[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 162 (Wednesday, August 21, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 67540-67542]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-18601]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2023-2422; Airspace Docket No. 23-AWP-48]
RIN 2120-AA66


Modification of Class E Airspace; Bishop Airport, Bishop, CA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action modifies the Class E airspace designated as a 
surface area, Class E airspace area designated as an extension to a 
Class D or Class E surface area, Class E airspace extending upward from 
700 feet above the surface of the earth, and revokes the Class E 
airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface of the 
earth at Bishop Airport, Bishop, CA. These actions support the safety 
and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the 
airport.

DATES: Effective date 0901 UTC, December 26, 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 each day, 365 days each 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: Keith 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 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 will modify Class E airspace to support IFR operations at 
Bishop Airport, Bishop, CA.

[[Page 67541]]

History

    The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking for Docket No. 
FAA-2023-2422 in the Federal Register (89 FR 33303; April 29, 2024), 
proposing to modify Class E airspace at Bishop Airport, Bishop, CA. 
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 E2, E4, and E5 airspace areas are published in paragraphs 
6002, 6004, 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 amends the current 
version of that 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 update to FAA Order JO 
7400.11.
    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 modifying the Class E airspace 
designated as a surface area, Class E airspace area designated as an 
extension to a Class E surface area, and Class E airspace extending 
upward from 700 feet above the surface of the earth. It also revokes 
Class E airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface of 
the earth at Bishop Airport, Bishop, CA.
    The Class E airspace designated as a surface area is expanded to 
include that airspace within a 5-mile radius of the airport, within 1.8 
miles northeast and 1 mile southwest of the 147[deg] bearing from the 
airport, extending from the 5-mile radius to 6.9 miles southeast of the 
airport, and that airspace within 3.8 miles either side of the 317[deg] 
bearing extending to the 7.1-mile radius of the airport. This will more 
appropriately contain arriving IFR operations between the surface and 
1,000 feet above the surface while executing the Area Navigation (RNAV) 
(Global Positioning System [GPS]) M Runway (RWY) 12 and the RNAV (GPS) 
M RWY 30 approaches. It will also better contain departing IFR 
operations until reaching the base of adjacent controlled airspace 
while executing the MOTSE ONE DEPARTURE (RNAV).
    The Class E airspace area designated as an extension to a Class D 
or Class E surface area is reduced to be within 1.2 miles east and 1.1 
miles west of the airport's 337[deg] bearing extending from the 7.1-
mile radius of the airport to 9.6 miles northwest of the airport. This 
will more appropriately contain arriving IFR operations below 1,000 
feet above the surface while executing the Localizer Directional Aid 
(LDA) RWY 17 approach.
    The Class E airspace area extending upward from 700 feet above the 
surface of the earth is reduced to include that airspace within 3.4 
miles northeast and 4 miles southwest of the airport's 157[deg] bearing 
extending 7.6 miles southeast of the airport, and 4 miles southwest and 
3.4 miles northeast of the airport's 337[deg] bearing extending 15.2 
miles northwest of the airport. This will better contain arriving IFR 
operations below 1,500 feet above the surface while executing the RNAV 
(GPS) M RWY 12 and RNAV (GPS) M RWY 30 approaches. The modification 
will also more appropriately contain departing IFR operations below 
1,200 feet above the surface when executing the MOTSE ONE DEPARTURE 
(RNAV).
    The Class E airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet above the 
surface is revoked, as the area is already within the Coaldale and Los 
Angeles Class E en route domestic airspace areas.

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 
7400.11H, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 11, 
2023, and effective September 15, 2023, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6002 Class E Airspace Areas Designated as Surface Areas.

* * * * *

AWP CA E2 Bishop, CA [Amended]

Bishop Airport, CA
    (Lat. 37[deg]22'23'' N, long. 118[deg]21'49'' W)

    That airspace extending upwards from the surface within a 5-mile 
radius of the airport, within 1.8 miles northeast and 1 mile 
southwest of the airport's 147[deg] bearing extending to 6.9 miles 
southeast, and within 3.8 miles either side of the airport's 
317[deg] bearing extending to the 7.1-mile radius of the airport.
* * * * *

Paragraph 6004 Class E Airspace Areas Designated as an Extension to 
a Class D or Class E Surface Area.

* * * * *

AWP CA E4 Bishop, CA [Amended]

Bishop Airport, CA
    (Lat. 37[deg]22'23'' N, long. 118[deg]21'49'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface within 1.2 miles 
east and 1.1 miles west of the airport's 337[deg] bearing extending 
from the 7.1-mile radius of the airport to 9.6 miles northwest of 
the airport.
* * * * *

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

* * * * *

AWP CA E5 Bishop, CA [Amended]

Bishop Airport, CA
    (Lat. 37[deg]22'23'' N, long. 118[deg]21'49'' W)


[[Page 67542]]


    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within 3.4 miles northeast and 4 miles southwest of the airport's 
157[deg] bearing extending 7.6 miles southeast of the airport, and 
within 3.4 miles northeast and 4 miles southwest of the airport's 
337[deg] bearing extending 15.2 miles northwest of the airport.
* * * * *

    Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on August 12, 2024.
B.G. Chew,
Group Manager, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2024-18601 Filed 8-20-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P