2022-00280. Modification of Class E Airspace; Inyokern Airport, CA

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

This action modifies the Class E airspace at Inyokern Airport, Inyokern, CA. This action also proposes two administrative updates to the Class E5 text header. This action ensures the safety and management of instrument flight rule (IFR) operations at the airport.

DATES:

Effective 0901 UTC, March 24, 2022. 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:

FAA Order JO 7400.11F, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, and subsequent amendments can be viewed online at https://www.faa.gov/​/air_​traffic/​publications/​. For further information, you can contact the Airspace Policy Group, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; telephone: [phone]. FAA Order JO 7400.11F is also available for inspection at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of FAA Order JO 7400.11F at NARA, email [e-mail] or go to https://www.archives.gov/​federal-register/​cfr/​ibr-locations.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Nathan A. Chaffman, Federal Aviation Administration, Western Service Center, Operations Support Group, 2200 S 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; 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 modifies Class E airspace at Inyokern Airport, Inyokern, CA, to ensure the safety and management of IFR operations at the airport.

History

The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal Register (86 FR 56845; October 13, 2021) for Docket No. FAA-2021-0805 to modify the Class E airspace at Inyokern Airport, Inyokern, CA. Interested parties were invited to participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting written comments on the proposal to the FAA. The FAA received one comment in favor of the airspace changes.

Class E5 airspace designations are published in paragraph 6005 of FAA Order JO 7400.11F, dated August 10, 2021, and effective September 15, 2021, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Class E airspace designation listed in this document will be published subsequently in FAA Order JO 7400.11.

Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference

This document amends FAA Order JO 7400.11F, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 10, 2021, and effective September 15, 2021. FAA Order JO 7400.11F is publicly available as listed in the ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order JO 7400.11F 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 airspace, extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Inyokern Airport, Inyokern, CA. This airspace is designed to contain departing IFR aircraft until reaching 1,200 feet above the surface and arriving IFR aircraft descending below 1,500 feet above the surface. To properly contain arriving IFR aircraft performing a circling maneuver, the circular radius of the airport is increased from “2 miles” to “4 miles”. To properly contain departing IFR aircraft flying toward or over rising terrain, the airspace southwest of the airport is widened and lengthened.

This action also implements two administrative updates to the Class E5 text header. The airport name in the second line of the text header is amended from “Inyokern Municipal Airport” to “Inyokern Airport”, to match the FAA database. The geographic coordinates in the third line of the text header are amended to “lat. 35°39′31″ N, long. 117°49′46″ W”, to match the FAA database.

FAA Order JO 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, is published yearly and effective on September 15.

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, is non-controversial, and unlikely to result in adverse or negative comments. 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 rule, when promulgated, would 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 5-6.5a. 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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71

• Airspace
• Incorporation by reference
• Navigation (air)

Adoption of 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 7400.11F, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 10, 2021, and effective September 15, 2021, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6005 Class E Airspace Areas Extending Upward From 700 Feet or More Above the Surface of the Earth.

* * * * *

AWP CA E5 Inyokern, CA [Amended]

Inyokern Airport, CA

(Lat. 35°39′31″ N, long. 117°49′46″ W)

That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface within a 4-mile radius of the airport, and within 2.7 miles each side of the 215° bearing from the airport extending from the 4-mile radius to 11.6 miles southwest of Inyokern Airport, excluding that airspace within Restricted Areas R-2505 and R-2506.

Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on January 4, 2022.

B.G. Chew,

Acting Group Manager, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center.