Proposed Modification of Class D Airspace: Hood Army Airfield and Robert Gray Army Airfield, TX

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 93-ASW-55]

Proposed Modification of Class D Airspace: Hood Army Airfield and

Robert Gray Army Airfield, TX

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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

Hood Army Airfield (AAF) and Robert Gray AAF, and to establish Class E

airspace at Killeen Municipal Airport, Killeen, TX. The current Class D

airspace encompasses Killeen Municipal Airport and with airspace

reclassification, aircraft operators at Killeen Municipal Airport are

now required to establish two-way radio communication with Hood AAF Air

Traffic Airport Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) or when Hood AAF ATCT is

closed, Robert Gray AAF ATCT. This notice proposes to remove the

airspace surrounding Killeen Municipal Airport from Hood AAF's Class D

airspace and to establish Class E airspace around Killeen Municipal

Airport. The intended effect of this proposal is to maintain adequate

Class D airspace and two-way radio communications at Hood AAF and

Robert Gray AAF, to remove Killeen Municipal Airport, TX, from the

current Class D airspace, and to establish Class E airspace around

Killeen Municipal Airport, Killeen, TX.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 11, 1994.

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

System Management Branch, Air Traffic Division, Southwest Region,

Docket No. 93-ASW-55, 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, Fort Worth, TX, between 9 a.m. and 3 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-55.'' 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, Fort 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,

Fort 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 Class D airspace at

Hood AAF and Robert Gray AAF, TX, and to establish Class E airspace at

Killeen Municipal Airport, Killeen, TX. This modification has been

requested by both the operators of Hood AAF and the operators of

Killeen Municipal Airport. The proposal would remove that portion of

current Class D airspace which surrounds Killeen Municipal Airport and

would establish Class E airspace around Killeen Municipal Airport. The

intended effect of this proposal is to maintain adequate Class D

airspace and two-way radio communications to contain instrument flight

rule (IFR) operations at Hood AAF and Robert Gray AAF, TX, to remove

Killeen Municipal Airport from the Class D airspace, and to establish

Class E airspace at Killeen Municipal Airport, Killeen, Texas.

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 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 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 TX D Hood Army Airfield (AAF), TX (Modify)

Hood Army Airfield (AAF), TX

(lat. 31 deg.08'16'' N., long. 97 deg.42'51'' W.)

Killeen Municipal Airport, TX

(lat. 31 deg.05'08'' N., long. 97 deg.41'12'' W.)

Robert Gray Airfield (AAF), TX

(lat. 31 deg.03'54'' N., long. 97 deg.49'40'' W.)

That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including

3,500 feet within a 3.8-mile radius of the Hood AAF excluding that

airspace within the Robert Gray AAF, TX, Class D surface area and

excluding that airspace southeast of a direct line between latitude

31 deg.04'39'' N., longitude 97 deg.44'16'' W., and the northeast

intersection of the 4.0-mile radius of Killeen Municipal Airport and

the 3.8-mile radius of Hood AAF. 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.

* * * * *

ASW TX D Robert Gray Army Airfield (AAF), TX [Modify]

Robert Gray Army Airfield (AAF), TX

(lat. 31 deg.03'54'' N., long. 97 deg.49'40'' W.)

Hood Army Airfield (AAF), TX

(lat. 31 deg.08'16'' N., long. 97 deg.42'51'' W.)

Killeen Municipal Airport, TX

(lat. 31 deg.05'08'' N., long. 97 deg.41'12'' W.)

That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including

3,500 feet within a 4.7-mile radius of Robert Gray AAF and within a

3.8-mile radius of Hood AAF, excluding that airspace southeast of a

direct line between latitude 31 deg.04'39'' N., longitude

97 deg.44'16'' W., and the northeast intersection of the 4.0-mile

radius of Killeen Municipal Airport and the 3.8-mile radius of Hood

AAF, and excluding that airspace within the Hood AAF, TX, Class D

surface area when it is effective.

* * * * *

Paragraph 6002 Class E Airspace Areas Designated as a Surface Area

for an Airport

* * * * *

ASW TX E2 Killeen, TX (New)

Killeen Municipal Airport, TX

(lat. 31 deg.05'08'' N., long. 97 deg.41'12'' W.)

Hood Army Airfield (AAF), TX

(lat. 31 deg.08'16'' N., long. 97 deg.42'51'' W.)

Robert Gray Army Airfield (AAF), TX

(lat. 31 deg.03'54'' N., long. 97 deg.49'40'' W.)

That airspace extending upward from the surface within a 4-mile

radius of Killeen Municipal Airport excluding that airspace within

the Robert Gray AAF, TX, Class D surface area and excluding that

airspace northwest of a direct line between latitude 31 deg.04'39''

N., longitude 97 deg.44'16'' W., and the northeast intersection of

the 4.0-mile radius of Killeen Municipal Airport and the 3.8-mile

radius of Hood AAF.

* * * * *

Larry L. Craig,

Manager, Air Traffic Division, Southwest Region.

[FR Doc. 94-629 Filed 1-11-94; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-13-M