Amendment to Class D Airspace; Westfield, MA

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 98-ANE-91]

Amendment to Class D Airspace; Westfield, MA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Direct final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This action revises the Class D airspace area at Westfield, MA

(KBAF) to reflect the results of improved airspace computations through

the use of computer mapping to determine the controlled airspace

requirements for standard instrument approach procedures to Barnes

Municipal Airport, Westfield, MA.

DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, April 23, 1998.

Comments for inclusion in the Rules Docket must be received on or

before March 23, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on the rule to: Manager, Airspace Branch, ANE-

520, Federal Aviation Administration, Docket No. 98-ANE-91, 12 New

England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803-5299; telephone (781) 238-

7530; fax (781) 238-7596. Comments may also be sent electronically via

the internet to the following address: ``9 ne [email protected]''

Comments sent electronically must indicate Docket 98-ANE-91 in the

subject line.

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

Regional Counsel, New England Region, ANE-7, Room 401, 12 New England

Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803-5299; telephone (781) 238-7050;

fax (781) 238-7055.

An informal docket may also be examined during normal business

hours in the Air Traffic Division, Room 408, by contacting the Acting

Manager, Airspace Branch at the first address listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David T. Bayley, ANE-502.3, 12 New

England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803-5299; telephone (781) 238-

7523; fax (617) 238-7596.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The FAA recently performed a review of the controlled airspace in

the vicinity of Barnes Municipal Airport, Westfield, MA (KBAF), noted a

need to recompute the airspace requirements to accommodate aircraft

using the standard instrument approach procedures at that airport. This

effort utilized computer mapping which resulted in greater accuracy in

determining the requirements for controlled airspace to accommodate

aircraft using the RWY 20 HI Alt TACAN and HI Alt ILS instrument

approaches to Barnes Municipal Airport. This action is needed to revise

the Class D airspace area at Westfield, MA by increasing slightly the

base radius of the Class D airspace while eliminating all Class D

extensions. Class D airspace designations are published in paragraph

5000 of FAA Order 7400.9E, dated September 10, 1997, and effective

September 16, 1997, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1.

The Class D airspace designation contained in this document will be

published subsequently in this Order.

The Direct Final Rule Procedure

The FAA anticipates that this regulation will not result in adverse

or negative comment, and, therefore, issues it as a direct final rule.

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.

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 direct final rule, and was

not preceded by a notice of proposed rulemaking, interested persons are

invited to comment on this rule by submitting such written data, views,

or arguments as they may desire. Communications

[[Page 8563]]

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, environmental, and energy 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 response to this rule must submit a self-addressed,

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

to Docket No. 98-ANE-91.'' 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 11034, February 26, 1979);

and (3) does not warrant preparation of a Regulatory Evaluation as

these routine matters will only affect air traffic procedures and air

navigation. It is certified that these proposed rules will not have

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

Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me, the Federal

Aviation Administration amends part 71 of the Federal Aviation

Regulations (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. 106(g), 40103, 40113, 40120; E.O. 10854, 24

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

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 5000 Class D Airspace.

* * * * *

ANE MA D Westfield, MA [Revised]

Westfield, Barnes Municipal Airport, MA

(Lat. 42 deg.09'28'' N, long. 72 deg.42'56'' W)

That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including

2,800 feet MSL within a 4.9-mile radius of Barnes Municipal Airport

excluding that airspace within the Springfield/Chicopee, MA Class D

airspace area during the dates and times it is effective, and that

airspace within the Windsor Locks, CT Class C airspace area. This

Class D airspace is effective during the specific dates and times

established in advance by a Notice to Airmen. The effective dates

and times will thereafter be continuously published in the Airport/

Facility Directory.

* * * * *

Issued in Burlington, MA, on February 12, 1998.

William C. Yuknewicz,

Assistant Manager, Air Traffic Division, New England Region.

[FR Doc. 98-4313 Filed 2-19-98; 8:45 am]

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