[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]
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