Airworthiness directives: Class D and Class E airspace,

[Federal Register: October 27, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 207)]

[Proposed Rules]

[Page 57268-57269]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr27oc98-26]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 98-AAL-23]

Proposed Revision of Class D Airspace; Anchorage, Elmendorf Air Force Base (AFB) Airport, AK; Proposed Establishment of Class E Airspace; Anchorage, Elmendorf AFB Airport, AK

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

SUMMARY: This action proposes to revise Class D airspace operational times and establish Class E airspace at Elmendorf AFB, AK. The United States Air Force (USAF) has requested this action in response to a critical Air Traffic Control (ATC) controller shortage at Elmendorf AFB, AK. Adoption of this proposal would result in the provision of a part time operation of the Class D airspace and establishment of Class E airspace for Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) and Special Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations at Elmendorf AFB, AK.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 11, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on the proposal in triplicate to: Manager, Operations Branch, AAL-530, Docket No. 98-AAL-23, Federal Aviation Administration, 222 West 7th Avenue, Box 14, Anchorage, AK 99513-7587.

The official docket may be examined in the Office of the Regional Counsel for the Alaskan Region at the same address.

An informal docket may also be examined during normal business hours in the Office of the Manager, Operations Branch, Air Traffic Division, at the address shown above and on the Internet at Alaskan Region's homepage at http://www.alaska.faa.gov/at or at address http:// 162.58.28.41/at.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert van Haastert, Operations Branch, AAL-538, Federal Aviation Administration, 222 West 7th Avenue, Box 14, Anchorage, AK 99513-7587; telephone number (907) 271-5863; fax: (907) 271-2850; email: Robert.van.Haastert@faa.dot.gov. Internet address: http://www.alaska.faa.gov/at or at address http:// 162.58.28.41/at.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

Interested parties are invited to participate in this proposed 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 the airspace docket number 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 Airspace Docket No. 98- AAL-23.'' The postcard will be date/time stamped and returned to the commenter. All communications received on or before the specified closing date for comments will be considered before taking action on the proposed rule. The proposal contained in this notice may be changed in light of comments received. All comments submitted will be available for examination in the Operations Branch, Air Traffic Division, Federal Aviation Administration, 222 West 7th Avenue, Box 14, Anchorage, AK, both before and after the closing date for comments. A report summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA personnel concerned with this rulemaking will be filedin the docket.

Availability of NPRM's

Any person may obtain a copy of this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) by submitting a request to the Operations Branch, AAL-530, Federal Aviation Administration, 222 West 7th Avenue, Box 14, Anchorage, AK 99513-7587. Communications must identify the notice number of this NPRM. Persons interested in being placed on a mailing list for future NPRM's should also request a copy of Advisory Circular No. 11-2A which describes the application procedure.

Internet users may reach the Federal Register's web page for access to recently published rulemaking documents at http://www. access.gpo.gov/su__docs/aces/aces 140.html.

The Proposal

The FAA proposes to amend 14 CFR part 71 by revising the Class D airspace operational times at Elmendorf AFB, AK, due to a critical ATC controller shortage. Currently, the Class D airspace is operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The physical dimensions of the Class D airspace will not change. The following phraseology will be added to the end of the Class D airspace description: ``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 Airport/Facility Directory.'' This action will allow part time operation of the Airport Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) at Elmendorf AFB, AK. The USAF has indicated the Elmendorf AFB tower will be closed between 2300L and 0700L. During this closure, the Class D airspace will convert to Class E airspace which this proposal is establishing for IFR and Special VFR operations. During these closure times, the USAF proposes to institute a recorded message on the Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS) to contact Anchorage Approach Control if ATC services are needed.

The area would be depicted on aeronautical charts for pilot reference. The coordinates for this airspace docket are based on North American Datum 83. The Class D airspace areas are published in paragraph 5000 and Class E airspace areas designated as a surface area are published in paragraph 6002 in FAA Order 7400.9F, Airspace Designations

[[Page 57269]]

and Reporting Points, dated September 10, 1998, and effective September 16, 1998, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 (63 FR 50139; September 21, 1998). The Class D and Class E airspace listed in this document would be revised and published in the Order.

The FAA has determined that these proposed regulations only involve 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. Since this is a routine matter that will only affect 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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71

Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).

The Proposed Amendment

In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend 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 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.

   Sec. 71.1 [Amended]

2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of Federal Aviation Administration Order 7400.9F, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated September 10, 1998, and effective September 16, 1998, is to be amended as follows:

   Paragraph 5000 Class D Airspace

   * * * * *

   AAL AK D Anchorage, Elmendorf AFB Airport, AK [Revised]

   Anchorage, Elmendorf AFB Airport, AK

   (Lat. 61 deg. 15'11'' N., long. 149 deg. 47'38'' W.) Elmendorf Localizer

   (At. 61 deg. 15'14'' N., long. 149 deg. 46'48'' W.)

   That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including 3,000 feet MSL within a 4.7-mile radius of Elmendorf AFB Airport and within 2 miles each side of the Elmendorf Localizer front course extending from the 4.7-mile radius to a point 5.5 miles from Elmendorf AFB Airport; excluding that airspace east of long. 149 deg. 43' W, and that airspace within the Anchorage International Airport, AK, Class C airspace area and the Anchorage Merrill Field, AK, Class D airspace area. 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 Airport/Facility Directory. * * * * *

   Paragraph 6002 Class E airspace designated as surface areas

   * * * * *

   AAL AK E2 Anchorage, Elmendorf AFB Airport, AK [New]

   Anchorage, Elmendorf AFB Airport, AK

   (Lat. 61 deg. 15' 11'' N., long. 149 deg. 47' 38'' W.) Elmendorf Localizer

   (At. 61 deg. 15' 14'' N., long. 149 deg. 46' 48'' W.)

   That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including 3,000 feet MSL within a 4.7-mile radius of Elmendorf AFB Airport and within 2 miles each side of the Elmendorf Localizer front course extending from the 4.7-mile radius to a point 5.5 miles from Elmendorf AFB Airport; excluding that airspace east of long. 149 deg. 43' W, and that airspace within the Anchorage International Airport, AK, Class C airspace area and the Anchorage Merrill Field, AK, Class D airspace area. * * * * *

   Issued in Anchorage, AK, on October 20, 1998. Trent S. Cummings, Acting Manager, Air Traffic Division, Alaskan Region.

   [FR Doc. 98-28756Filed10-26-98; 8:45 am]

   BILLING CODE 4910-13-P