[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 116 (Friday, June 16, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 39346-39347]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-12959]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2023-0503; Airspace Docket No. 23-ASO-07]
RIN 2120-AA66


Amendment of Class D and Class E Airspace; Huntsville, AL

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This action amends the Class D and Class E surface airspace 
and Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
in Huntsville, AL, as the result of a biennial airspace evaluation. 
This action extends the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet 
above the surface surrounding Redstone Army Airfield (AAF) and 
Huntsville Executive Tom Sharp Jr. Field. The FAA will also update 
terminology in the Class D and Class E surface airspace descriptions 
for Redstone AAF.

DATES: Effective date 0901 UTC, October 5, 2023. 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: A copy of the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), all 
comments received, this final rule, and all background material may be 
viewed online at www.regulations.gov using the FAA Docket number. 
Electronic retrieval help and guidelines are available on the website. 
It is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
    FAA Order JO 7400.11G, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, 
and subsequent amendments can be viewed online at www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/. You may also contact the Rules and 
Regulations Group, Office of Policy, Federal Aviation Administration, 
800 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267-
8783.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Ledford, Operations Support 
Group, Eastern Service Center, Federal Aviation Administration, 1701 
Columbia Ave., College Park, GA 30337; Telephone: (404) 305-5649.

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 
the airspace necessary to ensure the safety of aircraft and the 
efficient use of airspace. This regulation is within the scope of that 
authority as controlled airspace is necessary for the safety and 
management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations in the area.

History

    The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking for Docket No. 
FAA 2023-0503 in the Federal Register (88 FR 21141; April 10, 2023), 
amending Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the 
surface at Redstone AAF and Huntsville Executive Tom Sharp Field in 
Huntsville, AL. This action also updates terminology in the Class D and 
Class E surface airspace descriptions for Redstone AAF. Interested 
parties were invited to participate in this rulemaking effort by 
submitting written comments on the proposal to the FAA. No comments 
were received.

Incorporation by Reference

    Class D and E airspace designations are published in paragraphs 
5000, 6002, and 6005 of FAA Order JO 7400.11, Airspace Designations and 
Reporting Points, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 
annually. This document amends the current version of

[[Page 39347]]

that order, FAA Order JO 7400.11G, dated August 19, 2022, and effective 
September 15, 2022. FAA Order JO 7400.11G is publicly available as 
listed in the ADDRESSES section of this document. These amendments will 
be published in the next FAA Order JO 7400.11 update.
    FAA Order JO 7400.11G lists Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, 
air traffic service routes, and reporting points.

The Rule

    This action amends 14 CFR part 71 by amending Class E airspace 
extending upward from 700 feet above the surface of Redstone AAF by 
increasing the radius to 14.1 miles (previously 9.5 miles). The FAA 
amends Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the 
surface of Huntsville Executive Tom Sharp Field by increasing the 
radius to 7.6 miles (previously 6.3 miles). In doing so, the FAA 
removes Huntsville International-Carl T. Jones Field: RWY 36L-LOC from 
the legal description of Huntsville Executive Tom Sharp Field as it is 
no longer a necessary part of the legal description. In addition, this 
action replaces the outdated terms Airport/Facility Directory with the 
term Chart Supplement and Notice to Airmen with the term Notice to Air 
Missions in the Huntsville Class D and Class E surface airspace 
descriptions.

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 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).

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 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 5000 Class D Airspace

* * * * *

ASO AL D Huntsville, Redstone Army Airfield, AL

Redstone Army Airfield, AL
    (Lat 34[deg]40'43'' N, long 86[deg]41'05'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface to but not 
including 2,400 feet MSL within a 4.4-mile radius of Redstone Army 
Airfield, excluding that portion within the Huntsville 
International-Carl T. Jones Field, AL, Class C airspace area. This 
Class D airspace area is effective during the specific dates and 
times established in advance by a Notice to Air Missions. The 
effective date and time will thereafter be continuously published in 
the Chart Supplement.
* * * * *

Paragraph 6002 Class E Surface Airspace

* * * * *

ASO AL E2 Huntsville, AL

Huntsville International-Carl T. Jones Field, AL
    (Lat 34[deg]38'14'' N, long 86[deg]46'30'' W)
Redstone AAF, AL
    (Lat 34[deg]40'43'' N, long 86[deg]41'05'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface within a 5-mile 
radius of the Huntsville International-Carl T. Jones Field, 
excluding that airspace within a 1-mile radius of the Redstone AAF. 
This Class E airspace area is effective during the specific dates 
and times established in advance by a Notice to Air Missions. 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 Huntsville, AL

Redstone AAF, AL
    (Lat 34[deg]40'43'' N, long 86[deg]41'05'' W)
Pryor Field Regional Airport, AL
    (Lat 34[deg]39'15'' N, long 86[deg]56'43'' W)
Huntsville Executive Tom Sharp Jr. Field, AL
    (Lat 34[deg]51'34'' N, long 86[deg]33'27'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 14.1-mile radius of Redstone AAF, within a 7-mile radius of 
Pryor Field Regional Airport, and within a 7.6-mile radius of 
Huntsville Executive Tom Sharp Jr. Field.
* * * * *

    Issued in College Park, GA, on June 12, 2023.
Andreese C. Davis,
Manager, Airspace & Procedures Team South, Eastern Service Center, Air 
Traffic Organization.
[FR Doc. 2023-12959 Filed 6-15-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P