[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 51 (Tuesday, March 17, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 12991]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-6820]
[[Page 12991]]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Airspace Docket No. 97-AAL-11]
Revocation of Class E Airspace; Wrangell, AK, and Petersburg, AK
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This action revokes the Class E surface area airspace at
Wrangell, AK, and Peterburg, AK. Plans to develop Required Navigation
Performance (RNP) instrument approach procedures at these airports have
been canceled or delayed indefinitely. Consequently, the surface areas
at Wrangell Airport and Petersburg James A Johnson Airport are not
longer necessary for air traffic operations. This action will result in
the affected airspace reverting to Class G.
EFFECTIVE DATE: 0901 Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), April 16, 1998.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Robert van Haastert, Operations Branch, AAL-538, Federal Aviation
Administration, 222 West 7th Avenue, Box 14, Anchorage, AK 99513-7587;
telephone number: (907) 271-5863; email:
Robert.van.Haastert@faa.dot.gov; Internet: http://www.alaska.faa.gov/at
or at http://www.mmac.jccbi.gov/aal/at or at http://162.58.28.41/at.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
In May 1996, rulemaking actions were initiated to create surface
area airspace at the Wrangell Airport and the Petersburg James A
Johnson Airport to support new RNP instrument approach procedures.
Alaska Airlines planned to develop RNP approaches to runways 27 and 9
at Wrangell Airport, and for runways 4 and 22 at Petersburg James A
Johnson Airport. These new RNP approaches were to be designed with
minimums below 700 feet Above Ground Level (AGL). The establishment of
surface areas at both airports were requested and the Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) was published June 24, 1996 (61 FR 32372).
No comments to the NPRM were received and the final rule was published
October 16, 1996 (61 FR 53844), establishing new surface areas for
Wrangell Airport and Petersburg James A Johnson Airport. After the
Juneau Sectional Aeronautical Chart, 37th edition, was published on
April 24, 1997, the FAA received one Congressional Inquiry and
additional letters of concern and objections to the surface areas at
both airports. Letters have been received from Sunrise Aviation INC.,
Nordic Air, Temsco Helicopters INC., Pacific Wing INC., Taquan Air, and
Hawkair Aviation Services LTD objecting to the establishment of these
surface areas without an apparent purpose and usage. Alaska Airlines
has informed the FAA that their RNP instrument approach development for
Wrangell Airport and Petersburg James A Johnson Airport has been
delayed and that development of new RNP approaches is not scheduled in
the immediate future.
On December 3, 1997, a proposal to amend part 71 of the Federal
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 71) to revise the Class E airspace at
Wrangell, AK, and Petersburg, AK, was published in the Federal Register
(62 FR 63917). Interested parties were invited to participate in this
rulemaking proceeding by submitting written comments on the proposal to
the FAA. No negative comments to the proposal were received. Letters
confirming their support for this proposal were received from Sunrise
Aviation INC., Nordic Air, Temsco Helicopters INC., Pacific Wing INC.,
Taquan Air, and Hawkair Aviation Services LTD. Thus, the rule is
adopted as written.
The Rule
This amendment to part 71 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14
CFR part 71) revokes the Class E airspace at Wrangell, AK, and
Petersburg, AK. The coordinates for this airspace docket are based on
North American Datum 83. The Class E airspace areas designated as
surface areas for an airport are published in paragraph 6002 of FAA
Order 7400.9E, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated
September 10, 1997, and effective September 16, 1997, which is
incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Class E airspace
designations listed in this document would be removed subsequently from
the Order.
The FAA has determined that this proposed 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.
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 7400.9E, Airspace Designations and
Reporting Points, dated September 10, 1997, and effective September 16,
1997, is amended as follows:
Paragraph 6002 The Class E airspace areas listed below are
designated as a surface area for an airport.
* * * * *
AAL AK E2 Petersburg, AK [Removed]
* * * * *
AAL AK E2 Wrangell, AK [Removed]
* * * * *
Issued in Anchorage, AK, on March 9, 1998.
Willis C. Nelson,
Manager, Air Traffic Division, Alaskan Region.
[FR Doc. 98-6820 Filed 3-16-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M
