Revocation, Establishment, and Modification of Class E Airspace Areas; Cedar Rapids, IA

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 97-ACE-34]

Revocation, Establishment, and Modification of Class E Airspace

Areas; Cedar Rapids, IA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Direct final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This action revokes the Class E surface area airspace

designated ``Cedar Rapids Municipal Airport, IA,'' and establishes a

larger Class E surface airspace area in its place designated ``Cedar

Rapids, The Eastern Iowa Airport, IA.'' The name of the Cedar Rapids

Municipal Airport has been changed to the Eastern Iowa Airport. In

order to rename the Class E surface area, it is necessary to revoke the

existing airspace designation, and to reestablish the airspace under

the new designation. This action also increases the size of both the

Class E surface area, and the Cedar Rapids Class E airspace area

extending upward from 700 feet above ground level (AGL). The additional

controlled airspace is necessary to accommodate two new Global

Positioning System (GPS) standard instrument approach procedures (SIAP)

which have been established to serve The Eastern Iowa Airport.

DATES: Effective date: 0901 UTC, April 23, 1998.

Comment date: Comments for inclusion in the Rule Docket must be

received on or before March 2, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Send comments regarding the rule in triplicate to: Federal

Aviation (FAA), Manager, Airspace Branch, Air Traffic Division, (ACE-

520), Attention: Rules Docket Number 97-ACE-34, 601 East 12th Street,

Kansas City MO 64106.

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

Counsel for the Central Region at the same address 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 in the Air Traffic Division at the same address listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Kathy Randolph, Air Traffic Division, Airspace Branch, ACE-520C,

Federal Aviation Administration, 601 East 12th Street, Kansas City, MO

64106; telephone: (816) 426-3408.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA has developed GPS RWY 13 and GPS RWY

31 SIAPs to serve The Eastern Iowa Airport, Cedar Rapids, IA. The

amendment to Class E airspace at Cedar Rapids, IA, will provide

additional controlled airspace from the surface, and at and above 700

feet AGL in order to contain the new SIAPs within controlled airspace,

and thereby facilitate separation of aircraft operating under

Instrument Flight Rules (IFR). The areas will be depicted on

appropriate aeronautical charts. Class E airspace areas designated as

surface area for an airport are published in paragraph 6002, and Class

E airspace areas extending from 700 feet or more above the surface of

the earth are published in paragraph 6005 of FAA Order 7400.9E, dated

September 10, 1997, and effective September 16, 1997, which is

incorperated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Class E airspace

designations listed in this document will be published subsequently in

the Order.

The Direct Final Rule Procedure

The FAA anticipates that this regulation will not result in adverse

or negative comment and, therefore, is issuing it as a direct final

rule. Previous actions of this nature have not been controversial and

have not resulted in adverse comments or objections. The amendment will

enhance safety for all flight operations by designating an area the VFR

pilots may anticipate the presence of IFR aircraft at lower altitudes,

especially during inclement

[[Page 4381]]

weather conditions. A greater degree of safety is achieved by depicting

the area on aeronautical charts. Unless a written adverse or negative

comment, or a written notice of intent to submit an adverse or negative

comment is received within the comment period, the regulation will

become effective on the date specified above. After the close of the

comment period, the FAA will publish a document in the Federal Register

indicating that no adverse or negative comments were received and

confirming the date on which the final rule will become effective. If

the FAA does receive, within the comment period, an adverse or negative

comment, or written notice of intent to submit such a comment, a

document withdrawing the direct final rule will be published in the

Federal Register, and a notice of proposed rulemaking may be published

with a new comment period.

Comments Invited

Although this action is in the form of a final rule and was not

preceded by a notice of proposed rulemaking, comments are invited on

this rule. Interested persons are invited to comment on this rule by

submitting such written data, views, or arguments as they may desire.

Communications should identify the Rules Docket Number and be submitted

in triplicate to the address specified under the caption ADDRESSES. All

communications received on or before the closing date for comments will

be considered, and this rule may be amended or withdrawn in light of

the comments received. Factual information that supports the

commenter's ideas and suggestions is extremely helpful in evaluating

the effectiveness of this action and determining whether additional

rulemaking action would be needed.

Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory,

economic, aeronautical, environmental, and energy-related aspects of

the rule that might suggest a need to modify the rule. All comments

submitted will be available, both before and after the closing date for

comments, in the Rules Docket for examination by interested persons. A

report that summarizes each FAA-public contact concerned with the

substance of this action will be filed in the Rules Docket.

Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments

submitted in responses to this rule must submit a self-addressed,

stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments

to Docket No. 97-ACE-34.'' The postcard will be date stamped and

returned to the commenter.

Agency Findings

The regulations adopted herein will not have substantial direct

effects on the States, on the relationship between the national

government and the States, or on the distribution of power and

responsibilities among the various levels of government. Therefore, in

accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this final

rule does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the

preparation of a Federalism Assessment.

The FAA has determined that this regulation is noncontroversial and

unlikely to result in adverse or negative comments. For the reasons

discussed in the preamble, I certify that this regulation (1) is not a

``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866; (2) is

not a ``significant rule'' under Department of Transportation (DOT)

Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11035, February 26, 1979);

and (3) will not have a significant economic impact, positive or

negative, 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

Accordingly, the Federal Aviation Administration amends 14 CFR part

71 as follows:

PART 71--DESIGNATION OF CLASS A, CLASS B, CLASS C, CLASS D, AND

CLASS E AIRSPACE AREAS; AIRWAYS; ROUTES; AND REPORTING POINTS

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

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40103, 40113, 40120; E.O. 10854, 24

FR 9565, 3 CFR, 1959-1963 Comp., p. 389.

Sec. 71.1 [Amended]

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

Aviation Administration Order 7400.9E, Airspace Designations and

Reporting Points, dated September 10, 1997, and effective September 16,

1997, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6002 Class E airspace areas designated as a surface area

for an airport.

* * * * *

ACE IA E2 Cedar Rapids Municipal Airport, IA [Removed]

ACE IA E2 Cedar Rapids, The Eastern Iowa Airport, IA [New]

Cedar Rapids, The Eastern Iowa Airport, IA

(lat. 41 deg.53'05''N., long. 91 deg.42'39''W.)

Within a 4.4-mile radius of The Eastern Iowa 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.

* * * * *

Paragraph 6005 Class E airspace areas extending upward from 700

feet or more above the surface of the earth.

* * * * *

ACE IA E5 Cedar Rapids, IA. [Revised]

Cedar Rapids, The Eastern Iowa Airport, IA.

(lat. 41 deg.53'05''N., long. 91 deg.42'39''W.)

CINDY LOM

(lat. 41 deg.53'08''N., long 91 deg.48'09''W.)

That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface

within a 7.4-mile radius of The Eastern Iowa Airport and within 3

miles each side of the 269 deg. bearing from the CINDY LOM,

extending from the 7.4-mile radius to 19.3 miles west of the

airport.

* * * * *

Issued in Kansas City, MO, on December 17, 1997.

Christopher R. Blum,

Acting Manager, Air Traffic Division Central Region.

[FR Doc. 98-2214 Filed 1-28-98; 8:45 am]

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