2023-10184. Modification of Class E Airspace; Ralph M. Calhoun Memorial Airport, Tanana, AK

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION:

Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

SUMMARY:

This action proposes to modify the Class E airspace designated as a surface area and modify the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Ralph M. Calhoun Memorial Airport, Tanana, AK. Additionally, this action proposes several administrative amendments to update the airport's existing Class E airspace legal descriptions. These actions would support the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

DATES:

Comments must be received on or before June 26, 2023.

ADDRESSES:

Send comments identified by FAA Docket No. FAA–2022–1471 and Airspace Docket No. 22–AAL–63 using any of the following methods:

* Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov and follow the online instructions 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 (202) 493–2251.

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 the 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 7400.11G, 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:

Nathan A. Chaffman, Federal Aviation Administration, Western Service Center, Operations Support Group, 2200 South 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; 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 the 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 modify Class E airspace to support IFR operations at Ralph M. Calhoun Memorial Airport, AK.

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 receives 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 posts 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–14 FDMS), 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 Operations office (see ADDRESSES section for address, phone number, and hours of operations). An informal docket may also be examined during normal business hours at the Northwest Mountain Regional Office of the Federal Aviation Administration, Air Traffic Organization, Western Service Center, Operations Support Group, 2200 South 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198.

Incorporation by Reference

Class E2 and E5 airspace designations are published in paragraphs 6002 and 6005, respectively, 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 7400.11G, dated August 19, 2022 and effective September 15, 2022. These updates would be published 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 7400.11G 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 that would modify the Class E airspace designated as a surface area and modify the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Ralph M. Calhoun Memorial Airport, AK.

The Class E surface area airspace at the airport should be increased from a 3.9-mile radius around the airport to a 5.1-mile radius to fully contain IFR arrival operations between the surface and 1,000 feet above the surface when executing the Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) Runway (RWY) 7 approach, or the Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) RWY 7 approach. Additionally, the two existing westward extensions to the Class E surface area at the airport should be removed, as they are no longer needed for containing IFR operations. Finally, the Class E surface area should be extended 1.4 miles to the southwest to fully contain aircraft departing on the RWY 25 obstacle departure procedure (ODP) between the surface and the base of adjacent controlled airspace.

The Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at the airport should also be modified. The existing Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface contains a procedure box area to the east that can be removed, as it is no longer needed. Furthermore, the airspace radius should be increased by 0.2 miles to more appropriately accommodate arriving IFR operations below 1,500 feet above the surface when executing the VOR/DME RWY 7 or RNAV (GPS) RWY 7 approaches. Lastly, the existing Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface should be extended to 10.5 miles east of the airport to fully contain departing IFR operations until they reach 1,200 feet above the surface while conducting the RWY 25 ODP.

The FAA proposes administrative modifications to the airport's legal descriptions. The geographic coordinates located on line three of the text header of both the Class E surface area and Class E airspace extending from 700 feet above the surface at the airport should be updated to match the FAA's database. The Bear Creek Non-directional Beacon was decommissioned on December 2, 2021, and reference to it should be removed from both of the airport's legal descriptions. Finally, reference to the Tanana VOR/DME navigational aid should be removed from both legal descriptions as it is no longer needed.

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 7400.11G, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 19, 2022, and effective September 15, 2022, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6002 Class E Airspace Areas Designated as a Surface Area.

* * * * *

AAL AK E2 Tanana, AK [Amended]

Ralph M. Calhoun Memorial Airport, AK

(Lat. 65°10′28″ N, long. 152°06′29″ W)

That airspace within a 5.1-mile radius of the airport, and within 3.6 miles each side of the airport's 214° bearing extending from the 5.1-mile radius to 6.5 miles southwest of the airport. This Class E airspace area is effective during the specific dates and times established in advance by a Notice to Air Missions. The effective date and time will thereafter be continuously published in the Chart Supplement.

* * * * *

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

* * * * *

AAL AK E5 Tanana, AK [Amended]

Ralph M. Calhoun Memorial Airport, AK

(Lat. 65°10′28″ N, long. 152°06′29″ W)

That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface within a 6.6-mile radius of the airport, and within 1.9 miles each side of the airport's 082° bearing extending from the 6.6-mile radius to 10.5 miles east of the airport; that airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface within a 73-mile radius of the airport.

* * * * *

Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on May 9, 2023.

B.G. Chew,

Group Manager, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center.