2018-26799. Amendment of Class D and Class E Airspace, and Removal of Class E Airspace; Lompoc, CA

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

This action modifies Class D airspace, Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface, and removes Class E airspace designated as an extension at Vandenberg Air Force Base (AFB), Lompoc, CA. This action also modifies Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Lompoc Airport, Lompoc, CA, by enlarging the airspace and removing the part-time Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) status. This action amends the geographic coordinates of the airport to match the FAA's aeronautical database. These actions are necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at these airports. An editorial change removes the city associated with the airport name in the airspace designations and exclusionary language from the description. Additionally, this action replaces the outdated term “Airport/Facility Directory” with the term “Chart Supplement”.

DATES:

Effective 0901 UTC, April 25, 2019. 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 7400.11C, 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 this material 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:

Bonnie Malgarini, Federal Aviation Administration, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center, 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 modifies Class D, Class E airspace, and removes Class E airspace designated as an extension at Lompoc, CA, to support of IFR operations at Vandenberg AFB and Lompoc Airport.

History

The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register (83 FR 7435; February 21, 2018) for Docket No. FAA-2017-1146 to modify Class D airspace, Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface, and remove Class E airspace designated as an extension at Vandenberg Air Force Base (AFB), Lompoc, CA. Interested parties were invited to participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting written comments on the proposal to the FAA. No comments were received.

Class D airspace designations are published in paragraph 5000, and Class E airspace designations are published in paragraphs 6004 and 6005 of FAA Order 7400.11C, dated August 13, 2018, and effective September 15, 2018, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1.

Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference

This document amends FAA Order 7400.11C, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 13, 2018, and effective September 15, 2018. FAA Order 7400.11C is publicly available as listed in the ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order 7400.11C 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 enlarges Class D airspace, reduces Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface, and removes Class E airspace designated as an extension at Vandenberg Air Force Base (AFB), Lompoc, CA, and also amends Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface and remove part-time NOTAM status at Lompoc Airport, Lompoc, CA.

Class D airspace is enlarged to within a 5-mile radius (from a 4.3-mile radius) of Vandenberg AFB. Additionally, an editorial change removes the city associated with the airport name in the airspace designation to comply with a recent change to FAA Order 7400.2L, dated October 12, 2017. An editorial change was also made to the Class D airspace legal description replacing “Airport/Facility Directory” with “Chart Supplement”.

Class E airspace designated as an extension is removed, as this airspace is not required to protect IFR arrival and departure aircraft at Vandenberg AFB.

Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Vandenberg AFB has been modified to a 7.3-mile radius of the airport with extensions to 11 miles north, 12.5-miles southeast, and 11 miles south of the airport (from a 7.8-mile radius of the airport and within 1.8 miles each side of the Vandenberg AFB ILS localizer southeast course, extending from 7.8 miles to 10.3 miles southeast of the airport). The exclusionary language contained in the legal description has been removed to comply with FAA Order 7400.2L, Procedures for Handling Airspace Matters.

This action also amends Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Lompoc Airport, Lompoc, CA, by enlarging the airspace to within a 6.4-mile radius of the airport, and within 4 miles each side of the 090° bearing from the airport extending from the 6.4-mile radius to 12.8 miles east of the airport, and within 4 miles each side of the 113° bearing from the airport extending from the 6.4-mile radius to 20.4 miles southeast of the airport (from a 4.3-mile radius of the airport and within 4.3 miles each side of the Gaviota VORTAC 293° radial extending from the 4.3-mile radius to 10.9 miles west of the Gaviota VORTAC and within 4 miles each side of the 083° bearing from the Lompoc NDB to 8 miles east of the NDB). Also, the part-time NOTAM status has been removed, since this airspace is effective continuously.

Finally, this action updates the geographic coordinates of these airports to match the FAA's aeronautical database.

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, will 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.

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 7400.11C, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 13, 2018, and effective September 15, 2018, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 5000 Class D Airspace.

* * * * *

AWP CA D Lompoc, CA [Amended]

Vandenberg AFB, CA

(Lat. 34°44′14″ N, long. 120°35′04″ W)

That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including 2,900 feet MSL within a 5-mile radius of Vandenberg AFB. 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 6004 Class E Airspace Designated as an Extension to a Class D or Class E Surface Area.

* * * * *

AWP CA E4 Lompoc, CA [Removed]

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

* * * * *

AWP CA E5 Lompoc, CA [Amended]

Vandenberg AFB, CA

(Lat. 34°44′14″ N, long. 120°35′04″ W)

That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface within a 7.3-mile radius of Vandenberg AFB from the airport 007° bearing clockwise to the airport 143° bearing, and within a 12.5-mile radius of the airport from the airport 143° bearing clockwise to the airport 168° bearing, and within an 11-mile radius of the airport from the airport 168° bearing clockwise to the airport 190° bearing, and within a 7.3-mile radius of the airport from the airport 190° bearing clockwise to the airport 343° bearing, and within an 11-mile radius of the airport from the airport 343° bearing clockwise to the airport 007° bearing.

AWP CA E5 Lompoc, CA [Amended]

Lompoc Airport, CA

(Lat. 34°39′56″ N, long. 120°28′03″ W)

That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface within a 6.4-mile radius of Lompoc Airport, and within 4 miles each side of the 090° bearing from the airport extending to 12.8 miles east of the airport, and within 4 miles each side of the 113° bearing from the airport extending to 20.4 miles southeast of the airport.

Issued in Seattle, Washington, on November 30, 2018.

Shawn M. Kozica,

Group Manager, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center.