E9-30283. Amendment of Class E Airspace; Altus, OK

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

This action amends Class E airspace for the Altus, OK area. Additional controlled airspace is necessary to accommodate Area Navigation (RNAV) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) at Altus/Quartz Mountain Regional Airport, Altus, OK. This action also updates the geographic coordinates of the Altus AFB Rwy 17 ILS Localizer. The FAA is taking this action to enhance the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) operations at the airport.

DATES:

Effective 0901 UTC, April 8, 2010. 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 7400.9 and publication of conforming amendments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Scott Enander, Central Service Center, Operations Support Group, Federal Aviation Administration, Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76137; telephone [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

History

On September 10, 2009, the FAA published in the Federal Register a notice of proposed rulemaking to amend Class E airspace for the Altus, OK area, reconfiguring controlled airspace at Altus/Quartz Mountain Regional Airport, Altus, OK. (74 FR 46513, Docket No. FAA-2009-0540). Interested parties were invited to participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting written comments on the proposal to the FAA. No comments were received. Subsequent to publication the National Aeronautical Charting Office notified the FAA that the geographic coordinates of the Altus AFB Rwy 17 ILS Localizer had changed. With the exception of the changes described above, this rule is the same as that proposed in the NPRM. Class E airspace designations are published in paragraph 6005 of FAA Order 7400.9T signed August 27, 2009, and effective September 15, 2009, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Class E airspace designations listed in this document will be published subsequently in the Order.

The Rule

This action amends Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) Part 71 by amending Class E airspace for the Altus, OK area, adding additional controlled airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface to accommodate SIAPs at Altus/Quartz Mountain Regional Airport, Altus, OK. This action also updates the geographic coordinates of the Altus AFB Rwy 17 ILS Localizer to coincide with the National Aeronautical Charting Office. This action is necessary for the safety and management of IFR operations.

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. Therefore, this regulation: (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.

The FAA's authority to issue rules regarding aviation safety is found in Title 49 of the U.S. Code. Subtitle 1, 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 controlled airspace at Altus/Quartz Mountain Regional Airport, Altus, OK.

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(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 Part 71.1 of the Federal Aviation Administration Order 7400.9T, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, signed August 27, 2009, and effective September 15, 2009:

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Paragraph 6005 Class E airspace areas extending upward from 700 feet or more above the surface.

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ASW OK E5 Altus, OK [Amended]

Altus AFB, OK

(Lat. 34°39′59″ N., long. 99°16′05″ W.)

Altus VORTAC

(Lat. 34°39′46″ N., long. 99°16′16″ W.)

Altus/Quartz Mountain Regional Airport, OK

(Lat. 34°41′56″ N., long. 99°20′19″ W.)

Tipton Municipal Airport, OK

(Lat. 34°27′31″ N., long. 99°10′17″ W.)

Frederick Municipal Airport, OK

(Lat. 34°21′08″ N., long. 98°59′02″ W.)

Altus AFB ILS Runway 17R Localizer

(Lat. 34°41′15″ N., long. 99°16′26″ W.)

That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface within a 9.1-mile radius of Altus AFB and within 1.6 miles each side of the 185° radial of the Altus VORTAC extending from the 9.1-mile radius to 11.9 miles south of Altus AFB and within 3 miles west and 2 miles east of the Altus AFB ILS Runway 17R Localizer north course extending from the 9.1-mile radius to 15 miles north of Altus AFB; and within a 6.5-mile radius of Altus/Quartz Mountain Regional Airport; and within 2 miles each side of the 000° bearing from Altus/Quartz Mountain Regional Airport extending from the 6.5-mile radius to 11.4 miles north of Altus/Quartz Mountain Regional Airport; and within a 5.4-mile radius of Tipton Municipal Airport; and within a 7.2-mile radius of Frederick Municipal Airport; and within 2.5 miles each side of the 180° bearing from the Frederick Municipal Airport extending from the 7.2-mile radius to 7.7 miles south of Frederick Municipal Airport; and within a 12-mile radius of Altus AFB beginning at a point 3 miles west of the Altus VORTAC 019° radial, thence clockwise along the 12-mile radius of Altus AFB, ending at a point 3 miles west of the Altus VORTAC 185° radial.

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Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on December 4, 2009.

Roger M. Trevino,

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