[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 40 (Monday, March 2, 2026)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 10014-10016]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2026-04098]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2025-5139; Airspace Docket No. 24-ANM-123]
RIN 2120-AA66
Establishment of Class D and Modification of Class E Airspace;
Bend Municipal Airport, Bend, OR
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: This action proposes to establish a Class D airspace area,
modify the Class E airspace area designated as a surface area, modify
the Class E airspace area designated as an extension to a Class D or
Class E surface area, modify the Class E airspace area extending upward
from 700 feet above the surface, and remove the Class E airspace area
extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface at Bend Municipal
Airport, Bend, OR, to support the construction of an airport traffic
control tower at the airport. Additionally, this action proposes to
make administrative amendments that would update the airport's legal
descriptions. These actions would support the safety and management of
visual flight rules (VFR) and instrument flight rules (IFR) operations
at the airport.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 16, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by FAA Docket No. FAA-2025-5139 and
Airspace Docket No. 24-ANM-123 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 7400.11K, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points,
and subsequent amendments can be viewed online at www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bryantjay T. Toves, Federal Aviation
Administration, Western Service Center, Operations Support Group, 2200
S 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone (206) 231-3465.
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
[[Page 10015]]
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 establish a Class D airspace and modify Class E
airspace to support VFR and IFR operations at Bend Municipal Airport,
Bend, OR.
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 Northwest Mountain Regional Office of the
Federal Aviation Administration, Air Traffic Organization, Western
Service Center, Operations Support Group, 2200 S 216th Street, Des
Moines, WA 98198.
Incorporation by Reference
Class D, E2, E4, and E5 airspace designations are published in
paragraphs 5000, 6002, 6004, 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 7400.11K, dated August 4, 2025 and effective September 15, 2025.
These amendments would 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 Proposal
The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 that would
establish a Class D airspace area designated for an airport, modify the
Class E airspace designated as a surface area, modify the Class E
airspace area designated as an extension to a Class D or Class E
surface area, modify the Class E airspace area extending upward from
700 feet above the surface, and remove the Class E airspace extending
upward from 1,200 feet above the surface at Bend Municipal Airport,
Bend, OR.
A Class D airspace area would be established at Bend Municipal
Airport to support the construction of an airport traffic control
tower. The Class D airspace surface area would extend up to and
including 6,000 feet mean sea level (2,500 feet above ground level) and
be coincident with the Class E airspace area designated as a surface
area as proposed below, as similar criteria and justification exists
for both areas as proposed.
Bend Municipal Airport's Class E surface area would be expanded to
a 4.3-mile radius to better contain the circling areas of aircraft
executing the Area Navigation (RNAV) (Global Positioning System [GPS])
Y Runway (RWY) 16, RNAV (GPS) Z RWY 16, RNAV (GPS) RWY 34, and Very
High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR) RWY 16 instrument approach
procedures (IAP). The southern portion of the Class E surface airspace
area would be extended to a 5.6-mile radius to provide further
containment of aircraft executing the BEND TWO DEPARTURE (OBSTACLE)
procedure from RWY 16 until reaching the base of the next adjacent
airspace. Additionally, the Class E surface airspace area would be
extended to 5 miles north of the airport to better contain the circling
area of aircraft executing the RNAV (GPS) Y RWY 16, RNAV (GPS) Z RWY
16, RNAV (GPS) RWY 34, and the VOR RWY 16 IAPs. Moreover, a northern
extension would also adjoin the proposed Class D and Class E surface
airspace areas with the Roberts Field Airport designated Class D and E
surface areas to create a shared boundary between the airports' surface
areas. The area excluded around Pilot Butte Airport, OR, should be
reduced by 0.1 miles to provide additional lateral surface area
airspace at Bend Municipal Airport to better contain aircraft
conducting circling procedures.
The Class E airspace area designated as an extension to a Class D
or Class E surface area would be extended approximately 1.8 miles to
better contain arriving IFR operations below 1,000 feet above the
surface when executing the RNAV (GPS) RWY 34 approach procedure.
