[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 10 (Tuesday, January 16, 2024)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 2520-2522]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-00642]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2023-2482; Airspace Docket No. 23-AAL-26]
RIN 2120-AA66
Modification of Class E Airspace; Edward G. Pitka Sr. Airport,
Galena, AK
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: This action proposes to modify the Class E airspace designated
as a surface area and modify the Class E airspace extending upward from
700 feet above the surface at Edward G. Pitka Sr. Airport, Galena, AK.
Additionally, this action proposes administrative amendments to update
the airport's geographic coordinates in the legal description to match
the FAA database. These actions would support the safety and management
of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the airport.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 1, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by FAA Docket No. FAA-2023-2482 and
Airspace Docket No. 23-AAL-26 using any of the following methods:
* Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov and follow
the online instructions for sending your comments electronically.
* Mail: Send comments to Docket Operations, M-30; U.S. Department
of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Room W12-140, West
Building Ground Floor, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
* Hand Delivery or Courier: Take comments to Docket Operations in
Room W12-140 of the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey
Avenue SE, Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through
Friday, except Federal holidays.
* Fax: Fax comments to Docket Operations at (202) 493-2251.
Docket: Background documents or comments received may be read at
www.regulations.gov at any time. Follow the online instructions for
accessing the docket or go to the Docket Operations in Room W12-140 of
the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE,
Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays.
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: Keith T. Adams, Federal Aviation
Administration, Western Service Center, Operations Support Group, 2200
S 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone (206) 231-2428.
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
[[Page 2521]]
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 it would modify Class E airspace to support IFR operations
at Edward G. Pitka Sr. Airport, Galena, AK.
Comments Invited
The FAA invites interested persons to participate in this
rulemaking by submitting written comments, data, or views. Comments are
specifically invited on the overall regulatory, aeronautical, economic,
environmental, and energy-related aspects of the proposal. The most
helpful comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain
the reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. To
ensure the docket does not contain duplicate comments, commenters
should submit only one time if comments are filed electronically, or
commenters should send only one copy of written comments if comments
are filed in writing.
The FAA will file in the docket all comments it receives, as well
as a report summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA
personnel concerning this proposed rulemaking. Before acting on this
proposal, the FAA will consider all comments it receives on or before
the closing date for comments. The FAA will consider comments filed
after the comment period has closed if it is possible to do so without
incurring expense or delay. The FAA may change this proposal in light
of the comments it receives.
Privacy: In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits comments
from the public to better inform its rulemaking process. DOT posts
these comments, without edit, including any personal information the
commenter provides, to www.regulations.gov, as described in the system
of records notice (DOT/ALL-14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at
www.dot.gov/privacy.
Availability of Rulemaking Documents
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
Operations office (see ADDRESSES section for address, phone number, and
hours of operations). An informal docket may also be examined during
normal business hours at the office at the Northwest Mountain Regional
Office of the Federal Aviation Administration, Air Traffic
Organization, Western Service Center, Operations Support Group, 2200 S
216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198.
Incorporation by Reference
The Class E2 and E5 airspace designations are published in
paragraphs 6002 and 6005, respectively, of FAA Order JO 7400.11,
Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, which is incorporated by
reference in 14 CFR 71.1 on an annual basis. This document proposes to
amend the current version of that order, FAA Order JO 7400.11H, dated
August 11, 2023, and effective September 15, 2023. These updates would
be published in the next update to FAA Order JO 7400.11. That order is
publicly available as listed in the ADDRESSES section of this document.
FAA Order JO 7400.11H 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 that would
modify the Class E airspace designated as a surface area and modify the
Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at
Edward G. Pitka Sr. Airport, Galena, AK.
The Class E airspace designated as a surface area of a 4.2-mile
radius around the airport, should be appropriately sized to 4.1-mile
radius. This reduction in airspace would more efficiently contains IFR
departures until reaching 700 feet above the surface or the next
adjacent controlled airspace.
The Class E airspace area extending upward from 700 feet above the
surface should be modified to contain IFR aircrafts executing IFR
arrival procedures descending through 1,500 feet above the surface. The
Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Runway (RWY) 26 and
Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) RWY 8 final
approach bearings currently are not aligned and not contained within
the existing Class E airspace area extensions. The airspace proposal
would adjust both Class E airspace extensions, to contain IFR arrivals
descending below 1,500 feet above the surface. The RNAV (GPS) RWY 8
would be contained with a western extension from the airport's 269[deg]
bearing, with a width of 2.1 nautical miles (NM) on either side of
centerline and extend westward 12.2 NM. The required airspace extension
to contain the VOR RWY 26 would extend from the airports 086[deg]
bearing, with a width of 4.8 NM on either side of centerline and extend
eastward 20.2 NM. The VOR RWY 26 final approach fix is located within
1,500 feet of the highest terrain. The terrain's proximity requires
containment of the approach's hold-in-lieu primary area by the
airport's Class E airspace area extending upward from 700 feet above
the surface.
The additional airspace required to contain the VOR RWY 26 hold-in-
lieu primary area would also contain IFR departures until the aircraft
reaches 1,200 feet above the surface; therefore, the existing inner
circumference of the Class E airspace area extending from 700 feet
above the surface would be reduced from a 7.2-mile radius to a 6.6-mile
radius.
Finally, the FAA proposes an administrative action to the airport's
legal description. The airport's geographic coordinates on line 3 of
both legal descriptions should be updated to match the FAA's database.
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.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71
Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).
[[Page 2522]]
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
7400.11H, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 11,
2023, and effective September 15, 2023, is amended as follows:
Paragraph 6002 Class E Airspace Area Designated as a Surface Area.
* * * * *
AAL AK E2 Galena, AK [Amended]
Edward G. Pitka Sr. Airport, AK
(Lat. 64[deg]44'10'' N, long. 156[deg]56'4'' W)
That airspace extending upward from the surface within a 4.1-
mile radius of the airport.
* * * * *
Paragraph 6005 Class E Airspace Area Extending Upward From 700 Feet
or More Above the Surface of the Earth.
* * * * *
AAL AK E2 Galena, AK [Amended]
Edward G. Pitka Sr. Airport, AK
(Lat. 64[deg]44'10'' N, long. 156[deg]56'4'' W)
That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface
within a 6.6-mile radius of the airport, within 4.8 miles of each
side of the airport's 086[deg] bearing extending to 20.2 miles east
of the airport, and within 2.1 miles each side of the airport's
269[deg] bearing extending to 12.2 miles west of the airport; that
airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface within a
73-mile radius of the airport.
* * * * *
Issued in Des Moines, Washington, January 9, 2024.
B.G. Chew,
Group Manager, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2024-00642 Filed 1-12-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P