[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 33 (Thursday, February 19, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 7819-7821]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2026-03284]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2025-5340; Airspace Docket No. 25-AEA-8]
RIN 2120-AA66
Amendment of Class D, Class E2, Class E4 and Class E5 Airspace
Over Patuxent River, MD
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This action amends Class D, Class E2, Class E4, and Class E5
airspace at Patuxent River Naval Air Station (NAS) (Trapnell Field),
Patuxent River, MD. The previously designated controlled airspace did
not properly contain instrument flight rule (IFR) operations, which
require controlled airspace. The geographic coordinates for Patuxent
River NAS (Trapnell Field) are updated in the airspace legal
descriptions. The references to the decommissioned Patuxent VORTAC are
updated in the Class E2, Class E4, and Class E5 airspace legal
descriptions. Last, the references to the decommissioned Patuxent River
NDB are removed in the Class E2 and Class E4 airspace legal
descriptions.
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 a day, 365 days a 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,
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 amends Class D, Class E2, Class E4, and Class E5 airspace in
Patuxent River, MD.
History
The FAA published an NPRM for Docket No. FAA-2025-5340 in the
Federal Register (90 FR 59419; December 19, 2025), proposing to amend
Class D, Class E2, Class E4, and Class E5 airspace above Patuxent
River, 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.
Difference From the NPRM
Subsequent to the publication of the NPRM in the Federal Register,
the FAA discovered that the Patuxent River Non-Directional Beacon (NDB)
had been decommissioned. Notice of this decommissioning was published
in the National Flight Data Digest (NFDD) on December 18, 2025 (NFDD
241-3). Accordingly, this final rule incorporates corrective revisions
that remove the references to the Patuxent River NDB from the airspace
legal descriptions for Patuxent River, MD. Because this is an
administrative change that does not alter airspace boundaries or impose
additional requirements on users of the airspace, the FAA finds good
cause that recirculating the NPRM for public notice and comment is
unnecessary.
Incorporation by Reference
Class D, Class E2, Class E4, and Class E5 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 latest 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 D, Class
E2, Class E4, and Class E5 airspace for Patuxent River NAS (Trapnell
Field), Patuxent River, MD. Controlled airspace is necessary for the
safety and
[[Page 7820]]
management of IFR operations in the area for existing instrument
approach procedures.
This action amends the Class D airspace over Patuxent River, MD, by
updating the Patuxent River NAS (Trapnell Field) geographic coordinates
and increasing the lateral boundary of the Class D airspace to within a
4.7-mile radius of Patuxent River NAS (Trapnell Field) and within a .5-
mile radius of Chesapeake Ranch Airport, excluding that airspace within
Restricted Areas R-4005 and R-4007 when active. The superseded
reference to the ``Airport Facility Directory'' is replaced with
``Chart Supplement'' in the airspace legal description.
This action amends the Class E2 airspace over Patuxent River, MD,
by updating the geographic coordinates of Patuxent River NAS (Trapnell
Field) and modifying the dimensions from the current configuration to
that airspace extending upward from the surface within a 4.7-mile
radius of Patuxent River NAS (Trapnell Field) and within 1.8 miles each
side of the 047[deg] bearing from Patuxent River NAS extending from the
4.7-mile radius of Patuxent River NAS to 6.5 miles northeast of the
airport; and within 1.9 miles each side of the 233[deg] bearing from
Patuxent River NAS extending from the 4.7-mile radius to 6.2 miles
southwest of the airport; and within 1.8 miles each side of the
137[deg] bearing from Patuxent River NAS extending from the 4.7-mile
radius to 10.8 miles southeast of the airport; and within a .5-mile
radius of Chesapeake Ranch Airport, excluding that airspace within
Restricted Areas R-4005 and R-4007 when active. This reconfiguration
properly contains the currently published standard instrument approach
procedures. The references to the decommissioned Patuxent VORTAC and
Patuxent River NDB in the Class E2 legal description are removed.
This action also amends the Class E4 airspace over Patuxent River,
MD, by updating the geographic coordinates of Patuxent River NAS
(Trapnell Field) and modifying the dimensions from the current
configuration to that airspace extending upward from the surface within
1.8 miles each side of the 047[deg] bearing from Patuxent River NAS
extending from the 4.7-mile radius of Patuxent River NAS to 6.5 miles
northeast of the airport; and within 1.9 miles each side of the
233[deg] bearing from Patuxent River NAS extending from the 4.7-mile
radius to 6.2 miles southwest of the airport; and within 1.8 miles each
side of the 137[deg] bearing from Patuxent River NAS extending from the
4.7-mile radius to 10.8 miles southeast of the airport, excluding that
airspace within Restricted Areas R-4005 and R-4007 when active. This
reconfiguration properly contains the currently published standard
instrument approach procedures. Additionally, the references to the
decommissioned Patuxent VORTAC and Patuxent River NDB in the Class E4
legal description are removed; and the superseded reference to the
``Airport Facility Directory'' is replaced with ``Chart Supplement''.
