2018-09106. Proposed Amendment of Class D and Class E Airspace, and Revocation of Class E Airspace; Juneau, AK

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION:

Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

SUMMARY:

This action proposes to amend Class D airspace, Class E surface area airspace, Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface, and remove Class E airspace designated as an extension at Juneau International Airport, Juneau, AK. Airspace redesign is necessary as the FAA transitions from ground-based to satellite-based navigation for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the airport. This proposal would also update the airport's geographic coordinates to match the FAA's aeronautical database for the associated Class D and E airspace areas, and would make an editorial change to the Class D airspace legal description replacing Airport/Facility Directory with the term Chart Supplement.

DATES:

Comments must be received on or before June 18, 2018.

ADDRESSES:

Send comments on this proposal to the U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590; telephone: [phone], or [phone]. You must identify FAA Docket No. FAA-2018-0125; Airspace Docket No. 18-AAL-5, at the beginning of your comments. You may also submit comments through the internet at http://www.regulations.gov.

FAA Order 7400.11B, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, and subsequent amendments can be viewed online at http://www.faa.gov/​air_​traffic/​publications/​. For further information, you can contact the Airspace Policy Group, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; telephone: [phone]. The Order is also available for inspection at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of FAA Order 7400.11B at NARA, call [phone], or go to https://www.archives.gov/​federal-register/​cfr/​ibr-locations.html.

FAA Order 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, is published yearly and effective on September 15.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Tom Clark, Federal Aviation Administration, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center, 2200 S 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198-6547; 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 Class D and Class E airspace at Juneau International Airport, Juneau, AK, in support of IFR operations at the airport.

Comments Invited

Interested parties are invited to participate in this proposed rulemaking by submitting such written data, views, or arguments, as they may desire. Comments that provide the factual basis supporting the views and suggestions presented are particularly helpful in developing reasoned regulatory decisions on the proposal. Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory, aeronautical, economic, environmental, and energy-related aspects of the proposal.

Communications should identify both docket numbers (Docket No. FAA-2018-0125; Airspace Docket No. 18-AAL-5) and be submitted in triplicate to DOT Docket Operations (see ADDRESSES section for address and phone number). Persons wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments on this notice must submit with those comments a self-addressed, stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: “Comments to Docket No. FAA-2018-0125; Airspace Docket No. 18-AAL-5.” The postcard will be date/time stamped and returned to the commenter.

All communications received on or before the specified closing date for comments will be considered before taking action on the proposed rule. The proposal contained in this notice may be changed in light of the comments received. A report summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA personnel concerned with this rulemaking will be filed in the docket.

Availability of NPRMs

An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded through the internet at http://www.regulations.gov. Recently published rulemaking documents can also be accessed through the FAA's web page at http://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 and phone number) between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except federal holidays. An informal docket may also be examined between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except federal holidays, at the Northwest Mountain Regional Office of the Federal Aviation Administration, Air Traffic Organization, Western Service Center, Operations Support Group, 2200 S 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198-6547.

Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference

This document proposes to amend FAA Order 7400.11B, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 3, 2017, and effective September 15, 2017. FAA Order 7400.11B is publicly available as listed in the ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order 7400.11B 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 Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 by enlarging Class D airspace and Class E surface area airspace, removing Class E airspace designated as an extension, and reducing Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Juneau International Airport, Juneau, AK. Also, the airport geographic coordinates for the associated Class D and E airspace areas would be updated to match the FAA's aeronautical database.

Class D airspace would be modified to within a 3-mile radius of Juneau International Airport and within 2.5 miles each side of the 271° bearing from the airport extending from the 3-mile radius to 5.2 miles west of the airport, and within 1.0 mile southwest and 2.6 miles northeast of the airport 135° bearing extending from the airport 3-mile radius to 5 miles southeast of the airport, excluding that airspace below 2,000 feet MSL within the area bounded by a line beginning at lat. 58°19′35″ N, long. 134°24′31″ W, to lat. 58°19′02″ N, long. 134°25′33″ W, to lat. 58°20′16″ N, long. 134°27′28″ W, to lat. 58°20′34″ N, long. 134°26′22″ W, thence to the point of beginning. The extended areas to the west and southeast of the airport would contain IFR departures and arrivals. A small area within the extended area to the southeast near Salmon Creek would be excluded from Class D airspace below 2,000 feet MSL to ensure 2-way radio communication with the Juneau Airport Traffic Control Tower is possible prior to entering Class D airspace from that area.

Class E surface area airspace would be modified to be coincident with the Class D airspace area described above.

Class E airspace designated as an extension would be removed since the proposed Class D airspace would contain arrival aircraft within 1,000 feet of the surface, and a Class E arrival extension would not be required.

Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface would be modified to a polygon approximately 12-18 miles wide by 42-miles long (from approximately 48 miles wide by 70 miles long) oriented northwest to southeast (from west to east). The area would be defined as that airspace upward from 700 feet above the surface within the area bounded by a line beginning at lat. 58°27′33″ N, long. 134°37′40″ W, to lat. 58°13′13″ N, long. 134°11′51″ W, to lat. 58°05′59″ N, long. 134°21′04″ W, to lat. 58°10′51″ N, long. 134°59′18″ W, to lat. 58°23′41″ N, long. 135°31′13″ W, to lat. 58°32′22″ N, long. 135°18′32″ W, to lat. 58°27′17″ N, long. 135°01′27″ W, thence to the point of beginning. This modification would reduce the airspace area to only that area necessary to contain IFR operations as they transition between the airport and en route environments. Also, Class E airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface designated for Juneau International Airport would be removed since this airspace is wholly contained within the Southeast Alaska Class E en route airspace, and duplication is not necessary.

This proposal would also make an editorial change to the Class D airspace legal description replacing Airport/Facility Directory with the term Chart Supplement.

A graphic illustration of the proposed airspace will be entered into Docket No. FAA-2018-0125, and be available for download under the “Supporting/Related Materials” section.

Class E airspace designations are published in paragraph 5000, 6002, 6004, and 6005, respectively, of FAA Order 7400.11B, dated August 3, 2017 and effective September 15, 2017, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Class D and Class E airspace designation listed in this document will be published subsequently in the Order.

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, is non-controversial and unlikely to result in adverse or negative comments. 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, would 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

Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me, 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 7400.11B, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 3, 2017, and effective September 15, 2017, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 5000 Class D Airspace.

* * * * *

AAL AK D Juneau, AK [Amended]

Juneau International Airport, AK

(Lat. 58°21′17″ N, long. 134°34′42″ W)

That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including 2,500 feet MSL within a 3-mile radius of Juneau International Airport, and within 2.5 miles each side of the 271° bearing from the airport extending from the 3-mile radius to 5.2 miles west of the airport, and within 1.0 mile southwest and 2.6 miles northeast of the airport 135° bearing extending from the airport 3-mile radius to 5 miles southeast of the airport, excluding that airspace below 2,000 feet MSL within the area bounded by a line beginning at lat. 58°19′35″ N, long. 134°24′31″ W, to lat. 58°19′02″ N, long. 134°25′33″ W, to lat. 58°20′16″ N, long. 134°27′28″ W, to lat. 58°20′34″ N, long. 134°26′22″ W, thence to the point of beginning. This Class D 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 Chart Supplement.

Paragraph 6002 Class E Airspace Areas Designated as Surface Areas.

* * * * *

AAL AK E2 Juneau, AK [Amended]

Juneau International Airport, AK

(Lat. 58°21′17″ N, long. 134°34′42″ W)

That airspace extending upward from the surface within a 3-mile radius of Juneau International Airport, and within 2.5 miles each side of the 271° bearing from the airport extending from the 3-mile radius to 5.2 miles west of the airport, and within 1.0 mile southwest and 2.6 miles northeast of the airport 135° bearing extending from the airport 3-mile radius to 5 miles southeast of the airport, excluding that airspace below 2,000 feet MSL within the area bounded by a line beginning at lat. 58°19′35″ N, long. 134°24′31″ W, to lat. 58°19′02″ N, long. 134°25′33″ W, to lat. 58°20′16″ N, long. 134°27′28″ W, to lat. 58°20′34″ N, long. 134°26′22″ W, thence to the point of beginning. 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 Chart Supplement.

Paragraph 6004 Class E Airspace Designated as an Extension to a Class D or Class E Surface Area.

* * * * *

AAL AK E4 Juneau, AK [Removed]

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

* * * * *

AAL AK E5 Juneau, AK [Amended]

Juneau International Airport, AK

(Lat. 58°21′17″ N, long. 134°34′42″ W)

That airspace upward from 700 feet above the surface within the area bounded by a line beginning at lat. 58°27′33″ N, long. 134°37′40″ W, to lat. 58°13′13″ N, long. 134°11′51″ W, to lat. 58°05′59″ N, long. 134°21′04″ W, to lat. 58°10′51″ N, long. 134°59′18″ W, to lat. 58°23′41″ N, long. 135°31′13″ W, to lat. 58°32′22″ N, long. 135°18′32″ W, to lat. 58°27′17″ N, long. 135°01′27″ W, thence to the point of beginning.

Issued in Seattle, Washington, on April 23, 2018.

B.G. Chew,

Acting Group Manager, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center.