2011-25150. Revision of Class E Airspace; Northway, AK

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

This action revises Class E airspace at Northway, AK, to accommodate the amendment of one Standard Instrument Approach Procedure at the Northway Airport. The FAA is taking this action to enhance safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the Northway Airport. This action adjusts the geographic coordinates for the Northway Airport.

DATES:

Effective 0901 UTC, December 15, 2011. 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 7400.9 and publication of conforming amendments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Martha Dunn, AAL-538G, Federal Aviation Administration, 222 West 7th Avenue, Box 14, Anchorage, AK 99513-7587; telephone number [phone]; fax: [phone]; e-mail: [e-mail]. Internet address: http://www.faa.gov/​about/​office_​org/​headquarters_​offices/​ato/​service_​units/​systemops/​fs/​alaskan/​rulemaking/​.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

History

On Friday, July 29, 2011, the FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register to revise Class E airspace at Northway, AK (76 FR 45475).

Interested parties were invited to participate in this rulemaking proceeding by submitting written comments on the proposal to the FAA. One comment was received that the Northway VORTAC and coordinates should not be referred to in the E5 airspace designation. The FAA found merit in that and removes reference to the Northway VORTAC and its coordinates from the E5 airspace description in this rule. Subesequent to publication, the FAA found that the geographic coordinates of the airports needed to be adjusted. This action makes the adjustment.

The Class E airspace areas are published in paragraphs 6002 and 6005, respectively, of FAA Order 7400.9V, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, signed September 9, 2011, and effective September 15, 2011, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Class E airspace designations listed in this document will be published subsequently in the Order. With the exception of editorial changes, and the changes described above, this rule is the same as that proposed in the NPRM.

The Rule

This action amends Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 by revising Class E airspace at the Northway Airport, Northway, AK, to accommodate the amendment of a standard instrument approach procedure. This Class E surface airspace and Class E airspace extending upward from 700 and 1,200 feet above the surface is necessary for the safety and management of IFR operations at the airport. The rule also adjusts the coordinates for the Northway Airport to bring them in concert with those on record in the FAA's aeronautical database.

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. 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. Because this is a routine matter that will only affect air traffic procedures and air navigation, it is certified that this rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

The FAA's authority to issue rules regarding aviation safety is found in Title 49 of the United States Code. Subtitle 1, 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 1, Section 40103, Sovereignty and use of airspace. Under that section, the FAA is charged with prescribing regulations to ensure the safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace. This regulation is within the scope of that authority because it creates Class E airspace sufficient in size to contain aircraft executing instrument procedures for the Northway Airport and represents the FAA's continuing effort to safely and efficiently use the navigable airspace.

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(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 Federal Aviation Administration Order 7400.9V, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, signed September 9, 2011, and effective September 15, 2011, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6002 Class E airspace designated as surface areas.

* * * * *

AAL AK E2 Northway, AK [Revised]

Northway Airport, AK

(Lat. 62°57′40″ N., long. 141°55′41″ W.)

Northway VORTAC

(Lat. 62°56′50″N., long. 141°54′46″W.)

Within a 4-mile radius of the Northway Airport, AK and within 2 miles each side of the 077° radial from the Northway Airport, AK extending from the 4-mile radius to 12.7 miles east of the Northway Airport, AK and within 3.1 miles each side of the 312° radial from the Northway VORTAC extending from the 4-mile radius to 11.4 miles northwest of the Northway Airport AK.

Paragraph 6005 Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet or more above the surface of the earth.

* * * * *

AAL AK E5 Northway, AK [Revised]

Northway Airport, AK

(Lat. 62°57′40″ N., long. 141°55′41″ W.)

That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface within an 8-mile radius of Northway Airport, AK and within 2 miles each side of the 077° radial from Northway Airport, AK extending from the 8-mile radius to 13.7 miles east of Northway Airport, AK and that airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface within a 66-mile radius of Northway Airport, AK excluding the airspace east of 141°00′00″ West longitude.

Issued in Anchorage, AK on September 23, 2011.

Michael A. Tarr,

Manager, Alaska Flight Services.