Air traffic operating and flight rules, etc.: Airports/locations special operating restrictions; technical amendment,

[Federal Register: November 30, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 229)]

[Rules and Regulations]

[Page 66768-66769]

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

[DOCID:fr30no99-17]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 91

[Docket No. 29833; Amendment No. 91-258]

RIN 2120-AA66

General Operating and Flight Rules; Airports/Locations Special Operating Restrictions; Amendment

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; technical amendment.

SUMMARY: This action amends the Appendix listing airports/locations with special operating restrictions in FAA's general operating and flight rules. Specifically, this action adds a new entry for Covington, KY, in alphabetical order and revises the entries for Houston, TX, and Washington, DC, in section 1 of the Appendix, which lists the airports where aircraft operating within 30 nautical miles of the listed airports, from the surface upward to 10,000 feet mean sea level (MSL) must be equipped with an altitude encoding transponder. Additionally, this action ``Reserves'' section 2 which is no longer required, and revises the entries for Covington, KY, Houston, TX, and Washington, DC, in section 3 which lists locations at which fixed-wing special VFR operations are prohibited. The FAA is taking this action to correctly identify applicable airports under the appropriate sections in the Appendix.

EFFECTIVE DATE: November 30, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Terry Brown, Airspace and Rules Division, ATA-400, Office of Air Traffic Airspace Management, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267-8783.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

Part 91, Appendix D, Section 1

This section of 14 CFR part 91, Appendix D, lists airports where special operating restrictions apply. Specifically, section 1 lists locations at which aircraft operating within 30 nautical miles of the listed airports, from the surface upward to 10,000 MSL are required to be equipped with an altitude encoding transponder.

On November 30, 1998, the FAA issued the Establishment of Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport Class B Airspace Area, and Revocation of the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport Class C Airspace Area, KY, Final Rule (63 FR 65972). This rule established a Class B airspace area for the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG). However, in the final rule the FAA inadvertently did not include CVG in part 91, Appendix D, section 1. This action corrects that omission.

Additionally, on December 17, 1991, the FAA issued the Airspace Reclassification Final Rule (56 FR 65638). This rule established the Washington Tri-Area, DC, Class B airspace area. This airspace area is comprised of four primary airports (Baltimore-Washington International, Ronald Reagan Washington National, Washington Dulles International, and Andrews Air Force Base). At the time this rule was published, the Andrews Air Force Base was omitted from part 91, Appendix D, section 1. This action corrects that inadvertent error.

Lastly, this amendment makes editorial corrections to part 91, Appendix D, section 1 by replacing the words ``Washington National Airport'' with ``Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport'' and ``Houston Intercontinental Airport'' with ``George Bush Intercontinental Airport/Houston.''

Part 91, Appendix D, Section 2

Section 2 lists those locations at which the requirements of Sec. 91.215(b)(5)(ii) apply. This section requires any aircraft, except any aircraft which was not originally certificated with an engine- driven electrical system or which has not subsequently been certified with such a system installed, balloon, or glider, from the surface to 10,000 feet MSL within a 10-nautical-mile radius of any airport listed in Appendix D, section 2 of this part, excluding the airspace below 1,200 feet outside of the lateral boundaries of the surface area of the airspace designated for that airport must be equipped with an altitude encoding transponder. The two airport airspace areas that met the criteria of Sec. 91.215(b)(5)(ii) were reclassified as Class C and Class D airspace areas in accordance with the Airspace Reclassification Final Rule (56 FR 65655). Consequently, this particular section of the appendix is no longer required. Therefore, the FAA reserves section 2 of Appendix D.

Part 91, Appendix D, Section 3

This section lists airports where fixed-wing special visual flight rule operations are prohibited. Currently, this section lists the name of the Covington, KY, international airport as

[[Page 66769]]

``Greater Cincinnati International Airport,'' the Washington, DC, airport as ``Washington National Airport,'' and the Houston, TX, airport as ``Houston Intercontinental Airport.''

This amendment makes editorial corrections to reflect the name changes for the above airports by replacing the words ``Greater Cincinnati International Airport'' with ``Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport,'' ``Washington National Airport'' with ``Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport'' and ``Houston Intercontinental Airport'' with ``George Bush Intercontinental Airport/Houston'' in section 3 of Appendix D.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 91

Air traffic control, Aircraft, Airmen, Airports, Aviation safety.

The Amendment

In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation Administration amends 14 CFR part 91 as follows:

PART 91--GENERAL OPERATING AND FLIGHT RULES

1. The authority citation for part 91 continues to read as follows:

   Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 1155, 40103, 40113, 40120, 44101, 44111, 44701, 44709, 44711, 44712, 44715, 44716, 44717, 44722, 46306, 46315, 46316, 46504, 46506-46507, 47122, 47508, 47528-47531, articles 12 and 29 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (61 Stat. 1180).

2. Amend Appendix D to part 91 as follows:

   1. In Section 1, by adding a new entry in alphabetical order and by revising the entries for Houston, TX, and Washington, DC.

   2. In Section 2, by adding ``[Reserved]'' at the end of the existing text.

   3. In Section 3, by revising the entries for Covington, KY, Houston, TX, and Washington, DC.

   The additions and revisions read as follows:

   Appendix D to Part 91--Airports/Locations: Special Operating Restrictions

   Section 1. * * *

   * * * * * Covington, KY (Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport) * * * * * Houston, TX (George Bush Intercontinental Airport/Houston) * * * * * Washington, DC (Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Andrews Air Force Base, MD)

   Section 2. * * * [Reserved]

   Section 3. * * *

   * * * * * Covington, KY (Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport) * * * * * Houston, TX (George Bush Intercontinental Airport/Houston) * * * * * Washington, DC (Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Andrews Air Force Base, MD) * * * * *

   Issued in Washington, DC, on November 5, 1999. Reginald C. Matthews, Manager, Airspace and Rules Division.

   [FR Doc. 99-29683Filed11-29-99; 8:45 am]

   BILLING CODE 4910-13-P