[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 203 (Monday, October 25, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 58819-58822]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-22790]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2021-0589; Airspace Docket No. 21-ASO-23]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Amendment and Establishment of Class D and Class E 
Airspace; Columbus, GA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to amend Class D airspace, Class E 
surface area, and Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above 
the surface for Columbus Airport and Lawson Army Air Field (AAF), Fort 
Benning, Columbus, GA. This action would merge Columbus Airport and 
Lawson AAF (Fort Benning) Class D airspace and Class E surface area 
airspace into one header under FAA Order JO 7400.11 and removes the 
header Columbus Lawson AAF under FAA Order JO 7400.11. The Columbus 
Airport's Class D airspace would be amended by updating the name of 
Columbus Airport, formerly Columbus Metropolitan Airport, and updating 
the name of Lawson Army Airfield (Fort Benning), formerly Columbus 
Lawson AAF; the Lawson AAF (Fort Benning) Class D would be amended by 
establishing an extension to the southeast. This action would establish 
Class E airspace designated as an extension to a Class D surface area 
for Columbus Airport, Columbus, GA. The Columbus Airport Class E 
surface area extension would be eliminated, and Lawson AAF (Fort 
Benning) Class E surface area would be amended by establishing an 
extension to the southeast. Columbus Class E airspace extending upward 
from 700 feet above the surface and Lawson AAF (Fort Benning) Class E 
airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface would be 
amended by increasing the radii and removing the Lawson Very High 
Frequency Omnidirectional Range with Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/
DME) and Lawson Localizer (LOC) from the description. 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 D and Class E surface area. In addition, this action 
would also

[[Page 58820]]

update the geographic coordinates of the Lawson AAF (Fort Benning) to 
coincide with the FAA's database. 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 December 9, 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-2021-0589; Airspace Docket No. 21-ASO-23, at the 
beginning of your comments. You may also submit comments through the 
internet at https://www.regulations.gov.
    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 Goodson, Operations Support 
Group, Eastern Service Center, Federal Aviation Administration, 1701 
Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337; Telephone (404) 305-5966.

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 D airspace, Class E airspace, and establish 
Class E airspace in Columbus, GA, 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-
2021-0589 and Airspace Docket No. 21-ASO-23) 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-2021-0589; Airspace Docket No. 21-ASO-23.'' The postcard 
will be date/time stamped and returned to the commenter.
    All communications received before the specified closing date for 
comments 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 https://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 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 service 
routes, and reporting points.

The Proposal

    The FAA proposes an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 to amend Class D, 
Class E surface area, and Class E airspace extending upward from 700 
feet above the surface at Columbus Airport, Columbus, GA and Lawson AAF 
(Fort Benning), Columbus, GA. This action would merge Columbus Airport 
and Lawson AAF (Fort Benning) Class D airspace and Class E surface area 
airspace into one header under FAA Order JO 7400.11, and removes the 
header Columbus Lawson AAF under FAA Order JO 7400.11. This action 
would also establish Class E airspace designated as an extension to a 
Class D surface area at Columbus Airport, Columbus, GA. The Columbus 
Airport Class D would be amended by eliminating the extension to the 
southwest and updating the name to Columbus Airport (previously 
Columbus Metropolitan Airport). This action would also make the 
editorial change replacing the term Airport/Facility Directory with the 
term Chart Supplement in the legal description.
    The Lawson AAF (Fort Benning) Class D would be amended by 
establishing an extension within 1.0 mile each side of the 145[deg] 
bearing from the AAF extending from the 5.2-mile radius to 6.8 miles 
southeast of the AAF, and updating the name to Lawson AAF (Fort 
Benning), previously Columbus Lawson AAF. This action would also make 
the editorial change replacing the term Airport/Facility Directory with 
the term Chart Supplement in the legal description. In addition, this 
action would also update the geographic coordinates to coincide with 
the FAA's database.
    The Columbus Airport Class E surface area would be amended by 
eliminating

