[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 104 (Monday, June 2, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 23273-23275]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-09856]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2025-0400; Airspace Docket No. 25-AEA-4]
RIN 2120-AA66
Revocation of Class D and Class E4 Airspace; Establishment of
Class E2 Airspace; Amendment of Class E5 Airspace, Aberdeen, MD
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This action removes Class D and E4 airspace at Phillips Army
Airfield (AAF), Aberdeen, MD, due to the closure of the air traffic
control
[[Page 23274]]
tower. This action establishes Class E2 airspace extending upward from
the surface above Phillips AAF at the request of the United States Army
to provide the required airspace for Instrument Flight Rules (IFR)
operations at Phillips AAF. This action also amends Class E5 airspace
to accommodate the decommissioning of the Aberdeen non-directional
radio beacon (NDB) and cancellation of the associated instrument
approach procedures. Controlled airspace is necessary for the safety
and management of IFR operations in the area for existing instrument
approaches.
DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, October 2, 2025. 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 7400.11J, Airspace Designations, and Reporting Points,
as well as subsequent amendments, can be viewed online at www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/. For further information, you may also
contact the Rules and Regulations Group, Policy Directorate, Federal
Aviation Administration, 600 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC
20597; Telephone: (202) 267-8783.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marc Ellerbee, Operations Support
Group, Eastern Service Center, Federal Aviation Administration, 1701
Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337; Telephone: (404) 305-5589.
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 removes Class D and E4, establishes Class E2, and amends Class E5
airspace in Aberdeen, MD.
History
The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking for Docket No.
FAA 2025-0400 in the Federal Register (90 FR 14591; April 3, 2025),
proposing to remove Class D and E4 airspace, establish Class E2
airspace extending upward from the surface, and amend Class E5 airspace
at Phillips Army Airfield, Aberdeen, MD. Interested parties were
invited to participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting written
comments on the proposal to the FAA. No comments were received.
Changes From NPRM
An editorial change was made to remove the detailed airspace legal
descriptions from the Aberdeen, MD, Class D and E4 airspace in this
final rule. The inclusion of the detailed descriptions of the Aberdeen,
MD, Class D and E4 airspace in the NPRM was unnecessary since they are
being removed. This final rule lists only the bold headings for these
airspace descriptions, with the instructions for them to be removed. As
this constitutes a ministerial change that does not alter legal
obligations associated with the airspace, good cause exists for not re-
circulating the NPRM.
Incorporation by Reference
Class D and E airspace designations are published in paragraphs
5000, 6002, 6004, and 6005 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 7400.11J, dated July 31, 2024, and
effective September 15, 2024. These amendments will be published in the
next update to FAA Order JO 7400.11. FAA Order JO 7400.11J, which lists
Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and
reporting points, is publicly available as listed in the ADDRESSES
section of this document.
The Rule
This action amends 14 CFR part 71 to remove Class D and E4
airspace, establish Class E2 airspace and amend Class E5 airspace for
Phillips AAF, Aberdeen, MD.
This action removes the Class D and Class E4 airspaces extending
upward from the surface above Phillips Army Airfield (AAF), Aberdeen,
MD, as the air traffic control tower is permanently closed and no
longer provides air traffic control services.
This action establishes Class E airspace extending upward from the
surface that is required to support the existing RNAV approach
servicing Phillips AAF and at the request of the United States Army.
Controlled airspace is necessary for the safety and management of IFR
operations for existing instrument approaches at Phillips AAF.
This action amends Class E5 airspace extending upward from 700 feet
above the surface for Phillips AAF, Aberdeen, MD, to accommodate
airspace reconfiguration due to the decommissioning of Aberdeen's non-
directional radio beacon (NDB) and the associated cancellation of the
NDB approaches. The reconfiguration removes the extension from the 8.3-
mile radius of Phillips AAF extending clockwise from the 260[deg]
bearing to the 030[deg] bearing from the airport leaving only the 6.9-
mile radius Class E5 airspace that is required for existing approaches
into Phillips AAF.
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
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
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 exist that warrant the preparation of an
environmental assessment.
[[Page 23275]]
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
7400.11J, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated July 31,
2024, and effective September 15, 2024, is amended as follows:
Paragraph 5000 Class D Airspace.
* * * * *
AEA MD D Aberdeen, MD [Removed]
* * * * *
Paragraph 6004 Class E Airspace Areas Designated as an Extension to
a Class D or Class E Surface Area.
* * * * *
AEA MD E4 Aberdeen, MD [Removed]
* * * * *
Paragraph 6002 Class E Airspace Areas Designated as Surface Areas.
* * * * *
AEA MD E2 Aberdeen, MD [New]
Phillips AAF, MD
(Lat. 39[deg]27'56'' N, long. 76[deg]10'06'' W)
That airspace extending upward from the surface within a 4.4-
mile radius of Phillips AAF; excluding that airspace in Restricted
Area R-4001A when it is in effect. This Class E airspace area is
effective during the specific dates and times established in advance
by a Notice to Airmen. The specific 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.
* * * * *
AEA MD E5 Aberdeen, MD [Amended]
Phillips AAF, MD
(Lat. 39[deg]27'56'' N, long. 76[deg]10'06'' W)
That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface
within a 6.9-mile radius of Phillips AAF excluding the airspace in
Restricted Areas R-4001A and R-4001B when they are in effect.
* * * * *
Issued in College Park, Georgia, on May 27, 2025.
Patrick Young,
Manager, Airspace & Procedures Team North, Eastern Service Center, Air
Traffic Organization.
[FR Doc. 2025-09856 Filed 5-30-25; 8:45 am]
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