
affects air traffic procedures an 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 JO 
7400.11F, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August10, 
2021, and effective September 15, 2021, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 5000 Class D Airspace.

* * * * *

ASO AL D Gulf Shores, AL [New]

Jack Edwards National Airport, AL
    (Lat. 30[deg]17'23' W'' N, long. 87[deg]40'18'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including 
2,000 feet MSL, within a 4.3-mile radius of Jack Edwards National 
Airport, excluding that airspace within Restricted Area R-2908. This 
Class D airspace area is effective during the specific dates and 
times established in advance by a Notice to Airmen. The effective 
date and time

[[Page 52961]]

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 Gulf Shores, AL [Amended]

Jack Edwards National Airport, AL
    (Lat. 30[deg]17'23' W'' N, long. 87[deg]40'18'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.8-mile radius of Jack Edwards National Airport, excluding 
that airspace within Restricted Area R-2908.

    Issued in College Park, Georgia, on September 17, 2021.
Matthew N. Cathcart,
(A) Manager, Operations Support Group, Eastern Service Center, Air 
Traffic Organization.
[FR Doc. 2021-20480 Filed 9-23-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P