[[Page 58821]]

the extension to the southwest. This action would also make the 
editorial change replacing the term Airport/Facility Directory with the 
term Chart Supplement in the legal description.
    The Lawson AAF (Fort Benning) Class E surface area would be amended 
by establishing an extension within 1.0 mile each side of the 145[deg] 
bearing from the AAF extending from the 5.2-mile radius to 6.8 miles 
southeast of the AAF. This action would also make an editorial change 
replacing the term Airport/Facility Directory with the term Chart 
Supplement in the legal description. In addition, this action would 
also update the geographic coordinates to coincide with the FAA's 
database.
    The Columbus, GA Class E airspace designated as an extension to a 
Class D surface area at for Columbus Airport would be established by 
adding thatairspace extending upward from the surface within 1 mile 
each side of the 234[deg] bearing from the airport extending from the 
4.4-mile radius to 7.1miles southwest of the airport.
    The Columbus, GA Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet 
above the surface would be amended by increasing the radius of Columbus 
Airport to 9.6 miles, previously 6.8 miles, and eliminating the 
extension to the southeast.
    The Lawson AAF (Fort Benning) Class E airspace radius would 
increase to 9.3 miles, (previously 7.6 miles), eliminating the Lawson 
VOR/DME and Lawson LOC from the description, adding the airspace within 
3.8 miles each side of Lawson AAF (Fort Benning) 341[deg] bearing from 
the AAF extending from the 9.3-mile radius to 15.2 miles northwest of 
the AAF, and 4.1 miles each side of the Lawson AAF (Fort Benning) 
145[deg] bearing from the AAF extending from the 9.3-mile radius to 
10.6 miles southeast of the AAF.
    Class D and E airspace designations are published in Paragraphs 
5000, 6002, 6004, 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.
    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 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 so 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 Federal Aviation 
Administration Order 7400.11F, Airspace Designations and Reporting 
Points, dated August 10, 2021, and effective September 15, 2021, is 
amended as follows:

Paragraph 5000 Class D Airspace.

* * * * *

ASO GA D Columbus, GA [Amended]

Columbus Airport
    (Lat 32[deg]30'59'' N, long. 84[deg]56'20'' W)
Lawson AAF (Fort Benning), GA
    (Lat. 32[deg]19'54'' N, long. 84[deg]59'14'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including 
2,900 feet MSL within a 4.4-mile radius of the Columbus Airport; and 
that airspace extending upward from the surface to and including 
2,700 feet MSL within a 5.2-mile radius of Lawson Army Airfield 
(AAF) and that airspace within 1 mile each side of the 145[deg] 
bearing from the AAF extending from the 5.2-mile radius to 6.8 miles 
southeast of the AAF. This Class D airspace 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 6002 Class E Surface Airspace.

* * * * *

ASO GA E2 Columbus, GA [Amended]

Columbus Airport
    (Lat 32[deg]30'59'' N, long. 84[deg]56'20'' W)
Lawson AAF (Fort Benning), GA
    (Lat. 32[deg]19'54'' N, long. 84[deg]59'14'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface within a 4.4-
mile radius of Columbus Airport; and that airspace within a 5.2-mile 
radius ofLawson AAF (Fort Benning) and that airspace within 1 mile 
each side of the 145[deg] bearing from the AAF extending from the 
5.2-mile radius to 6.8miles southeast of the AAF. 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 6004 Class E Airspace Designated as an Extension to a 
Class D Surface Area.

* * * * *

ASO GA E4 Columbus, GA [New]

Columbus Airport, GA
    (Lat 32[deg]30'59'' N, long. 84[deg]56'20'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface within 1 mile 
each side of the 234[deg] bearing from the airport extending from 
the 4.4-mile radius to 7.1 miles southwest of the airport.

Paragraph 6005 Class E Airspace Areas Extending Upward From 700 
Feet or More Above the Surface of the Earth.

* * * * *

ASO GA E5 Columbus, GA [Amended]

Columbus Airport, GA
    (Lat 32[deg]30'59'' N, long. 84[deg]56'20'' W)
Lawson AAF (Fort Benning), GA
    (Lat. 32[deg]19'54'' N, long. 84[deg]59'14'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 9.6-mile radius of Columbus Airport; and within a 9.3-mile 
radius of Lawson AAF (Fort Benning), and within 3.8 miles each side 
of Lawson AAF (Fort Benning) 341[deg] bearing from the AAF extending 
from the 9.3-mile radius to 15.2 miles northwest of the AAF, and 4.1 
miles each side of the Lawson AAF (Fort Benning) 145[deg] bearing 
from the AAF extending from the 9.3-mile radius to 10.6 miles 
southeast of the AAF.


[[Page 58822]]


    Issued in College Park, Georgia, on October 14, 2021.
Andreese C. Davis,
Manager, Airspace & Procedures Team South, Eastern Service Center, Air 
Traffic Organization.
[FR Doc. 2021-22790 Filed 10-22-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P