[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 27 (Thursday, February 9, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 8378-8380]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-02738]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2023-0039; Airspace Docket No. 23-AEA-1]
RIN 2120-AA66


Amendment of Class E Airspace; Altoona, PA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to amend the Class E airspace at Altoona, 
PA. The FAA is proposing this action as the result of an airspace 
review caused by the decommissioning of the Revloc very high frequency 
omnidirectional range (VOR) navigation aids as part of the VOR Minimum 
Operating Network (MON) Program. The name of the airport would also be 
updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 27, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on this proposal to the U.S. Department of

[[Page 8379]]

Transportation, Docket Operations, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West 
Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590; telephone 
(800) 647-5527 or (202) 366-9826. You must identify FAA Docket No. FAA-
2023-0039; Airspace Docket No. 23-AEA-1 at the beginning of your 
comments. You may also submit comments through the internet at 
www.regulations.gov.
    FAA Order JO 7400.11G, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, 
and subsequent amendments can be viewed online at www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/. For further information, you can contact the 
Rules and Regulations Group, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267-
8783.

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 would amend the Class E surface airspace and the Class E airspace 
extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Altoona/Blair 
County Airport, Altoona, PA, to support instrument flight rule 
operations at this airport.

Comments Invited

    Interested parties are invited to participate in 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 (FAA Docket No. 
FAA-2023-0039; Airspace Docket No. 23-AEA-1) and be submitted in 
triplicate to the Docket Management Facility (see ADDRESSES section for 
the address and phone number). You may also submit comment through the 
internet at www.regulations.gov.
    Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments 
on this notice must submit with those comments a self-addressed, 
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments 
to Docket No. FAA-2023-0039/Airspace Docket No. 23-AEA-1.'' The 
postcard will be date/time stamped and returned to the commenter.
    All communications received on or before the specified closing date 
will be considered before taking action on the proposed rule. The 
proposal contained in this action 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 www.regulations.gov. Recently published rulemaking 
documents can also be accessed through the FAA's web page at 
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 the 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 during normal 
business hours at the Federal Aviation Administration, Air Traffic 
Organization, Central Service Center, Operations Support Group, 10101 
Hillwood Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177.

Incorporation by Reference

    Class E airspace is published in paragraphs 6002 and 6005 of FAA 
Order JO 7400.11G, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, which is 
incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 on an annual basis. This 
document proposes to amend FAA Order JO 7400.11G, Airspace Designations 
and Reporting Points, dated August 19, 2022, and effective September 
15, 2022. These updates would be published subsequently in the next 
update to FAA Order JO 7400.11. FAA Order JO 7400.11G is publicly 
available as listed in the ADDRESSES section of this document.
    FAA Order JO 7400.11G lists Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, 
air traffic service routes, and reporting points.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 by:
    Amending the Class E surface airspace to within a 9.3-mile 
(increased from a 4.7-mile) radius of Altoona/Blair County Airport, 
Altoona, PA; removing the extension northeast of the airport as it is 
no longer required; and updating the name (previously Altoona-Blair 
County Airport) of the airport to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical 
database;
    And amending the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet 
above the surface to within an 11.8-mile (increased from an 11.2-mile) 
radius of Altoona/Blair County Airport; adding an extension 2 miles 
each side of the 196[deg] bearing from the airport extending from the 
11.8-mile radius to 12 miles south of the airport; and updating the 
name (previously Altoona-Blair County Airport) of the airport to 
coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.
    This action is the result of an airspace review caused by the 
decommissioning of the Revloc VOR, which provided navigation 
information for the instrument procedures at this airport, as part of 
the VOR MON Program and will support instrument flight rule operations 
at this airport.

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

[[Page 8380]]

with FAA Order 1050.1F, ``Environmental Impacts: Policies and 
Procedures'' prior to any FAA final regulatory action.

List 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 14 CFR 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 
7400.11G, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 19, 
2022, and effective September 15, 2022, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6002 Class E Airspace Areas Designated as Surface Areas.

* * * * *

AEA PA E2 Altoona, PA [Amended]

Altoona/Blair County Airport, PA
    (Lat. 40[deg]17'47'' N, long. 78[deg]19'12'' W)

    Within a 9.3-mile radius of Altoona/Blair County Airport.

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

* * * * *

AEA PA E5 Altoona, PA [Amended]

Altoona/Blair County Airport, PA
    (Lat. 40[deg]17'47'' N, long. 78[deg]19'12'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within an 11.8-mile radius of Altoona/Blair County Airport; and 
within 2 miles each side of the 196[deg] bearing from the airport 
extending from the 11.8-mile radius to 12 miles south of the 
airport.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on February 6, 2023.
Martin A. Skinner,
Acting Manager, Operations Support Group, ATO Central Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2023-02738 Filed 2-8-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P