Proposed Establishment of Class E Airspace; and Modification of Class E Airspace; Alpena, MI

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 99-AGL-11]

Proposed Establishment of Class E Airspace; and Modification of

Class E Airspace; Alpena, MI

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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[[Page 8032]]

SUMMARY: This notice proposes to establish Class E airspace and modify

Class E airspace at Alpena, MI. A Global Positioning System (GPS)

Standard Instrument Approach Procedure (SIAP), 012 deg. helicopter

point in space approach, has been developed for Alpena General Hospital

Heliport, Alpena, MI. Controlled airspace extending upward from 700 to

1200 feet above ground level (AGL) is needed to contain aircraft

executing the approach. This action proposes to modify existing

controlled airspace for Alpena, MI, in order to include the point in

space approach serving Alpena General Hospital Heliport. In addition,

air carrier operations are conducted into and out of the airport during

periods of time when the airport traffic control tower (ATCT) is

closed. This action would create a Class E surface area during periods

of time when the ATCT is closed to better accommodate those operations.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 2, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on the proposal in triplicate to: Federal

Aviation Administration, Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel, AGL-7

Rules Docket No. 99-AGL-11, 2300 East Devon Avenue, Des Plaines,

Illinois 60018.

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

Chief Counsel, Federal Aviation Administration, 2300 East Devon Avenue,

Des Plaines, Illinois. An informal docket may also be examined during

normal business hours at the Air Traffic Division, Airspace Branch,

Federal Aviation Administration, 2300 East Devon Avenue, Des Plaines,

Illinois.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michelle M. Behm, Air Traffic

Division, Airspace Branch, AGL-520, Federal Aviation Administration,

2300 East Devon Avenue, Des Plaines, Illinois 60018, telephone (847)

294-7568.

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 number and be

submitted in triplicate to the address listed above. Commenters wishing

the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments on this notice must

submit with those comments a self-addressed, stamped postcard on which

the following statement is made: ``Comments to Airspace Docket No. 99-

AGL-11.'' The postcard will be date/time stamped and returned to the

commenter. All communications received on or 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 light of comments received. All comments submitted will be available

for examination in the Rules Docket, FAA, Great Lakes Region, Office of

the Assistant Chief Counsel, 2300 East Devon Avenue, Des Plaines,

Illinois, 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 Federal Aviation Administration,

Office of Public Affairs, Attention: Public Inquiry Center, APA-230,

800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591, or by calling (202)

267-3484. 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, which

describes the application procedure.

The Proposal

The FAA is considering an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 to establish

Class E airspace and modify Class E airspace at Alpena, MI, to

accommodate aircraft executing the proposed GPS SIAP 012 deg.

helicopter point in space approach for Alpena General Hospital Heliport

by modifying existing controlled airspace, and to accommodate air

carrier operations during periods of time when the ATCT is closed by

establishing a new Class E surface area. Controlled airspace extending

upward from the surface is needed to contain aircraft executing the

instrument approach procedures. The area would be depicted on

appropriate aeronautical charts. Class E airspace designations for

airspace areas extending upward from the surface are published in

paragraph 6002 and Class E airspace designations for airspace areas

extending upward from 700 feet or more above the surface of the earth

are published in paragraph 6005 of FAA Order 7400.9F dated September

10, 1998, and effective September 16, 1998, which is incorporated by

reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Class E airspace designation 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 for which frequent and

routine amendments are necessary to keep them operationally current.

Therefore, this proposed regulation--(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 proposed 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).

The Proposed Amendment

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

Aviation Administration proposes to amend 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 the Federal

Aviation Administration Order 7400.9F, Airspace Designations and

Reporting Points, dated September 10, 1998, and effective September 16,

1998, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6002 Class E airspace areas designated as surface areas.

* * * * *

AGL MI E2 Alpena, MI [New]

Alpena County Regional Airport

(Lat. 45 deg.04'41'' N., long. 83 deg.33'37'' W.)

Alpena VORTAC

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(Lat. 45 deg.04'58'' N., long. 83 deg.33'25'' W.)

Within a 4.4-mile radius of the Alpena County Regional Airport, and

within 2.5 miles each side of the Alpena VORTAC 350 deg. radial,

extending from the 4.4-mile radius of the airport to 7.0 miles north

of the VORTAC, and within 2.5 miles each side of the Alpena VORTAC

187 deg. radial, extending from the 4.4-mile radius of the airport

to 7.0 miles south of the VORTAC. 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.

* * * * *

AGL MI E5 Alpena, MI [Revised]

Alpena County Regional Airport

(Lat. 45 deg.04'41'' N., long. 83 deg.33'37'' W.)

Alpena VORTAC

(Lat. 45 deg.04'58'' N., long. 83 deg.33'25'' W.)

FELPS NDB

(Lat. 44 deg.57'39'' N., long. 83 deg.33'36'' W.)

Alpena General Hospital, MI

Point in Space Coordinates

(Lat. 45 deg.04'38'' N., long. 83 deg.26'53'' W.)

That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface

within a 7.0-mile radius of Alpena County Regional Airport and

within 4.0 miles each side of the 180 deg. bearing from the FELPS

NDB extending from the 7.0-mile radius to 12.3 miles south of the

Alpena VORTAC, and within a 6.0-mile radius of the Point in Space

serving Alpena General Hospital.

* * * * *

Issued in Des Plaines, Illinois on January 29, 1999.

Michelle M. Behm,

Acting Manager, Air Traffic Division.

[FR Doc. 99-4018 Filed 2-17-99; 8:45 am]

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