This action also amends the Class E5 airspace over Patuxent River,
MD, by replacing the reference to the decommissioned Patuxent VORTAC
with point in space coordinates using the same geographic coordinates.
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, 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 1050.1G, ``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 the
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 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:
Paragraph 5000 Class D Airspace.
* * * * *
AEA MD D Patuxent River, MD [Amended]
Patuxent River NAS (Trapnell Field), MD
(Lat. 38[deg]17'11'' N, long. 76[deg]24'36'' W)
Chesapeake Ranch Airport, MD
(Lat. 38[deg]21'40'' N, long. 76[deg]24'19'' W)
That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including
2,500 feet MSL within a 4.7-mile radius of Patuxent River NAS
(Trapnell Field) and within a .5-mile radius of Chesapeake Ranch
Airport excluding that airspace within Restricted Areas R-4005 and
R-4007 when active. This Class D 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 6002 Class E Airspace Areas Designated as Surface Areas.
* * * * *
AEA MD E2 Patuxent River, MD [Amended]
Patuxent River NAS (Trapnell Field), MD
(Lat. 38[deg]17'11'' N, long. 76[deg]24'36'' W)
Chesapeake Ranch Airport, MD
(Lat. 38[deg]21'40'' N, long. 76[deg]24'19'' W)
That airspace extending upward from the surface within a 4.7-
mile radius of Patuxent River NAS (Trapnell Field) and within 1.8
miles each side of the 047[deg] bearing from Patuxent River NAS
extending from the 4.7-mile radius of Patuxent River NAS to 6.5
miles northeast of the airport; and within 1.9 miles each side of
the 233[deg] bearing from Patuxent River NAS extending from the 4.7-
mile radius to 6.2 miles southwest of the airport; and within 1.8
miles each side of the 137[deg] bearing from Patuxent River NAS
extending from the 4.7-mile radius to 10.8 miles southeast of the
airport; and within a .5-mile radius of Chesapeake Ranch Airport,
excluding that airspace within Restricted Areas R-4005 and R-4007
when active. This Class E airspace area is effective during those
times when the Class D airspace is not in effect.
* * * * *
[[Page 7821]]
Paragraph 6004 Class E Airspace Designated as an Extension to a
Class D Surface Area.
* * * * *
AEA MD E4 Patuxent River, MD [Amended]
Patuxent River NAS (Trapnell Field), MD
(Lat. 38[deg]17'11'' N, long. 76[deg]24'36'' W)
That airspace extending upward from the surface within 1.8 miles
each side of the 047[deg] bearing from Patuxent River NAS extending
from the 4.7-mile radius of Patuxent River NAS to 6.5 miles
northeast of the airport; and within 1.9 miles each side of the
233[deg] bearing from Patuxent River NAS extending from the 4.7-mile
radius to 6.2 miles southwest of the airport; and within 1.8 miles
each side of the 137[deg] bearing from Patuxent River NAS extending
from the 4.7-mile radius to 10.8 miles southeast of the airport,
excluding that airspace within Restricted Areas R-4005 and R-4007
when active. This Class E airspace area is effective during 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 Areas Extending Upward From 700
Feet or More Above the Surface of the Earth.
* * * * *
AEA MD E5 Patuxent River, MD [Amended]
Point in Space Coordinates
(Lat. 38[deg]17'16'' N, long. 76[deg]24'01'' W)
That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface
within a 12.2-mile radius of the point in space lat. 38[deg]17'16''
N, long. 76[deg]24'01'' W, excluding the portion NW of a line
extending from Lat. 38[deg]15'02'' N, long. 76[deg]39'15'' W; to
Lat. 38[deg]26'26'' N, long. 76[deg]13'46'' W.
* * * * *
Issued in College Park, Georgia, on February 12, 2026.
Patrick Young,
Manager, Airspace & Procedures Team North, Eastern Service Center, Air
Traffic Organization.
[FR Doc. 2026-03284 Filed 2-18-26; 8:45 am]
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