[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 231 (Monday, December 4, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 84071-84072]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-26557]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2023-1899; Airspace Docket No. 23-ASO-37]
RIN 2120-AA66


Amendment of Class D and Class E Airspace, and Establishment of 
Class E Airspace; Winston Salem, NC

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action amends Class D and Class E airspace extending 
upward from 700 feet above the surface for Smith Reynolds Airport, 
Winston Salem, NC. This action also establishes Class E airspace 
designated as an extension to a Class D surface area and amends 
verbiage in the description.

DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, March 21, 2024. 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 7400.11H 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:  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 amends Class D and Class E airspace in Winston Salem, NC. An 
airspace evaluation determined that this update is necessary to support 
IFR operations in the area.

History

    The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking for Docket No. 
FAA 2023-1899 in the Federal Register (88 FR 67126; September 29, 
2023), proposing to amend Class D and Class E airspace extending upward 
from 700 feet above the surface for Smith Reynolds Airport, Winston 
Salem, NC. Interested parties were invited to participate in this 
rulemaking effort by submitting written comments on the proposal to the 
FAA. One anonymous comment supporting this action was received. The 
commenter also showed concerns about how this airspace action might 
affect the environment. The FAA discusses potential environmental 
impacts in the Environmental Review section.

Incorporation by Reference

    Class D and Class E airspace designations are published in 
Paragraphs 5000, 6004, 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 
that

[[Page 84072]]

order, FAA Order JO 7400.11H, dated August 11, 2023, and effective 
September 15, 2023. FAA Order JO 7400.11H 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 7400.11H 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 D airspace for 
Smith Reynolds Airport, Winston Salem, NC, by adding an extension from 
the 4.2-mile radius of the airport to 5.8 miles northwest of the 
airport. The Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the 
surface radius is increased to 9 miles (previously 6.6 miles), and all 
extensions are removed. Moreover, the action removes REENO NDB from the 
airspace description as it has been decommissioned. This action also 
establishes Class E airspace designated as an extension to a Class D 
surface area from the 4.2-mile radius to 6.5 miles southeast of the 
airport. In addition, this action removes the city name from the 
airport description header as per FAA Order 7400.2. It replaces Notice 
to Airmen with Notice to Air Missions and Airport/Facility Directory 
with Chart Supplement in the Class D airspace description. Controlled 
airspace is necessary for the safety and management of instrument 
flight rules (IFR) operations in the area.

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 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 5-6.5a.
    This airspace action is not expected to cause any potentially 
significant environmental impacts, and no extraordinary circumstances 
warrant the 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 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 
7400.11H, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 11, 
2023, and effective September 15, 2023, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 5000 Class D Airspace.

* * * * *

ASO NC D Winston Salem, NC [Amended]

Smith Reynolds Airport, NC
    (Lat 36[deg]08'01'' N, long 80[deg]13'19'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including 
3,500 feet MSL within a 4.2-mile radius of the Smith Reynolds 
Airport and 1 mile on each side of the 325[deg] bearing of the 
airport, extending from the 4.2-mile radius to 5.8 miles northwest 
of the airport. 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 6004 Class E Airspace Designated as an Extension to Class 
D or E Surface Area.

* * * * *

ASO NC E4 Winston Salem, NC [Established]

Smith Reynolds Airport, NC
    (Lat 36[deg]08'01'' N, long 80[deg]13'19'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface within 1 mile on 
each side of the 145[deg] bearing from Smith Reynolds Airport, 
extending from the 4.2-mile radius of the airport to 6.5 miles 
southeast of the airport. 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 NC E5 Winston Salem, NC [Amended]

Smith Reynolds Airport, NC
    (Lat 36[deg]08'01'' N, long 80[deg]13'19'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 9-mile radius of Smith Reynolds Airport.
* * * * *

    Issued in College Park, Georgia, on November 29, 2023.
Andreese C. Davis,
Manager, Airspace & Procedures Team South, Eastern Service Center, Air 
Traffic Organization.
[FR Doc. 2023-26557 Filed 12-1-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P