[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 24 (Friday, February 4, 2022)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 6410-6412]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-02270]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2021-0979; Airspace Docket No. 21-AGL-31]
RIN 2120-AA66


Amendment of Class D and Class E Airspace; Multiple Illinois 
Towns

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action amends the Class D airspace at Chicago/Rockford, 
IL, and the Class E airspace at Poplar Grove, IL; Freeport, IL; 
Rochelle, IL; and Chicago/Rockford, IL. This action is the result of 
airspace reviews caused by the decommissioning of the Rockford very 
high frequency (VHF) omnidirectional range (VOR) as part of the VOR 
Minimal Operational Network (MON) Program. The names and geographic 
coordinates of various airports are also being updated to coincide with 
the FAA's aeronautical database.

DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, May 19, 2022. 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. FAA Order JO 7400.11F 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: Jeffrey Claypool, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Operations Support Group, Central Service Center, 10101 
Hillwood Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5711.

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 amends the Class D airspace at Chicago/Rockford International 
Airport, Chicago/Rockford, IL, and the Class E airspace extending 
upward from 700 feet above the surface at Poplar Grove Airport, Poplar 
Grove, IL; Albertus Airport, Freeport, IL; Rochelle Municipal Airport/
Koritz Field, Rochelle, IL; and Chicago/Rockford International Airport 
to support instrument flight rule operations at these airports.

History

    The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) in the 
Federal Register (86 FR 62753; November 12, 2021) for Docket No. FAA-
2021-0979 to amend the Class D airspace at Chicago/Rockford, IL, and 
the Class E airspace at Poplar Grove, IL; Freeport, IL; Rochelle, IL; 
and Chicago/Rockford, IL. 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 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

[[Page 6411]]

71.1. The Class D and E airspace designations listed in this document 
will be published subsequently in FAA Order JO 7400.11.

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 service routes, and 
reporting points.

Differences From the NPRM

    Subsequent to publication of the NPRM it was discovered that the 
proposed southwest extension referencing the Chicago/Rockford INTL: RWY 
07-LOC to the Class D airspace at Chicago/Rockford International 
Airport is already contained within the Class D radius and is not 
required. That proposed extension has been removed in this action.

The Rule

    This amendment to 14 CFR part 71:
    Amends the Class D airspace at Chicago/Rockford International 
Airport, Chicago/Rockford, IL, by adding an extension 1 mile each side 
of the 185[deg] bearing from the airport extending from the 4.6-mile 
radius of the airport to 4.7 miles south of the airport; and updates 
the header of the airspace legal description from ``Rockford, IL'' to 
``Chicago/Rockford, IL'' to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical 
database;
    Amends the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above 
the surface at Poplar Grove Airport, Poplar Grove, IL, by updating the 
name of the airport (previously Belvidere LTD Airport) to coincide with 
the FAA's aeronautical database; updates the header of the airspace 
legal description from ``Belvidere, IL'' to ``Poplar Grove, IL'' to 
coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database; and removes the 
exclusionary language as it is not required;
    Amends the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above 
the surface to within a 6.6-mile (increased from a 6.5-mile) radius of 
Albertus Airport, Freeport, IL; removes the city associated with the 
airport from the airspace legal description to comply with changes to 
FAA Order JO 7400.2N, Procedures for Handling Airspace Matters; and 
updates the geographic coordinates of the airport to coincide with the 
FAA's aeronautical database;
    Amends the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above 
the surface at Rochelle Municipal Airport/Koritz Field, Rochelle, IL, 
by updating the name (previously Airport-Koritz Field) and geographic 
coordinates of the airport to coincided with the FAA's aeronautical 
database; and removes the exclusionary language as it is not required;
    And amends the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet 
above the surface at Chicago/Rockford International Airport by adding 
an extension within 3 miles each side of the 185[deg] bearing of the 
Chicago/Rockford INTL: RWY 01-LOC extending from the 7.1-mile radius of 
the airport to 12.3 miles south of the Chicago/Rockford INTL: RWY 01-
LOC; and updates the header of the airspace legal description from 
``Rockford, IL'' to ``Chicago/Rockford, IL'' to coincide with the FAA's 
aeronautical database.
    This action is due to airspace reviews caused by the 
decommissioning of the Rockford VOR, which provided navigation 
information for the instrument procedures these airports, as part of 
the VOR MON Program.
    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, 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 only affects air traffic procedures and 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 5-6.5.a. 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 August 10, 
2021, and effective September 15, 2021, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 5000 Class D Airspace.

* * * * *

AGL IL D Chicago/Rockford, IL [Amended]

Chicago/Rockford International Airport, IL
    (Lat. 42[deg]11'43'' N, long. 89[deg]05'50'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface of the earth to 
and including 3,200 feet MSL within a 4.6-mile radius of the 
Chicago/Rockford International Airport, and within 1 mile each side 
of the 185[deg] bearing from the airport extending from the 4.6-mile 
radius of the airport to 4.7 miles south of the airport.

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

* * * * *

AGL IL E5 Poplar Grove, IL [Amended]

Poplar Grove Airport, IL
    (Lat. 42[deg]19'22'' N, long. 88[deg]50'11'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.4-mile radius of the Poplar Grove Airport.
* * * * *

AGL IL E5 Freeport, IL [Amended]

Albertus Airport, IL
    (Lat. 42[deg]14'46'' N, long. 89[deg]34'55'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.6-mile radius of Albertus Airport.
* * * * *

AGL IL E5 Rochelle, IL [Amended]

Rochelle Municipal Airport/Koritz Field, IL
    (Lat. 41[deg]53'34'' N, long. 89[deg]04'47'' W)


[[Page 6412]]


    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.5-mile radius of the Rochelle Municipal Airport/Koritz 
Field.

AGL IL E5 Chicago/Rockford, IL [Amended]

Chicago/Rockford International Airport, IL
    (Lat. 42[deg]11'43'' N, long. 89[deg]05'50'' W)
Chicago/Rockford INTL: RWY 01-LOC
    (Lat. 42[deg]12'36'' N, long. 89[deg]05'17'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 7.1-mile radius of the Chicago/Rockford International 
Airport, and within 3 miles each side of the 185[deg] bearing from 
the Chicago/Rockford INTL: RWY 01-LOC extending from the 7.1-mile 
radius of the airport to 12.3 miles south of the Chicago/Rockford 
INTL: RWY 01-LOC.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on January 31, 2022.
Martin A. Skinner,
Acting Manager, Operations Support Group, ATO Central Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2022-02270 Filed 2-3-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P