Proposed Modification of Class D and Revocation of Class E Airspace: Altus, OK

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 93-ASW-57]

Proposed Modification of Class D and Revocation of Class E

Airspace: Altus, OK

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: This notice proposes to modify the Class D airspace at Altus,

OK to delete the 4-mile circle that surrounds Altus Municipal Airport.

This notice also proposes to revoke the Class E extension to the Altus,

OK Class D airspace extending upward from the surface within 2 miles

each side of the 360 deg. bearing from the Altus Municipal Airport and

extending from the 4-mile radius of Altus Municipal Airport to 6.5

miles north of the airport. These portions of the Class D and Class E

airspace are no longer required for instrument flight rule (IFR)

operations at Altus Air Force Base (AFB), OK. The intended effect of

this proposal is to remove that portion of Class D airspace outside the

5-mile circle surrounding Altus AFB that encompasses Altus Municipal

Airport and to revoke the Class E extension to the Altus, OK Class D

airspace.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 4, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on the proposal in triplicate to Manager,

System Management Branch, Air Traffic Division, Southwest Region,

Docket No. 93-ASW-57, Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation

Administration, Fort Worth, TX 76193-0530.

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

Chief Counsel, Southwest Region, Federal Aviation Administration, 2601

Meacham Boulevard, Room 663, Fort Worth, TX, between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00

p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. An informal

docket may also be examined during normal business hours at the System

Management Branch, Air Traffic Division, Southwest Region, Federal

Aviation Administration, 2601 Meacham Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alvin DeVane, System Management

Branch, Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration,

Fort Worth, TX 76193-0530; telephone: 817-222-5595.

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 and be submitted in

triplicate to the address listed under the caption ADDRESSES.

Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments on

this notice must submit, with those comments, a self-addressed,

stamped, postcard containing the following statement: ``Comments to

Airspace Docket No. 93-ASW-57.'' The postcard will be date and 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 the light of comments received. All

comments submitted will be available for examination in the office of

the Assistant Chief Counsel, at 2601 Meacham Boulevard, Forth Worth,

TX, 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 filed in 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 Manager, System Management

Branch, Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration,

Forth Worth, TX 76193-0530. 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 that 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 modify the Class D airspace at

Altus, OK and to revoke the Class E extension to the Altus, OK Class D

airspace. This modification is being proposed due to requests by

aircraft operators of Altus Municipal Airport and Altus AFB. The FAA

has reviewed these requests and have determined that control of

portions of the Class D and the Class E extension is no longer needed.

The intended effect of this proposal is to modify the Class D airspace

to maintain IRF operations and two-way radio communications for Altus

AFB but remove that portion of the current Class D airspace and the

Class E extension to the Class D airspace that is no longer required.

The coordinates for this airspace docket are based on North

American Datum 83. Class D airspace designations are published in

Paragraph 5000 and Class E airspace designated as an extension to a

Class D surface area are published in Paragraph 6004 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 D and Class E airspace designations 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 that need frequent and

routine amendments 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 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--[AMENDED]

1. The authority citation for 14 CFR 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 5000 General

* * * * *

ASW OK D Altus, OK. [Revised]

Altus AFB, OK.

(lat. 34 deg.39'50'' N., long. 99 deg.16'26'' W.)

Altus AFB ILS Localizer

(lat. 34 deg.38'31'' N., long. 99 deg.16'24'' W.)

That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including

3,900 feet MSL within a 5-mile radius of Altus AFB and within 2

miles each side of the Altus AFB ILS Localizer south course

extending from the 5-mile radius to 6.6 miles south of Altus AFB and

within 2 miles each side of the Altus AFB ILS Localizer north course

extending from the 5.0-mile radius to 7.6 miles north of Altus AFB.

* * * * *

Paragraph 6004 Class E airspace areas designated as an extension

to a Class D surface area

* * * * *

ASW OK E4 Altus, OK. [Remove]

* * * * *

Issued in Fort Worth, TX on July 20, 1994.

Helen Fabian Parke,

Manager, Air Traffic Division, Southwest Region.

[FR Doc. 94-20669 Filed 8-22-94; 8:45 am]

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