2023-19546. Amendment of Class E Airspace; Quincy, IL

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

This action amends the Class E airspace at Quincy, IL. This action is the result of an airspace review caused by the decommissioning of the Quincy very high frequency omnidirectional range (VOR) as part of the VOR Minimum Operating Network (MON) Program. The name and geographic coordinates of the airport and name of the navigational aid are also being updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.

DATES:

Effective 0901 UTC, November 30, 2023. 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.

FAA Order JO 7400.11G, 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: [phone].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jeffrey Claypool, Federal Aviation Administration, Operations Support Group, Central Service Center, 10101 Hillwood Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone [phone].

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 surface airspace and the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Quincy Regional Airport-Baldwin Field, Quincy IL, to support instrument flight rule (IFR) operations at this airport.

History

The FAA published an NPRM for Docket No. FAA–2023–1389 in the Federal Register (88 FR 41337; June 26, 2023) proposing to amend the Class E airspace at Quincy IL. 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 7400.11G, dated August 19, 2022, and effective September 15, 2022. FAA Order JO 7400.11G is publicly available as listed in the ADDRESSES section of this document. These amendments will be published in the next update to FAA Order JO 7400.11.

FAA Order JO 7400.11G lists Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and reporting points.

The Rule

This amendment to 14 CFR part 71:

Modifies the Class E surface airspace to within a 4.3-mile (increased from a 4.2-mile) radius of Quincy Regional Airport-Baldwin Field, Quincy, IL; removes the Quincy VORTAC and associated extension from the airspace legal description; updates the name (previously Quincy Municipal Baldwin Field) and geographic coordinates of the airport to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database; and replaces the outdated terms “Notice to Airmen” with “Notice to Air Missions” and “Airport/Facility Directory” with “Chart Supplement”;

And modifies the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface to within a 6.8-mile (decreased from a 7.1-mile) radius of Quincy Regional Airport-Baldwin Field; amends the extension to the southwest to within 4 miles each side (previously 4.4 miles northwest and 7 miles southeast) of the 220° bearing from the Quincy RGNL-Baldwin FLD: RWY 04—Marker Beacon (previously Quincy ILS localizer southwest course) extending from the 6.8-mile (previously 7-mile) radius of the Quincy Regional Airport-Baldwin Field to 9.8 miles (previously 10.4 miles) southwest of the Quincy RGNL-Baldwin FLD: RWY 04—Marker Beacon (previously Quincy LOM/NDB); and updates the name and geographic coordinates of Quincy Regional Airport- Baldwin Field (previously Quincy Municipal Baldwin Field) and the name of Quincy RGNL-Baldwin FLD: RWY 04—Marker Beacon (previously Quincy LOM/NDB) to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.

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.

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 5–6.5.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

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.

§ 71.1

[Amended]

2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of FAA Order JO 7400.11G, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 19, 2022, and effective September 15, 2022, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6002 Class E Airspace Areas Designated as a Surface Area.

* * * * *

AGL IL E2 Quincy, IL [Amended]

Quincy Regional Airport-Baldwin Field, IL

(Lat 39°56′32″ N, long 91°11′33″ W)

Within a 4.3-mile radius of Quincy Regional Airport-Baldwin Field. This Class E airspace area is effective during the specific dates and times established in advance by a Notice to Air Missions. 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 IL E5 Quincy, IL [Amended]

Quincy Regional Airport-Baldwin Field Airport, IL

(Lat 39°56′32″ N, long 91°11′33″ W)

Quincy RGNL-Baldwin FLD: RWY 04—Marker Beacon

(Lat 39°53′13″ N, long 91°15′13″ W)

That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface within a 6.8-mile radius of Quincy Regional Airport-Baldwin Field; and within 4 miles each side of the 220° bearing from the Quincy RGNL-Baldwin FLD: RWY 04—Marker Beacon extending from the 6.8-mile radius of the Quincy Regional Airport-Baldwin Field to 9.8 miles southwest of the Quincy RGNL-Baldwin FLD: RWY 04—Marker Beacon.

* * * * *

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on September 6, 2023.

Martin A. Skinner,

Acting Manager, Operations Support Group, ATO Central Service Center.