Establishment of Class E Airspace Areas

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 94-ASO-10]

Establishment of Class E Airspace Areas

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This action establishes Class E airspace areas at military

airports in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Kentucky

and Mississippi. Presently, these areas are designated as Class D

airspace when the associated control tower is in operation. However,

controlled airspace to the surface is needed when the control towers

located at these areas are closed. The intended effect of this action

is to provide adequate Class E airspace for instrument flight rule

(IFR) operations when these control towers are closed.

DATES: Effective date: 0901 u.t.c., June 23, 1994.

Comment date: Comments must be received on or before June 16, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on the rule in triplicate to: Manager, Air

Traffic Division, ASO-500, Docket No. 94-ASO-10, Federal Aviation

Administration, P.O. Box 20636, Atlanta, Georgia 30320.

The official docket may be examined in the Office of the Assistant

Chief Counsel for Southern Region, room 5-530-b, 1701 Columbia Avenue,

College Park, Georgia 30337; telephone (404) 305-5.

An informal docket may also be examined during normal business

hours at the address listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:Wade T. Carpenter, Jr., Airspace

Section, Systems Management Branch, Air Traffic Division, Federal

Aviation Administration, P. O. Box 20636, Atlanta, Georgia 30320;

Telephone (404) 305-5586.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Request for Comments on the Rule

Although this action is a final rule, and was not preceded by

notice and public procedure, comments are invited on the rule. This

rule will become effective on the date specified in the DATES section.

However, after the review of any comments and, if the FAA finds that

further changes are appropriate, it will initiate rulemaking

proceedings to extend the effective date of the regulation or amend the

regulation.

Comments that provide the factual basis supporting the views and

suggestions presented are particularly helpful in evaluating the

effects of the rule, and in determining whether additional rulemaking

is required. Comments are specifically invited on the overall

regulatory, aeronautical, economic, environmental, and energy-related

aspects of the rule which might suggest the need to modify the rule.

The Rule

This amendment to part 71 of the Federal Aviation Regulations

establishes Class E airspace areas at military airports in Florida,

Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Kentucky and Mississippi.

Currently, this airspace is designated as Class D when the associated

control tower is in operation. Nevertheless, controlled airspace to the

surface is needed for IFR operations at Homestead AFB, FL, Patrick AFB,

FL, Lawson AAF, GA, Dobbins AFB, GA, Moody AFB, GA, Beaufort MCAS, SC,

Cherry Point MCAS, NC, Godman AAF, KY and Keesler AFB, MS, when the

control towers are closed. The intended effect of this action is to

provide adequate Class E airspace for IFR operations at these airports

when these control towers are closed.

As noted in the Airspace Reclassification Final Rule, published in

the Federal Register on December 17, 1991, airspace at an airport with

a part-time control tower should be designated as a Class D airspace

area when the control tower is in operation, and as a Class E airspace

area when the control tower is closed (56 FR 65645).

The coordinates for this airspace docket are based on North

American Datum 83. Class E airspace areas designated as surface areas

for airports are published in Paragraph 6002 of FAA Order 7400.9A dated

June 17, 1993, and effective September 16, 1993, which is incorporated

by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 (58 FR 36298; July 6, 1993). The Class E

airspace designations listed in this document will be published

subsequently in the Order. Under the circumstances presented, the FAA

concludes that there is an immediate need to establish these Class E

airspace areas in order to promote the safe and efficient handling of

air traffic in these areas. Therefore, I find that notice and public

procedures under 5 U.S.C. 553(b) are impracticable and contrary to the

public interest.

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.

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 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).

Adoption of the Amendment

In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation

Administration amends 14 CFR part 71 as follows:

PART 71--[AMENDED]

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

Authority: 49 U.S.C. app. 1348(a), 1354(a), 1510; E.O. 10854, 24

FR 9565, 3 CFR, 1959-1963 Comp., p. 389; 49 U.S.C. 106(g); 14 CFR

11.69.

