2018-11861. Amendment of Class D Airspace and Establishment of Class E Airspace; Norman, OK; and Amendment of Class E Airspace; Oklahoma City, OK

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

This action amends Class D airspace and establishes Class E airspace designated as a surface area at University of Oklahoma Westheimer Airport, Norman, OK. The University of Oklahoma Westheimer Airport requested establishment of this airspace. This action also amends Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at the University of Oklahoma Westheimer Airport contained within the Oklahoma City, OK, airspace legal description, by removing the Oklahoma Westheimer Airport ILS localizer and realigning the southwest segment. Additionally, the name of the University of Oklahoma Westheimer Airport is being updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database in the Class D airspace legal description. This action is necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at this airport.

DATES:

Effective 0901 UTC, September 13, 2018. The Director of the Federal Register approves this incorporation by reference action under Title 1, Code of Federal Regulations, part 51, subject to the annual revision of FAA Order 7400.11 and publication of conforming amendments.

ADDRESSES:

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:

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 amends Class D airspace, establishes Class E airspace designated as a surface area, and amends Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at the University of Oklahoma Westheimer Airport, Norman, OK, to support IFR operations at this airport.

History

The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal Register (82 FR 44981; September 27, 2017) for Docket No. FAA-2017-0825 to amend Class D airspace, establish Class E airspace designated as a surface area, and amend Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at the University of Oklahoma Westheimer Airport, Norman, OK, to support IFR operations at the airport. Interested parties were invited to participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting written comments on the proposal to the FAA. No comments were received.

Subsequent to publication, the FAA discovered a typographic error in the regulatory text for Class E airspace designated as a surface area. The Notice to Airmen information incorrectly references Class D airspace instead of Class E airspace.

Additionally, the names of the cities associated with the airports listed in the airspace descriptions have been removed to comply with a recent change to FAA Order 7400.2L, Procedures for Handling Airspace Matters.

Except for the edits noted above, this rule is the same as published in the NPRM.

Class D and E airspace designations are published in paragraph 5000, 6002, 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 E airspace designations listed in this document will be published subsequently in the Order.

Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference

This document amends 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 Rule

This amendment to Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 71:

Amends Class D airspace to within a 4.2-mile radius (reduced from 4.5-miles) of University of Oklahoma Westheimer Airport (formerly University of Oklahoma Westheimer Airpark), Norman, OK, and updates the name of the airport to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database;

Establishes Class E airspace designated as a surface area within a 4.2-mile radius of University of Oklahoma Westheimer Airport, and corrects the reference to the NOTAM information to Class E airspace vice Class D airspace; and

Amends Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at University of Oklahoma, Westheimer Airport, Norman, OK, contained within the Oklahoma City, OK, airspace description, to within a 6.7-mile radius (reduced from 8.9-miles), removing the University of Oklahoma Westheimer Airport ILS Localizer from the airspace description, and realigning the southwest extension to 2-miles (increased from 1.8-miles) either side of the 213° bearing from the airport (previously referenced from the University of Oklahoma Westheimer Airport ILS Localizer) from the 6.7-mile radius to 7.8-miles southwest of the airport.

Regulatory Notices and Analyses

The FAA has determined that this 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 only affects air traffic procedures and air navigation, it is certified that this rule, when promulgated, does not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

Environmental Review

The FAA has determined that this action qualifies for categorical exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act in accordance with FAA Order 1050.1F, “Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures,” paragraph 5-6.5.a. This airspace action is not expected to cause any potentially significant environmental impacts, and no extraordinary circumstances exist that warrant preparation of an environmental assessment.

Lists 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 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.

* * * * *

ASW OK D Norman, OK [Amended]

University of Oklahoma Westheimer Airport, OK

(Lat. 35°14′44″ N, long. 97°28′20″ W)

That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including 3,700 feet MSL within a 4.2-mile radius of University of Oklahoma Westheimer Airport, excluding that airspace within the Oklahoma City, OK, Class C airspace area. 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 Designated as a Surface Area

* * * * *

ASW OK E2 Norman, OK [New]

University of Oklahoma Westheimer Airport, OK

(Lat. 35°14′44″ N, long. 97°28′20″ W)

That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including 3,700 feet MSL within a 4.2-mile radius of University of Oklahoma Westheimer Airport excluding that airspace within the Oklahoma City, OK, Class C airspace area. 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 6005 Class E Airspace Areas Extending Upward From 700 Feet or More Above the Surface of the Earth

* * * * *

ASW OK E5 Oklahoma City, OK [Amended]

Will Rogers World Airport, OK

(Lat. 35°23′35″ N, long. 97°36′03″ W)

Tinker AFB, OK

(Lat. 35°24′53″ N, long. 97°23′12″ W)

University of Oklahoma Westheimer Airport, OK

(Lat. 35°14′44″ N, long. 97°28′20″ W)

David Jay Perry Airport, OK

(Lat. 35°09′18″ N, long. 97°28′13″ W)

Clarence E. Page Municipal Airport, OK

(Lat. 35°29′17″ N, long. 97°49′25″ W)

El Reno Regional Airport, OK

(Lat. 35°28′22″ N, long. 98°00′21″ W)

Wiley Post Airport, OK

(Lat. 35°32′03″ N, long. 97°38′49″ W)

Sundance Airport, OK

(Lat. 35°36′07″ N, long. 97°42′22″ W)

That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface within an 8.1-mile radius of Will Rogers World Airport, and within an 8.2-mile radius of Tinker AFB, and within a 6.7-mile radius of University of Oklahoma Westheimer Airport, and within 2.0 miles each side of the 213° bearing from the airport extending from the 6.7-mile radius to 7.8 miles southwest of the airport, and within a 6.3-mile radius of David Jay Perry Airport, and within a 6.5-mile radius of Clarence E. Page Municipal Airport, and within a 6.6-mile radius of El Reno Regional Airport, and within a 6.8-mile radius of Wiley Post Airport, and within a 6.8-mile radius of Sundance Airport.

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on May 24, 2018.

Christopher L. Southerland,

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