[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 25 (Friday, February 6, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 5288-5289]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2026-02321]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2025-5367; Airspace Docket No. 25-AGL-19]
RIN 2120-AA66
Amendment of Class E Airspace; Benton Harbor, MI
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This action amends the Class E airspace at Benton Harbor, MI.
The name and geographic coordinates of the Southwest Michigan Regional
Airport, Benton Harbor, MI, are also being updated to coincide with the
FAA's aeronautical database. This action is the result of an airspace
review conducted due to the decommissioning of the Keeler very high
frequency omnidirectional range (VOR) as part of the VOR Minimum
Operational Network (MON) Program. It brings the airspace into
compliance with FAA orders and supports instrument flight rule (IFR)
procedures and operations.
DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, May 14, 2026. 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. An electronic
copy of this document may also be downloaded from
www.federalregister.gov.
FAA Order JO 7400.11K, 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: Jeffrey Claypool, Federal Aviation
Administration, Operations Support Group, Central Service Center, 10101
Hillwood Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5711.
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 amends the Class E airspace at the affected airports to support
IFR operations.
History
The FAA published an NPRM for Docket No. FAA-2025-5367 in the
Federal Register (90 FR 56711; December 8, 2025) proposing to amend the
Class E airspace at Benton Harbor, MI. 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 E airspace designations are published in paragraphs 6002 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 7400.11K, dated August 4, 2025, and effective September 15,
2025. These amendments will be published in the next update to FAA
Order JO 7400.11. FAA Order JO 7400.11K, 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 by modifying the Class E surface
airspace and the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 ft. above
the surface at Benton Harbor, Michigan, due to an airspace review
conducted as part of the decommissioning of the Keeler VOR as part of
the VOR MON Program.
For the Southwest Michigan Regional Airport, Benton Harbor, MI,
Class E surface area, this action: (1) increases the radius from 4.2
miles to 4.5 miles; (2) updates the name of the airport from Ross-
Field-Twin Cities Airport to Southwest Michigan Regional Airport and
updates the geographic coordinates of the airport to coincide with the
FAA's aeronautical database; (3) removes the city associated with the
airport from the airspace legal description header to comply with
changes to FAA Order JO 7400.2R, Procedures for Handling Airspace
Matters; and (4) updates the outdated term ``Airport/Facility
Directory'' to ``Chart Supplement.''
For the Southwest Michigan Regional Airport Class E airspace
extending upward from 700 ft. above the surface, this action: (1)
increases the radius from 6.5 miles to 7 miles; (2) adds an extension
within 3.7 miles each side of the 090[deg] bearing from the Southwest
Michigan RGNL: RWY 28-LOC extending from the 7-mile radius of the
airport to 9.3 miles east of the airport; (3) adds an extension within
2 miles each side of the 090[deg] bearing from the airport extending
from the 7-mile radius to 11.5 miles east of the airport; (4) updates
the name of the airport from Ross-Field-Twin Cities Airport to
Southwest Michigan Regional Airport and updates the geographic
coordinates of the airport to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical
database; and (5) removes the city associated with the airport from the
airspace legal description header to comply with changes to FAA Order
JO 7400.2R.
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.
[[Page 5289]]
Environmental Review
The FAA has determined that this action qualifies for categorical
exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act in accordance
with FAA Order 1050.1G, ``FAA National Environmental Policy Act
Implementing Procedures,'' Paragraph B-2.5(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 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
7400.11K, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 4,
2025, and effective September 15, 2025, is amended as follows:
6002 Class E Airspace Areas Designated as Surface Areas.
* * * * *
AGL MI E2 Benton Harbor, MI [Amended]
Southwest Michigan Regional Airport, MI
(Lat. 42[deg]07'42'' N, long. 086[deg]25'30'' W)
Within a 4.5-mile radius of Southwest Michigan Regional Airport.
This Class E airspace area is effective during the specific dates
and times established in advance by a Notice to Airmen. The
effective dates and times 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.
* * * * *
AGL MI E5 Benton Harbor, MI [Amended]
Southwest Michigan Regional Airport, MI
(Lat. 42[deg]07'42'' N, long. 086[deg]25'30'' W)
Southwest Michigan RGNL: RWY 28-LOC
(Lat. 42[deg]07'41'' N, long. 086[deg]26'15'' W)
That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface
within a 7-mile radius of Southwest Michigan Regional Airport; and
within 3.7 miles each side of the 090[deg] from the Southwest
Michigan RGNL: RWY 28-LOC extending from the 7-mile radius of the
airport to 9.3 miles east of the airport; and within 2 miles each
side of the 090[deg] bearing from the airport extending from the 7-
mile radius of the airport to 11.5 miles east of the airport.
* * * * *
Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on February 4, 2026.
Courtney E. Johns,
Acting Manager, Operations Support Group, ATO Central Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2026-02321 Filed 2-5-26; 8:45 am]
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