[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 39 (Monday, February 28, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 10994-10995]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-04081]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2022-0048; Airspace Docket No. 22-ASO-01]
RIN 2022-AA66


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

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 and Class E 
airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface for Gulf 
Shores International Airport/Jack Edwards Field, Gulf Shores, AL, by 
updating the airport name and adding necessary verbiage to the 
descriptions. 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 April 14, 2022.

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 Docket 
No. FAA-2022-0048; Airspace Docket No. 22-ASO-1 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 Fornito, Operations Support 
Group, Eastern Service Center, Federal Aviation Administration, 1701 
Columbia Avenue, 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 would amend airspace in the Gulf Shores, AL area, 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-
2022-0048 and Airspace Docket No. 22-ASO-01) 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-2022-0048; Airspace Docket No. 22-ASO-01.'' 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 http://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.

[[Page 10995]]

The Proposal

    The FAA proposes an amendment to Title 14 CFR part 71 to amend 
Class D airspace and Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet 
above the surface for Gulf Shores International Airport/Jack Edwards 
Field (formerly Jack Edwards National Airport), Gulf Shores, AL, by 
updating the airport name, and amending the descriptions, by adding 
``when active'' in reference to Restricted Area R-2908.
    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 
FAA Order JO 7400.11.
    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 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.

* * * * *

ASO AL D Gulf Shores, AL [Amended]

Gulf Shores International Airport/Jack Edwards Field, 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 Gulf Shores 
International Airport/Jack Edwards Field, excluding that airspace 
within Restricted Area R-2908, when active. 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 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]

Gulf Shores International Airport/Jack Edwards Field, 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 Gulf Shores International Airport/Jack 
Edwards Field, excluding that airspace within Restricted Area R-
2908, when active.

    Issued in College Park, Georgia, on February 22, 2022.
Matthew N. Cathcart,
Manager, Operations Support Group Eastern Service Center, AJV-E2.
[FR Doc. 2022-04081 Filed 2-25-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P