2024-09239. Amendment of Class E Airspace; Llano and Mason, TX

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION:

Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

SUMMARY:

This action proposes to amend the Class E airspace at Llano, TX, and Mason, TX. The FAA is proposing this action as the result of an airspace review conducted due to the decommissioning of the Llano very high frequency omnidirectional range (VOR) as part of the VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) Program. The geographic coordinates of the Llano Municipal Airport, Llano, TX, would also be updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database. This action will bring the airspace into compliance with FAA orders and support instrument flight rule (IFR) procedures and operations.

DATES:

Comments must be received on or before June 17, 2024.

ADDRESSES:

Send comments identified by FAA Docket No. FAA-2024-1123 and Airspace Docket No. 24-ASW-10 using any of the following methods:

*  Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov and follow the online instruction for sending your comments electronically.

*  Mail: Send comments to Docket Operations, M-30; U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Room W12-140, West Building Ground Floor, Washington, DC 20590-0001.

*  Hand Delivery or Courier: Take comments to Docket Operations in Room W12-140 of the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

*  Fax: Fax comments to Docket Operations at [phone].

Docket: Background documents or comments received may be read at www.regulations.gov at any time. Follow the online instructions for accessing the docket or go to Docket Operations in Room W12-140 of the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

FAA Order JO 7400.11H, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, and subsequent amendments can be viewed online at www.faa.gov/​air_​traffic/​publications/​. You may also contact the Rules and Regulations Group, Office of Policy, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW, Washington DC 20591; telephone: [phone].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jeffrey Claypool, Federal Aviation Administration, Operations Support Group, Central Service Center, 10101 Hillwood Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Authority for This Rulemaking

The FAA's authority to issue rules regarding aviation safety is found in Title 49 of the United States Code. Subtitle I, 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 would amend the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Llano Municipal Airport, Llano, TX, and Mason County Airport, Mason, TX, to support IFR operations at these airports.

Comments Invited

The FAA invites interested persons to participate in this rulemaking by submitting written comments, data, or views. Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory, aeronautical, economic, environmental, and energy-related aspects of the proposal. The most helpful comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. To ensure the docket does not contain duplicate comments, commenters should submit only one time if comments are filed electronically, or commenters should send only one copy of written comments if comments are filed in writing.

The FAA will file in the docket all comments it receives, as well as a report summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA personnel concerning this proposed rulemaking. Before acting on this proposal, the FAA will consider all comments it received on or before the closing date for comments. The FAA will consider comments filed after the comment period has closed if it is possible to do so without incurring expense or delay. The FAA may change this proposal in light of the comments it receives.

Privacy: In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits comments from the public to better inform its rulemaking process. DOT post these comments, without edit, including any personal information the commenter provides, to www.regulations.gov as described in the system of records notice (DOT/ALL-14FDMS), which can be reviewed at www.dot.gov/​privacy.

Availability of Rulemaking Documents

An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded through the internet at www.regulations.gov. Recently published rulemaking documents can also be accessed through the FAA's web page at www.faa.gov/​air_​traffic/​publications/​airspace_​amendments/​.

You may review the public docket containing the proposal, any comments received, and any final disposition in person in the Dockets Office (see the ADDRESSES section for the address, phone number, and hours of operations). An informal docket may also be examined during normal business hours at the Federal Aviation Administration, Air Traffic Organization, Central Service Center, Operations Support Group, 10101 Hillwood Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177.

Incorporation by Reference

Class E airspace is published in paragraph 6005 of FAA Order JO 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 on an annual basis. This document proposes to amend the current version of that order, FAA Order JO 7400.11H, dated August 11, 2023, and effective September 15, 2023. These updates would be published subsequently in the next update to FAA Order JO 7400.11. That order is publicly available as listed in the ADDRESSES section of this document.

FAA Order JO 7400.11H lists Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and reporting points.

The Proposal

The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 by:

Modifying the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface to within a 7.2-mile (increased from a 6.5-mile) radius of Llano Municipal Airport, Llano, TX; adding an extension within 2 miles each side of the 179° bearing from the airport extending from the 7.2-mile radius to 12.3 miles south of the airport; modifying the extension within 4 miles each side of the 359° bearing from the airport extending from the 7.2-mile (previously 6.5-mile) radius of the airport to 8.7 (previously 13.5) miles north of the airport; and updating the geographic coordinates of the airport to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database;

And modifying the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface to within a 7.7-mile (increased from a 6.4-mile) radius of the Mason County Airport, Mason, TX; modifying the extension within 2 miles each side of the 001° bearing from the airport extending from the 7.7-mile (previously 6.4-mile) radius to 11.8 miles north of the airport; and adding an extension within 2 miles each side of the 181° bearing from the airport extending from the 7.7-mile radius to 10.8 miles south of the airport.

This action is the result of an airspace review conducted due to the decommissioning of the Llano VOR as part of the VOR MON Program and supports IFR operations at these airports.

Regulatory Notices and Analyses

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 proposed 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 subject to an environmental analysis in accordance with FAA Order 1050.1F, “Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures” prior to any FAA final regulatory action.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71

• Airspace
• Incorporation by reference
• Navigation (air)

The Proposed Amendment

In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend 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(f), 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 71.1 of FAA Order JO 7400.11H, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 11, 2023, and effective September 15, 2023, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6005 Class E Airspace Areas Extending Upward From 700 Feet or More Above the Surface of the Earth.

* * * * *

ASW TX E5 Llano, TX [Amended]

Llano Municipal Airport, TX

(Lat 30°47′03″ N, long 98°39′36″ W)

That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface within a 7.2-mile radius of Llano Municipal Airport; and within 2 miles each side of the 179° bearing from the airport extending from the 7.2-mile radius to 12.3 miles south of the airport; and within 4 miles each side of the 359° bearing from the airport extending from the 7.2-mile radius to 8.7 miles north of the airport.

* * * * *

ASW TX E5 Mason, TX [Amended]

Mason County Airport, TX

(Lat 30°43′56″ N, long 99°11′02″ W)

That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface within a 7.7-mile radius of Mason County Airport; and within 2 miles each side of the 001° bearing from the airport extending from the 7.7-mile radius to 11.8 miles north of the airport; and within 2 miles each side of the 181° bearing from the airport extending from the 7.7-mile radius to 10.8 miles south of the airport.

* * * * *

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on April 25, 2024.

Steven T. Phillips,

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