2012-3149. Revision of Class D and Class E Airspace; Hawthorne, CA

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

This action revises Class D and Class E airspace at Jack Northrop Field/Hawthorne Municipal Airport, Hawthorne, CA. Additional controlled airspace is needed to accommodate aircraft departing and arriving under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) at the airport. Also, the airspace designations are revised to show a new city location. This action is a result of the FAA's biennial review, along with a study of the Jack Northrop Field/Hawthorne Municipal Airport airspace area that further enhances the safety and management of aircraft operations at the airport.

DATES:

Effective date, 0901 UTC, May 31, 2012. 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:

Richard Roberts, Federal Aviation Administration, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057; telephone [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

History

On October 31, 2011, the FAA published in the Federal Register a notice of proposed rulemaking to amend controlled airspace at Hawthorne, CA (76 FR 67103). Interested parties were invited to participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting written comments on the proposal to the FAA. No comments were received.

Class D airspace and Class E airspace designations are published in paragraph 5000 and 6004, respectively, of FAA Order 7400.9V dated August 9, 2011, and effective September 15, 2011, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR Part 71.1. The Class D airspace and Class E airspace designations listed in this document will be published subsequently in that Order.

The Rule

This action amends Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) Part 71 by revising Class D airspace and Class E surface airspace designated as an extension to Class D surface area at Jack Northrop Field/Hawthorne Municipal Airport, Hawthorne, CA, creating additional airspace necessary for IFR departures and arrivals at the airport. This action, initiated by FAA's biennial review of the Jack Northrop Field/Hawthorne Municipal Airport airspace area, and based on results of a study conducted by the Los Angeles Visual Flight Rules (VFR) Task Force, and the Los Angeles Class B Workgroup, enhances the safety and management of aircraft operations at the airport. This action also revises the airspace designation for Class D and Class E airspace, changing the city location from Los Angeles, CA, to Hawthorne, CA.

The FAA has determined 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 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 discusses 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 revises controlled airspace at Jack Northrop Field/Hawthorne Municipal Airport, Hawthorne, CA.

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 7400.9V, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 9, 2011, and effective September 15, 2011 is amended as follows:

Paragraph 5000 Class D airspace.

* * * * *

AWP CA D Hawthorne, CA [Revised]

Jack Northrop Field/Hawthorne Municipal Airport, CA

(Lat. 33°55′22″ N., long. 118°20′07″ W.)

That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including 2,500 feet MSL within 2.6-mile radius of the Jack Northrop Field/Hawthorne Municipal Airport, and that airspace 1.5 miles north and 2 miles south of the 229° bearing from the airport extending from the 2.6-mile radius to 3.8 miles southwest, and that airspace 2 miles north and 1.5 miles south of the 096° bearing from the airport extending from the 2.6-mile radius to 3.9 miles east of the airport, excluding the Los Angeles Airport Class D airspace. This Class D airspace 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.

Paragraph 6004 Class E airspace areas designated as an extension to Class D or Class E surface area.

* * * * *

AWP CA E4 Hawthorne, CA [Revised]

Jack Northrop Field/Hawthorne Municipal Airport, CA

(Lat. 33°55′22″ N., long. 118°20′07″ W.)

That airspace extending upward from the surface within 2 miles north and 1.5 miles south of the 096° bearing from Jack Northrop Field/Hawthorne Municipal Airport, beginning 3.9 miles east of the airport extending to 6.3 miles east 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 Seattle, Washington, on February 1, 2012.

Johanna Forkner,

Acting Manager, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center.