[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 192 (Tuesday, October 5, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 53892-53893]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-25847]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Airspace Docket No. 99-AAL-7]
Establishment of Class E Airspace; Aniak, AK; Establishment of
Class E Airspace; St. Mary's, AK
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This action establishes Class E (surface area) airspace at
Aniak, AK, and St. Mary's, AK. This action is at the request of air
taxi operators with flight operations at these airports. This rule
provides additional Class E airspace for aircraft flying Instrument
Flight Rules (IFR) procedures at Aniak, AK, and St. Mary's, AK.
EFFECTIVE DATE: 0901 UTC, November 4, 1999.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bob Durand, Operations Branch, Federal
Aviation Administration, 222 West 7th Avenue, Box 14, Anchorage, AK
99513-7587; telephone number (907) 271-5898; fax: (907) 271-2850;
email: Bob.Durand@faa.gov. Internet address: http://www.alaska.faa.gov/
at or at address http://162.58.28.41/at.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
History
On March 16, 1999, the FAA initiated Airspace Study 99-AAL-022-NR,
Proposal to Establish Surface Areas at Aniak and St. Mary's Airports,
at the request from Pen Air, Northern Air Cargo, and Arctic
Transportation Services to consider the establishment of additional
controlled Class E Airspace. These additional controlled Class E
airspaces would provide surface areas for aircraft flying IFR at the
Aniak and St. Mary's airports.
Concerns expressed included: (1) It is disconcerting to be on an
IFR approach knowing that Visual Flight Rule (VFR) aircraft may be in
close proximity when the transition is made from IFR to VFR for
landing; (2) aircraft are not required to talk on the Common Traffic
Advisory Frequency (CTAF); (3) aircraft on instrument approach must mix
with VFR aircraft in weather conditions as low as `clear of clouds' and
`one-mile flight visibility'; and (4) an aircraft on an IFR approach
could descend through the clouds and find themselves on a collision
course with uncontrolled VFR traffic.
Changes that will result for VFR pilots with the establishment of
these surface areas include: (1) A requirement to maintain basic VFR
weather minimums as detailed in 14 CFR part 91 section 155
(Sec. 91.155) established for Class E airspace to the surface
consisting of three (3) statute miles visibility and cloud clearance of
500 feet below, 1,000 feet above, and 2,000 feet horizontal distance
from clouds; and if the basic VFR weather minimums (Sec. 91.155) can
not be maintained, then a pilot will be required to fly in accordance
with the Special VFR weather minimums contained in Sec. 91.157, i.e.,
have an Air Traffic Control (ATC) clearance.
Comments were received from Tatonduk Outfitters Limited, Tanana Air
Service, and one pilot. Based on the supportive comments received
during the airspace study, the FAA decided to proceed with the
rulemaking process to establish surface areas at Aniak, AK, and St.
Mary's, AK.
On July 30, 1999, a proposal to amend part 71 of the Federal
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 71) to revise the Class E airspace
areas at Aniak, AK, and St. Mary's, AK, was published in the Federal
Register (64 FR 41363). Interested parties were invited to participate
in this rulemaking proceeding by submitting written comments on the
proposal to the FAA. No public comments to the proposal were received;
thus, the rule is adopted as written.
The areas will be depicted on aeronautical charts for pilot
reference. The coordinates for this airspace docket are based on North
American Datum 83. The Class E airspace areas designated as surface
areas are published in paragraph 6002 of FAA Order 7400.9F, Airspace
Designations and Reporting Points, dated September 10, 1998, and
effective September 16, 1998, which is incorporated by reference in 14
CFR 71.1 (63 FR 50139; September 21, 1998). The Class E airspace
designations listed in this document will be revised and published
subsequently in the Order.
The Rule
This amendment to 14 CFR part 71 establishes the Class E (surface
area) airspace at Aniak, AK, and St. Mary's, AK, at the request of air
taxi operators with flight operations at these airports. The area will
be depicted on aeronautical charts for pilot reference. The intended
effect of this proposal is to provide additional controlled airspace
for IFR operations at Aniak, AK, and St. Mary's, AK.
The FAA has determined that these proposed regulations only involve
an established body of technical regulations for which frequent and
routine amendments are necessary to keep them operationally current.
It,
[[Page 53893]]
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, will not have a significant
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities under the
criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
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, CLASS B, CLASS C, CLASS D, AND
CLASS E AIRSPACE AREAS; AIRWAYS; ROUTES; AND REPORTING POINTS
1. The authority citation for 14 CFR part 71 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40103, 40113, 40120; E.O. 10854, 24
FR 9565, 3 CFR, 1959-1963 Comp., p. 389.
Sec. 71.1 [Amended]
2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of Federal
Aviation Administration Order 7400.9F, Airspace Designations and
Reporting Points, dated September 10, 1998, and effective September 16,
1998, is amended as follows:
Paragraph 6002 Class E airspace designated as surface areas
* * * * *
AAL AK E2 Aniak, AK [New]
Aniak Airport
(Lat. 61 deg.34'54'' N., long. 159 deg.32'35'' W.)
Aniak NDB
(Lat. 61 deg.35'25'' N., long. 159 deg.35'53'' W.)
Within a 4-mile radius of the Aniak Airport and within 1.5 miles
each side of the 300 deg. bearing and the 112 deg. bearing from the
Aniak NDB, extending from the 4-mile radius to 6.5 miles and within
2.8 miles each side of the Aniak NDB 229 deg. bearing, extending
from the 4-mile radius to 6.5 miles southwest of the airport. This
Class E 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
Airport/Facility Directory.
* * * * *
AAL E2 St. Mary's, AK [New]
St. Mary's Airport, AK
(Lat. 62 deg.03'38'' N., long. 163 deg.18'08'' W.)
St. Mary's NDB
(Lat. 62 deg.03'30'' N., long. 163 deg.17'30'' W.)
Within a 4.1-mile radius of the St. Mary's Airport and within
1.5 miles west of the 339 deg. bearing and 1.5 miles east of the
001 deg. bearing from the St. Mary's NDB, extending from the 4.1
mile radius to 6.7 miles north of the airport and within 1.5 miles
west of the 197 deg. bearing and 1.5 miles east of the 185 deg.
bearing from the St. Mary's NDB, extending from the 4.1-mile radius
to 6.7 miles south of the airport. This Class E 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 Airport/Facility Directory.
* * * * *
Issued in Anchorage, AK, on September 28, 1999.
Willis C. Nelson,
Manager, Air Traffic Division, Alaskan Region.
[FR Doc. 99-25847 Filed 10-4-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
