2021-15492. Establishment of Class E Airspace; Wilder Runway LLC, AK

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

This action establishes Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface of the earth at Wilder Runway LLC Airport, Port Alsworth, AK. This action will accommodate new area navigation (RNAV) procedures and ensure the safety and management of instrument flight rule (IFR) operations within the National Airspace System. This action will also correct an error in the airport name to match the FAA's database.

DATES:

Effective 0901 UTC, October 7, 2021. 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:

FAA Order 7400.11E, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, and subsequent amendments can be viewed online at https://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 7400.11E at NARA, email [e-mail] or go to https://www.archives.gov/​federal-register/​cfr/​ibr-locations.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Richard Roberts, 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 will establish Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface of the earth to support IFR operations at Wilder Runway LLC Airport.

History

The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal Register (86 FR 10505; February 22, 2021) for Docket No. FAA-2020-1208 to establish Class E airspace at Wilder Runway LLC Airport, Port Alsworth, AK. Interested parties were invited to participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting written comments on the proposal to the FAA, none were received.

Class E5 airspace designations are published in paragraph 6005 of FAA Order 7400.11E, dated July 21, 2020, and effective September 15, 2020, 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.

Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference

This document amends FAA Order 7400.11E, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated July 21, 2020, and effective September 15, 2020. FAA Order 7400.11E is publicly available as listed in the ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order 7400.11E lists Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and reporting points.

The Rule

This amendment to 14 CFR part 71 establishes Class E airspace, extending upward from 700 feet above the surface, at Wilder Runway LLC Airport. The Class E airspace is established within a 2.5 mile radius of the airport beginning at the point the 308° bearing from the airport intersects the 2.5-mile radius clockwise to the point the 79° bearing from the airport intersects the 2.5-mile radius. This area accommodates circling north of runway 6/24. In addition, this area includes that airspace within a 7.3 mile radius of the airport beginning at the point the 230° bearing from the airport intersects the 7.3-mile radius clockwise to the point the 271° bearing from the airport intersects the 7.3-mile radius. This area protects aircraft using the RNAV approach to runway 6 and departures until reaching 1,200 feet AGL. In addition, the FAA identified that the airport name, contained in the NPRM, was not consistent with the National Airspace System Resource (NASR) database. This action will update the airport name to match NASR.

FAA Order 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, is published yearly and 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 the 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 7400.11E, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated July 21, 2020, and effective September 15, 2020, is amended as follows:

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

* * * * *

AAL AK E5 Port Alsworth, AK [NEW]

Wilder Runway LLC Airport, AK

(Lat. 60°11′55″ N, long. 154°19′23″ W)

That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface within 7.3 mile radius of Wilder Runway LLC Airport beginning at the point the 230° bearing from the airport intersects the 7.3-mile radius clockwise along the 7.3-mile radius to the point the 271° bearing intersects the 7.3-mile radius, thence east to the point the 308° bearing from the airport intersects an arc within a 2.5 mile radius of the airport, thence clockwise along the 2.5-mile arc to the point the 79° bearing intersects the 2.5-mile arc thence southwest to the point of beginning.

Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on July 15, 2021.

B.G. Chew,

Acting Group Manager, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center.