[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 217 (Monday, November 10, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 60463-60464]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-29579]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 73
[Airspace Docket No. 96-ASW-40]
RIN 2120-AA66
Proposed Amendments to Restricted Areas 5601D and 5601E; Fort
Sill, OK
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.
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SUMMARY: This notice proposes to raise the upper limit of Restricted
Area 5601D (R-5601D) from the current 16,500 feet mean sea level (MSL)
to flight level (FL) 400. Additionally, this notice proposes to amend
the times of designation for R-5601D and R-5601E by expanding the time
frame during which these areas may be activated without a prior
issuance of a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM). The FAA is proposing these
changes to accomodate high altitude/high angle bomb delivery training
and to support weekday and night flying requirements.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 26, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Send comments on the proposal in triplicate to: Manager, Air
Traffic Division, ASW-500, Docket No. 96-ASW-40, Federal Aviation
Administration, 2601 Meacham Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX 76193-0500.
The official docket may be examined in the Rules Docket, Office of
the Chief Counsel, Room 916, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington,
DC, weekdays, except Federal holidays, between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
An informal docket may also be examined during normal business
hours at the Office of the Regional Air Traffic Division, 2601 Meacham
Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX 76193-0500.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Brown, Airspace and Rules
Division, ATA-400, Office of Air Traffic Airspace Management, Federal
Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC
20591; telephone: (202) 267-8783.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
Interested parties are invited to participate in this proposed
rulemaking by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as they
may desire. Comments that provide the factual basis supporting the
views and suggestions presented are particularly helpful in developing
reasoned regulatory decisions on the proposal. Comments are
specifically invited on the overall regulatory, aeronautical, economic,
environmental, and energy-related aspects of the proposal.
Communications should identify the airspace docket number and be
submitted in triplicate to the address listed above. Commenters wishing
the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments on this notice must
submit with those comments a self-addressed, stamped postcard on which
the following statement is made: ``Comments to Airspace Docket No. 96-
ASW-40.'' The postcard will be date/time stamped and returned to the
commenter. Send comments on environmental and land use aspects to:
Commander, USAFACFS, ATTN:
[[Page 60464]]
ATZR-B (Mr. Barnett), Fort Sill, OK 73503-5100, Telephone (405) 442-
2715.
All communications received on or before the specified closing date
for comments will be considered before taking action on the proposed
rule. The proposal contained in this notice may be changed in light of
comments received. All comments submitted will be available for
examination in the Rules Docket both before and after the closing date
for comments. A report summarizing each substantive public contact with
FAA personnel concerned with this rulemaking will be filed in the
docket.
Availability of NPRM's
Any person may obtain a copy of this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
(NPRM) by submitting a request to the Federal Aviation Administration,
Office of Public Affairs, Attention: Public Inquiry Center, APA-200;
800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591, or by calling (202)
267-3485. Communications must identify the notice number of this NPRM.
Persons interested in being placed on a mailing list for future NPRM's
should also request a copy of Advisory Circular No. 11-2A, which
describes the application procedure.
The Proposal
The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 73 to raise the
upper limit of R-5601D from the current 16,500 feet MSL to FL 400. The
horizontal boundaries of the restricted area would not be changed by
this proposal. The United States Air Force (USAF) requested this change
to R-5601D in order to contain high-altitude jet aircraft bombing
patterns into the Falcon Range target area located in R-5601C.
Although R-5601C airspace extends to FL 400, there is not enough
maneuvering airspace to allow jet aircraft to climb to the required
delivery altitudes before final approach into the target area. Raising
the upper limit of R-5601D to FL 400 would alleviate this airspace
problem and allow for quality high altitude/high angle bomb delivery
training, a USAF pilot requirement for ``mission ready'' status.
Additionally, this notice proposes to expand the times of
designation for R-5601D and R-5601E from the current ``Sunrise to
sunset, Tuesday through Saturday; other times by NOTAM'' to ``Sunrise
to 2200, Monday-Friday; other times by NOTAM.'' This proposed expansion
in the times of designation is necessary to accommodate a change in
flying requirements by both the 301st Fighter Wing, Carswell Field, TX,
and the 88th Training Wing at Sheppard AFB, TX. Although there will
still be occasional weekend flying, most activity will occur during
weekdays. The extension of flying times beyond sunset is necessary due
to a new USAF training requirement to fly sorties at night.
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 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 subjected to an environmental analysis by the
proponent and the FAA prior to any FAA final regulatory action.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 73
Airspace, Navigation (air).
The Proposed Amendment
In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation
Administration proposes to amend 14 CFR part 73 as follows:
PART 73--SPECIAL USE AIRSPACE
1. The authority citation for part 73 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. 73.56 [Amended]
2. Sec. 73.56 is amended as follows:
* * * * *
R-5601D Fort Sill, OK [Amended]
By removing the current ``Designated altitudes. 500 feet AGL to
16,500 feet MSL'' and substituting ``Designated altitudes. 500 feet AGL
to FL 400'' and also by removing ``Time of designation. Sunrise to
sunset, Tuesday through Saturday; other times by NOTAM'' and
substituting ``Time of designation. Sunrise to 2200, Monday through
Friday; other times by NOTAM.''
R-5601E Fort Sill, OK [Amended]
By removing the current ``Time of designation. Sunrise to sunset,
Tuesday through Saturday; other times by NOTAM'' and substituting
``Time of designation. Sunrise to 2200, Monday through Friday; other
times by NOTAM.''
* * * * *
Issued in Washington, DC, on October 29, 1997.
Reginald C. Matthews,
Acting Program Director for Air Traffic Airspace Management.
[FR Doc. 97-29579 Filed 11-7-97; 8:45 am]
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