2023-14752. Establishment of Class E Airspace; Benton Field Airport, Redding, CA

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

This action establishes Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Benton Field Airport, Redding, CA. The Class E airspace supports the airport's transition from visual flight rules (VFR) to instrument flight rules (IFR) operations.

DATES:

Effective 0901 UTC, October 5th, 2023. The Director of the Federal Register approves this incorporation by reference action under 1 CFR part 51, subject to the annual revision of FAA Order 7400.11 and publication of conforming amendments.

ADDRESSES:

A copy of the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), all comments received, this final rule, and all background material may be viewed online at www.regulations.gov using the FAA Docket number. Electronic retrieval help and guidelines are available on the website. It is available 24 hours each day, 365 days each year.

FAA Order 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:

Keith Adams, Federal Aviation Administration, Western Service Center, Operations Support Group, 2200 S 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 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 establishes Class E airspace at Benton Field Airport, Redding, CA, to support the safety and management of IFR operations at the airport.

History

The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal Register (85 FR 49985; August 17, 2020) for Docket No. FAA–2020–0707 to establish Class E airspace at Benton Field Airport, Redding, CA. Interested parties were invited to participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting written comments on the proposal to the FAA. One comment was received in support of the proposal.

Differences From the NPRM

Subsequent to the publication of the NPRM, the FAA determined that a modification of the original Benton Field Class E5 airspace proposal is needed to remove a small gap between the proposed airspace at Benton Field Airport and the existing airspace at Redding Regional Airport, Redding, CA. Additionally, the arrival procedures were modified and renamed to circling-only type approaches, which warranted a revision to the proposed modification of Class E airspace extension to the south of the airport to better contain the procedures. Accordingly, the FAA published a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (88 FR 19895; April 4, 2023). Interested parties were invited to participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting written comments on the proposal to the FAA. No comments were received.

Incorporation by Reference

Class E airspace areas extending upward from 700 feet or more above the surface of the earth are published in paragraph 6005 of FAA Order 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 on an annual basis. This document amends the current version of that order, FAA Order JO 7400.11G, dated August 19, 2022, and effective September 15, 2022. FAA Order JO 7400.11G is publicly available as listed in the ADDRESSES section of this document. These amendments will be published in the next update to FAA Order JO 7400.11.

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

The Rule

The FAA is amending 14 CFR part 71 by establishing Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface within a 3.3-mile radius of Benton Field Airport, CA. In addition, airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface is established within 4 miles east and 2.3 miles west of the 002° bearing from the airport, extending from the 3.3-mile radius to 12.4 miles north of the airport. Furthermore, airspace is established extending upward from 700 feet above the surface within 3.1 miles each side of the 179° bearing from the airport, extending from the 3.3-mile radius to 8.8 miles south of the airport. This airspace would contain IFR departures to 1,200 feet above the surface and IFR arrivals below 1,500 feet above the surface, supporting the airport's transition from VFR to IFR operations.

Class E5 airspace designations are published in paragraph 6005 of FAA Order JO 7400.11G, dated August 19, 2022, and effective September 15, 2022, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Class E airspace designation listed in this document will be published subsequently in FAA Order JO 7400.11.

FAA Order 7400.11is published annually and becomes effective on September 15.

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 will only affect air traffic procedures and air navigation, it is certified that this 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

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 5–6.5a. 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.

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

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AWP CA E5 Redding, CA [New]

Benton Field Airport, CA

(Lat. 40°34′25″ N, long. 122°24′26″ W)

That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface within a 3.3-mile radius of the airport, within 4 miles east and 2.3 miles west of the 002° bearing from the airport, extending from the 3.3-mile radius to 12.4 miles north of the airport, and within 3.1 miles each side of the 179° bearing from the airport, extending from the 3.3-mile radius to 8.8 miles south of the airport.

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Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on July 6, 2023.

B.G. Chew,

Group Manager, Western Service Center, Operations Support Group.