Sec. 71.1 [Amended]

2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of the Federal

Aviation Administration Order 7400.9A, Airspace Designations and

Reporting Points, dated June 17, 1993, and effective September 16,

1993, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6002--Class E airspace areas designated as a surface area

for an airport

* * * * *

ASO FL E2 Homestead, FL [New]

Homestead AFB, FL

(lat. 25 deg.29'18'' N, long. 80 deg.23'01'' W)

That airspace, extending upward from the surface within a 5.5-

mile radius of Homestead AFB. This Class E 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 continously published in the Airport/Facility Directory.

* * * * *

ASO FL E2 Cocoa Patrick AFB, FL, [New]

Cocoa, Patrick AFB, FL

(lat. 28 deg.14'22'' N, long. 80 deg.36'27'' W)

Melbourne Regional Airport

(lat. 28 deg.06'10'' N, long. 80 deg.38'45'' W)

That airspace extending upward from the surface within a 5.3-

mile radius of Patrick AFB; excluding the portion south of a line

connecting the two points of intersection within a 4.3-mile radius

circle centered on the Melbourne Regional Airport. This Class E

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.

* * * * *

ASO GA E2 Columbus Lawson AAF, GA [New]

Columus, Lawson AAF, GA

(lat. 32 deg.20'17'' N, long. 84 deg.59'32'' W)

That airspace extending upward from the surface within a 4.2-

mile radius of Lawson AAF; excluding that airspace within the

Columbus Metropolitan Airport, GA, Class C airspace area and within

Restricted Area R-3002. This Class E 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.

* * * * *

ASO GA E2 Atlanta Dobbins AFB, GA [New]

Atlanta, Dobbins AFB, GA

(lat. 33 deg.54'55'' N, long. 84 deg.30'59'' W)

Fulton County Airport

(lat. 33 deg.46'45'' N, long. 84 deg.31'17'' W)

That airspace extending upward from the surface within a 5.5-

mile radius of Dobbins AFB; excluding the portion south of a line

connecting the 2 points of intersection with a 4-mile radius circle

centered on Fulton County Airport. This Class E 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.

* * * * *

ASO GA E2 Valdosta Moody AFB, GA [New]

Valdosta, Moody AFB, GA

(lat. 30 deg.58'07'' N, long. 83 deg.11'35'' W)

That airspace extending upward from the surface within a 5-mile

radius of Moody AFB. This Class E 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.

* * * * *

ASO SC E2 Beaufort, SC [New]

Beaufort MCAS/Merritt Field, SC

(lat. 32 deg.28'39'' N, long. 80 deg.43'23'' W)

Beaufort County Airport

(lat. 32 deg.24'44'' N, long. 80 deg.38'04'' W)

That airspace extending upward from the surface within a 5.6-

mile radius of Beaufort MCAS/Merritt field; excluding that airspace

within a 1-mile radius of the Beaufort County Airport. This Class E

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.

* * * * *

ASO NC E2 Cherry Point MCAS, NC [New]

Cherry Point MCAS, NC

(lat. 34 deg.54'10'' N, long. 76 deg.52'52'' W)

That airspace extending upward from the surface within a 5-mile

radius of Cherry Point MCAS. This Class E 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.

* * * * *

ASO KY E2 Fort Knox, KY [New]

Fort Knox, Godman AAF, KY

(lat. 37 deg.54'24'' N, long. 85 deg.58'23'' W)

That airspace extending upward from the surface within a 3.9-

mile radius of Godman AAF. This Class E 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.

* * * * *

ASO MS E2 Biloxi, MS [New]

Biloxi, Keesler AFB, MS

(lat. 30 deg.24'41'' N, long. 88 deg.55'25'' W)

That airspace extending upward from the surface within a 4.2-

mile radius of Keesler, AFB; excluding that portion west of long.

89 deg.00'00'' W. This Class E 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.

* * * * *

Issued in College Park, Georgia, on May 16, 1994.

Walter E. Denley,

Acting Manager, Air Traffic Division, Southern Region.

[FR Doc. 94-12530 Filed 5-20-94; 8:45 am]

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