To better contain arriving IFR operations when below 1,500 feet
above the surface aircraft at Bend Municipal Airport, the eastern
portion of the Class E airspace area extending upward from 700 feet
above the surface would be reduced by approximately 2.3 miles; the
northeastern-most boundary would be extended approximately two miles
for aircraft executing the RNAV (GPS) Y RWY 16 approach. Additionally,
the southern boundary would be extended approximately 0.6 miles to
better contain arriving IFR operations below 1,500 feet above the
surface when executing the RNAV (GPS) RWY 34 approach as well as to
provide additional containment for aircraft executing the BEND TWO
DEPARTURE (OBSTACLE) procedure for RWY 34 until reaching 1,200 feet
above the surface.
Finally, the FAA proposes an administrative modification to the
airport's legal description. Pilot Butte Airport would be referenced
within the Bend Class E surface area airspace legal description and any
reference to a ``point in space'' within the geographic coordinates
located on the text header in the legal descriptions.
[[Page 10016]]
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 1050.1G, ``FAA National Environmental Policy
Act Implementing 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
7400.11K, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 4,
2025, and effective September 15, 2025, is amended as follows:
Paragraph 5000 Class D Airspace.
* * * * *
ANM OR D Bend, OR [New]
Bend Municipal Airport, OR
(Lat. 44[deg]05'40'' N, long. 121[deg]12'01'' W)
Pilot Butte Airport, OR
(Lat. 44[deg]02'50'' N, long. 121[deg]16'32'' W)
Roberts Field Airport, OR
(Lat. 44[deg]15'15'' N, long. 121[deg]08'60'' W)
That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including
6,000 feet MSL within a 4.3-mile radius of Bend Municipal Airport,
within 3.4 miles east and 3.6 miles west of the Bend Municipal
Airport's 017[deg] bearing extending to 5 miles north, and within
1.3 miles either side of the Bend Municipal Airport's 184[deg]
bearing extending to 5.6 miles south, excluding the Roberts Field
Airport Class D airspace and that airspace within a 0.9-mile radius
of Pilot Butte Airport. This Class D airspace 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 6002 Class E Airspace Areas Designated as a Surface Area.
* * * * *
ANM OR E2 Bend, OR [Amended]
Bend Municipal Airport, OR
(Lat. 44[deg]05'40'' N, long. 121[deg]12'01'' W)
Pilot Butte Airport, OR
(Lat. 44[deg]02'50'' N, long. 121[deg]16'32'' W)
Roberts Field Airport, OR
(Lat. 44[deg]15'15'' N, long. 121[deg]08'60'' W)
That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including
6,000 feet MSL within a 4.3-mile radius of Bend Municipal Airport,
within 3.4 miles east and 3.6 miles west of the Bend Municipal
Airport's 017[deg] bearing extending to 5 miles north, and within
1.3 miles on either side of the Bend Municipal Airport's 184[deg]
bearing extending to 5.6 miles south, excluding the Roberts Field
Airport Class D airspace and that airspace within a 0.9-mile radius
of Pilot Butte Airport. This Class E airspace 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 6004 Class E Airspace Areas Designated as an Extension to
Class D or Class E Surface Area.
ANM OR E4 Bend, OR [Amended]
Bend Municipal Airport, OR
(Lat. 44[deg]05'40'' N, long. 121[deg]12'01'' W)
That airspace extending upward from the surface within 1.1 miles
either side of the airport's 167[deg] bearing extending from its
4.3-mile radius to 8.6 miles south.
* * * * *
Paragraph 6005 Class E Airspace Areas Extending Upward From 700
Feet or More Above the Surface of the Earth.
* * * * *
ANM OR E5 Bend, OR [Amended]
Bend Municipal Airport, OR
(Lat. 44[deg]05'40'' N, long. 121[deg]12'01'' W)
That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface
within an area bounded by a line beginning at the airport's 357[deg]
bearing at 11 miles, thence to the airport's 041[deg] bearing at 6.5
miles, to the airport's 157[deg] bearing at 9.5 miles, to the
airport's 173[deg] bearing at 9.5 miles, to the airport's 238[deg]
bearing at 6.5 miles, to the airport's 311[deg] bearing at 9.3
miles, thence to the point of beginning.
* * * * *
Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on February 22, 2026.
B.G. Chew,
Group Manager, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2026-04098 Filed 2-27-26; 8:45 am]
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