[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 174 (Monday, September 9, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 72981-72982]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-20198]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2024-0184; Airspace Docket No. 23-AWP-69]
RIN 2120-AA66


Modification of Class D Airspace and Establishment of Class E 
Airspace; Sacramento Mather Airport, Sacramento, CA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action modifies the Class D airspace extending upward 
from the surface to and including 2,600 feet mean sea level (MSL) and 
establishes Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the 
surface at Sacramento Mather Airport, Sacramento, CA. Additionally, 
this action makes administrative modifications to update the airport's 
Class D airspace legal description. These actions support the safety 
and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) and visual flight rules 
(VFR) 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: Nathan A. Chaffman, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Western Service Center, Operations Support Group, 2200 
S. 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone (206) 231-3460.

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 it modifies Class D and establishes Class E airspace to 
support IFR operations at Sacramento Mather Airport, Sacramento, CA.

History

    The FAA published an NPRM for Docket No. FAA-2024-0184 in the 
Federal Register (89 FR 27695; April 18, 2024), proposing to modify 
Class D and establish Class E airspace at Sacramento Mather Airport, 
Sacramento, 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.

Differences From the NPRM

    The Operations Support Group discovered that the proposed Class E5 
northeast extension, as described in the NPRM, was from a different 
measurement point than the airport reference point (ARP). The Class E5 
airspace area dimension remain the same. The amended legal description 
originated from the Mather's airport reference point to avoid 
misinterpretation of the distance. The amended text will read, ``within 
6 miles northwest and 9 miles southeast of the 054[deg] bearing 
extending from 12.7 miles northeast to 37 miles northeast of the 
airport.''

Incorporation by Reference

    Class D and Class E5 airspace designations are published in 
paragraphs 5000 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. 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. 
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 D airspace 
and establishing Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above 
the surface at Sacramento Mather Airport, Sacramento, CA.
    The Class D surface area is comprised of a 4.5-mile radius of the 
airport, up to and including 2,600 feet MSL. This airspace is modified 
to include an extension centered on the 061[deg] bearing from the 
airport, extending 1.8 miles beyond the existing radius. This extension 
will better contain departing IFR operations while utilizing the Runway 
(RWY) 4 Left (L) and RWY 4 Right (R) obstacle departure procedures 
(ODP) until reaching the base of adjacent controlled airspace.
    Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
is established to appropriately contain arriving IFR operations below 
1,500 feet above the surface and departing IFR operations until 
reaching 1,200 feet above the surface at Sacramento Mather Airport. The 
airport utilizes the Sacramento very high frequency omnidirectional 
range/tactical air navigation (VORTAC) Class E airspace for some of its 
procedure containment, but that airspace is not sufficient in 
containing the Area Navigation (RNAV) (Global Positioning System [GPS]) 
RWY 22L approach at Sacramento Mather Airport. On the same approach, 
the point at which an arriving aircraft is expected to descend below 
1,500 feet above the surface lies within the hold-in-lieu of procedure 
turn holding pattern. By rule, that location requires the entirety of 
the holding area also be contained within Class E airspace extending 
upward from 700 feet above the surface.
    Finally, the FAA makes administrative modifications to the 
airport's Class D airspace legal description. The location of the 
airspace is incorrect and is changed to read ``Sacramento, CA'' instead 
of

[[Page 72982]]

``Sacramento Mather Airport, CA.'' The geographic coordinates of the 
airport are updated to match the FAA's database. Lastly, Sacramento 
Mather Airport has part-time Class D airspace but does not include a 
part-time statement within the legal description. Part-time verbiage is 
added to the legal description to properly describe the airspace.

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 5000 Class D Airspace

* * * * *

AWP CA D Sacramento, CA [Amended]

Sacramento Mather Airport, CA
    (Lat. 38[deg]33'19'' N, long 121[deg]17'50'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including 
2,600 feet MSL within a 4.5-mile radius of the airport, and within 
1.9 miles each side of the 061[deg] bearing from the airport, 
extending from the 4.5-mile radius to 6.3 miles northeast 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 6005 Class E Airspace Areas Extending Upward From 700 
Feet or More Above the Surface of the Earth.

* * * * *

AWP CA E5 Sacramento, CA [New]

Sacramento Mather Airport, CA
    (Lat. 38[deg]33'19'' N, long. 121[deg]17'50'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.8-mile radius of the airport from the 075[deg] bearing 
clockwise to the 210[deg] bearing, and within 2.8 miles northwest 
and 2.4 miles southeast of the 054[deg] bearing extending from the 
airport to 12.7 miles northeast, and within 6 miles northwest and 9 
miles southeast of the 054[deg] bearing extending from 12.7 miles 
northeast of the airport to 37 miles northeast, and within 2.8 miles 
either side of the 234[deg] bearing extending from the airport to 
10.9 miles southwest.
* * * * *

    Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on September 3, 2024.
B.G. Chew,
Group Manager, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2024-20198 Filed 9-6-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P