03-28825. Modification of Class E Airspace; Johnson, KS

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION:

Direct final rule; request for comments.

SUMMARY:

This action modifies the Johnson, KS Class E airspace area. Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) and a nondirectional radio beacon (NDB) SIAP have been developed to serve Stanton County Municipal Airport. The existing SIAP serving Stanton County Municipal Airport will be cancelled when these new SIAPs become effective. An examination of controlled airspace for Johnson, KS revealed a discrepancy in the Stanton County Municipal Airport Airport Reference Point (ARP) used in the legal description of the Class E airspace area. The examination also revealed that this airspace area does not provide adequate airspace for diverse departures. This action provides controlled airspace of appropriate dimensions to protect aircraft departing Stanton County Municipal Airport in instrument weather conditions and aircraft executing SIAPs to the airport. It also incorporates the revised Stanton County Municipal Airport ARP into the Class E airspace legal description and brings the airspace area and legal description into compliance with FAA Orders.

DATES:

This direct final rule is effective on 0901 UTC, February 19, 2004. Comments for inclusion in the Rules Docket must be received on or before December 16, 2003.

ADDRESSES:

Send comments on this proposal to the Docket Management System, U.S. Department of Transportation, Room Plaza 401, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001. You must identify the docket number FAA-2003-16411/Airspace Docket No. 03-ACE-77, at the beginning of your comments. You may also submit comments on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov. You may review the public docket containing the proposal, any comments received, and any final disposition in person in the Dockets Office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The Docket Office (telephone [phone]) is on the plaza level fo the Department of Transportation NASSIF Building at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Kathy Randolph, Air Traffic Division, Airspace Branch, ACE-520C, DOT Regional Headquarters Building, Federal Aviation Administration, 901 Locust, Kansas City, MO 64106; telephone: [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

This amendment to 14 CFR 71 modifies the Class E airspace area extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Johnson, KS. A review of controlled airspace at Johnson, KS revealed a discrepancy in the Stanton County Municipal Airport ARP used in the legal description for this airspace area. The review also indicates existing 700 feet Above Ground Level (AGL) airspace does not meet criteria for diverse departures as specified in FAA Order 7400.2E, Procedures for Handling Airspace Matters. The criteria in FAA Order 7400.2E for an aircraft to reach 1200 feet AGL is based on a standard climb gradient of 200 feet per mile plus the distance from the ARP to the end of the outermost runway. Any fractional part of a mile is converted to the next higher tenth of a mile. The area is enlarged to conform to the criteria in FAA Order 7400.2E. This airspace area also encompasses required airspace for the newly developed RNAV (GPS) SIAPs that serve Runway (RWY) 17 and RWY 35 at Stanton County Municipal Airport. The new NDB SIAP has a higher final approach fix crossing altitude than the NDB or GPS SIAP being cancelled. This eliminates the need for the north extension of the Johnson, KS Class E airspace area. This action brings the legal description of this airspace area into compliance with FAA Order 7400.2E. The area will be depicted on appropriate aeronautical charts. 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 7400.9L, dated September 2, 2003, and effective September 16, 2003, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Class E airspace designation listed in this document will be published subsequently in the Order.

The Direct Final Rule Procedure

The FAA anticipates that this regulation will not result in adverse or negative comment and, therefore, is issuing it as a direct final rule. Previous actions of this nature have not been controversial and have not resulted in adverse comments or objections. Unless a written adverse or negative comment, or a written notice of intent to submit an adverse or negative comment is received within the comment period, the regulation will become effective on the date specified above. After the close of the comment period, the FAA will publish a document in the Federal Register indicating that no adverse or negative comments were received and confirming the date on which the final rule will become effective. If the FAA does receive, within the comment period, an adverse or negative comment, or written notice of intent to submit such a comment, a document withdrawing the direct final rule will be published in the Federal Register, and a notice of proposed rulemaking may be published with a new comment period.

Comments Invited

Interested parties are invited to participate in this 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 and be submitted in triplicate to the address listed above. Commenters 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-2003-16411/Airspace Docket No. 03-ACE-77.” The postcard will be date/time stamped and returned to the commenter.

Agency Findings

The regulations adopted herein will not have a substantial direct effect on the States, on the relationship between the national Government and the States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government. Therefore, it is determined that this final rule does not have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132.

The FAA has determined that this regulation is noncontroversial and unlikely to result in adverse or negative comments. For the reasons discussed in the preamble, I certify that this regulation (1) is not a “significant regulatory action” under Executive Order 12866; (2) is not a “significant rule” under Department of Transportation (DOT) Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and (3) if promulgated, will not have a significant economic impact, positive or negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71

• Airspace
• Incorporation by reference
• Navigation (air)

Adoption of the Amendment

Accordingly, the Federal Aviation Administration amends 14 CFR part 71 as follows:

PART 71—DESIGNATION OF CLASS A, CLASS B, CLASS C, CLASS D, AND CLASS E AIRSPACE AREAS; AIRWAYS; ROUTES; AND REPORTING POINTS

1. The authority citation for 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 7400.9L, dated September 2, 2003, and effective September 16, 2003, 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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ACE KS E5 Johnson, KS

Johnson, Stanton County Municipal Airport, KS

(Lat. 37°34′58″ N., long. 101°43′58″ W.)

That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface within a 6.5-mile radius of Stanton County Municipal Airport.

* * * * *

Issued in Kansas City, MO, on October 30, 2003.

Paul J. Sheridan,

Acting Manager, Air Traffic Division Central Region.