[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 110 (Tuesday, June 10, 2025)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 24358-24360]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-10431]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2025-0946; Airspace Docket No. 25-ASO-11]
RIN 2120-AA66
Amendment of Class D and E Airspace Over Hickory and Morganton,
NC
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM).
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SUMMARY: This action revises an earlier notice of proposed rulemaking
(NPRM) that the FAA published in the Federal Register on May 22, 2025,
by replacing an incorrect reference point within the Class D and Class
E2 airspace
[[Page 24359]]
descriptions and by adding a reference to the Tawba Nondirectional
Radio Beacon (NDB) to the Class E5 airspace description. This revised
action continues to propose amending the Class D and Class E surface
airspace at Hickory Regional Airport, Hickory NC, by increasing the
radius and establishing an extension to the surface area due to
standard instrument approach procedure and runway configuration
changes. Additionally, this action continues to propose amending Class
E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface for Hickory
Regional Airport, Hickory, NC by increasing the radius and adding an
extension. Controlled airspace is necessary for the safety and
management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations in the area.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 25, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by FAA Docket No. FAA-2025-0946 and
Airspace Docket No. 25-ASO-11 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 7400.11J, 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, Policy Directorate, Federal Aviation Administration,
600 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20597; Telephone: (202) 267-
8783.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher Stocking, Operations
Support Group, Eastern Service Center, Federal Aviation Administration,
1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337; Telephone: (404) 305-
5887.
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 would amend Class D and Class E airspace areas.
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 of the Eastern Service Center,
Federal Aviation Administration, Room 210, 1701 Columbia Avenue,
College Park, GA 30337.
Incorporation by Reference
Class D, Class E2, and Class E5 airspace areas are published in
paragraphs 5000, 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 7400.11J, dated
July 31, 2024, and effective September 15, 2024. These updates would 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.
Background
On May 22, 2025 (90 FR 21874), the FAA published an NPRM for Docket
No. FAA-2025-0946. Subsequent to the publication of the NPRM, the FAA
identified that an incorrect reference point was used to describe the
Hickory, NC, Class D and E surface areas. To correct this error, this
action proposes to remove the Tawba Nondirectional Radio Beacon (NDB)
from the Class D and Class E airspace description and to use Hickory
Regional Airport, Hickory, NC, as the reference point. This amendment
correctly places the proposed surface area extension to the southwest
of the airport as intended. Additionally, it was identified after the
publication of the NPRM that the Tawba NDB was omitted from the
Hickory, NC, Class E airspace description. Accordingly, under this
revised proposal, it will be added.
[[Page 24360]]
Other components of the proposal from the original NPRM remain
unchanged.
The Proposal
This action proposes an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 to amend the
Class D and E airspace at Hickory Regional Airport, Hickory, NC.
Controlled airspace is necessary for the safety and management of IFR
operations in the area for existing instrument approaches.
This action proposes to amend the Class D and Class E airspace at
Hickory Regional Airport by increasing the radius from 4.1-miles to
4.6-miles and by establishing an extension to the surface area that is
within 2 miles each side of the 235[deg] bearing from Hickory Regional
Airport, extending from the 4.6-mile radius of the airport to 5.2 miles
southwest of the airport. The Class D and Class E airspace area are
overlays of each other, and each is effective during the specific days
and times established in advance by a Notice to Airmen. The effective
days and times will thereafter be continuously published in the Chart
Supplement.
Additionally, this action proposes to amend the Class E airspace by
extending the radius from 6.6-miles to 7.1 miles and adding an
extension that is within 3-miles each side of the 055[deg] bearing from
Tawba NDB, extending from the 7.1-mile radius of the Hickory Regional
Airport to 5.7 miles northeast of the NDB.
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).
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
7400.11J, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated July 31,
2024, and effective September 15, 2024, is amended as follows:
Paragraph 5000 Class D Airspace.
* * * * *
ASO NC D Hickory, NC [Amended]
Hickory Regional Airport, NC
(Lat. 35[deg]44'28'' N, long. 81[deg]23'22'' W)
That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including
3700 feet MSL within a 4.6-mile radius of Hickory Regional Airport
and within 2 miles each side of the 235[deg] bearing from Hickory
Regional Airport, extending from a 4.6-mile radius of the airport to
5.2 miles southwest of the airport. This Class D airspace is
effective during the specific days and times established in advance
by a Notice to Airmen. The effective days and times will thereafter
be continuously published in the Chart Supplement.
* * * * *
Paragraph 6002 Class E Airspace Designated as Surface Areas.
* * * * *
ASO NC E2 Hickory, NC [Amended]
Hickory Regional Airport, NC
(Lat. 35[deg]44'28'' N, long. 81[deg]23'22'' W)
That airspace within a 4.6-mile radius of Hickory Regional
Airport and within 2 miles each side of the 235[deg] bearing from
Hickory Regional Airport, extending from a 4.6-mile radius of the
airport to 5.2 miles southwest of the airport. This Class E airspace
area is effective during the specific dates and times established in
advance by a Notice to Airmen. The effective date and time will
thereafter be continuously published in the Chart Supplement.
* * * * *
Paragraph 6005 Class E Airspace.
* * * * *
ASO NC E5 Hickory, NC [Amended]
Hickory Regional Airport, NC
(Lat. 35[deg]44'28'' N, long. 81[deg]23'22'' W)
Tawba NDB
(Lat. 35[deg]47'11'' N, long. 81[deg]18'19'' W)
That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface
within a 7.1-mile radius of Hickory Regional Airport, and within 3-
miles each side of the 055[deg] bearing from Tawba NDB, extending
from the 7.1-mile radius of the Hickory Regional Airport to 5.7
miles northeast of the NDB.
* * * * *
Issued in College Park, Georgia, on June 4, 2025.
Patrick Young,
Manager, Airspace & Procedures Team North, Eastern Service Center, Air
Traffic Organization.
[FR Doc. 2025-10431 Filed 6-9-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P