Class E airspace,

[Federal Register: March 24, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 57)]

[Proposed Rules]

[Page 14830-14831]

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

[DOCID:fr24mr06-20]

[[Page 14830]]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2006-24064; Airspace Docket No. 06-AWP-3]

RIN 2120-AA66

Proposed Revision of Class E Airspace; Vandenberg AFB, CA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

SUMMARY: This action proposes to revise Class E airspace at Vandenberg AFB, CA. During a review of this airspace, it was determined that additional controlled airspace was needed for Category E aircraft conducting circling maneuvers in conjunction with published Standard Instrument Procedures. This airspace change will place aircraft in controlled airspace from final descent to runway and protect Category E aircraft while conducting a circling approach to land.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 8, 2006.

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-2006-24064; Airspace Docket No. 06-AWP-3, 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 Docket Office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The Docket office (telephone 1-800-647-5527) is on the plaza level of the Department of Transportation NASSIF Building at the above address.

An informal docket may also be examined during normal business hours at the office of the Area Director, Terminal Operations, Western Service Area, Federal Aviation Administration, Room 2010, 15000 Aviation Boulevard, Lawndale, California, 90261.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Francie Hope, Airspace Specialist, Western Terminal Service Area, Federal Aviation Administration, 15000 Aviation Boulevard, Lawndale, California 90261; telephone (310) 725- 6502.

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 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-2006-24064; Airspace Docket No. 06-AWP-3.'' The postcard will be date/time stamped and returned to the commenter. All communications received 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 the comments received. A report summarized each substantive public contact with FAA personnel concerned with this rulemaking will be filed in the docket.

Availability of NPRMs

An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded through the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov Recently published rulemaking documents can also be accessed through the FAA's Web page at http://www.faa.gov.

or the Superintendent of Documents's Web page at http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html. Additionally, any person may obtain a

copy of this notice by submitting a request to the Federal Aviation Administration, Office of Air Traffic Airspace Management, ATA-400, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591, or by calling (202) 267-8783. Communications must identify both docket numbers for this notice. Persons interested in being placed on a mailing list for future NPRM's should contact the FAA's Office of Rulemaking, (202) 267-9677, to request a copy of Advisory Circular No. 11-2A, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Distribution System, which describes the application procedure.

The Proposal

The FAA is considering an amendment to part 71 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 71) to revise the Class E5 700 foot airspace at Vandenberg AFB, CA. Class E5 airspace areas are primarily designated to provide additional controlled airspace ancillary to a surface area to protect instrument operations for the primary airport, without imposing additional communications burdens on airspace users. This action is necessary at Vandenberg AFB to provide controlled airspace Category E aircraft conducting circling maneuvers in conjunction with published Standard Instrument Procedures. Generally, Category E aircraft are very large and/or high performance. These aircraft require additional airspace when conducting circling maneuvers.

Class E5 airspace areas are published in Paragraph 6005 of FAA Order 7400.9N, dated September 1, 2005, and effective September 15, 2005, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Class E5 airspace designation listed in this document would be published subsequently in the Order.

The FAA has determined that this proposed 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. Since this is a routine matter that will only affect air traffic procedures and air navigation, it is certified that this proposed 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, B, C, D, AND E AIRSPACE AREAS; AIRWAYS; ROUTES; AND REPORTING POINTS

1. The authority citation for part 71 continues to read as follows:

   [[Page 14831]]

   Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g); 40103, 40113, 40120; E.O. 10854, 24 FR 9565, 3 CFR, 1959-1963 Comp., 389.

   Sec. 71.1 [Amended]

2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of Federal Aviation Administration Order 7400.9N, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated September 1, 2005, and effective September 15, 2005, is amended as follows:

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

   * * * * *

   AWP CA E5 Vandenberg AFB, CA [REVISED]

   Vandenberg AFB Airport

   (Lat. 34[deg]43'47'' N., long. 120[deg]34'37'' W.)

   That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface within a 7.8-mile radius of the Vandenberg AFB 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 Vandenberg AFB airport, excluding the Vandenberg Class D airspace, the Santa Maria Class D airspace, the Lompoc Class E4 surface area airspace, and the Lompoc Class E 700 foot airspace. * * * * *

   Issued in Los Angeles, California, on March 14, 2006. Leonard A. Mobley, Manager, Airspace Branch, AWP-520 Western Terminal Operations

   [FR Doc. 06-2878 Filed 3-23-06; 8:45 am]

   BILLING CODE 4910-13-M