[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 69 (Tuesday, April 10, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 21510-21512]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-8560]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2011-1457; Airspace Docket No. 11-ASO-47]
Proposed Revocation of Class D Airspace; Andalusia, AL and
Proposed Amendment of Class E Airspace; Fort Rucker, AL
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: This action proposes to remove Class D Airspace at Andalusia,
AL, as the Air Traffic Control Tower at South Alabama Regional Airport
at Bill Benton Field has closed, and amend Class E Airspace at Fort
Rucker, AL, by recognizing the airport's name change to South Alabama
Regional Airport at Bill Benton Field. This action also would update
the geographic coordinates of the two listed Class E airports.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 25, 2012. The
Director of
[[Page 21511]]
the Federal Register approves this incorporation by reference action
under title 1, Code of Federal Regulations, part 51, subject to the
annual revision of FAA, Order 7400.9 and publication of conforming
amendments.
ADDRESSES: Send comments on this rule to: U.S. Department of
Transportation, Docket Operations, West Building Ground Floor, Room
W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001;
Telephone: 1-800-647-5527; Fax: 202-493-2251. You must identify the
Docket Number FAA-2011-1457; Airspace Docket No. 11-ASO-47, at the
beginning of your comments. You may also submit and review received
comments through the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Fornito, Operations Support
Group, Eastern Service Center, Federal Aviation Administration, P.O.
Box 20636, Atlanta, Georgia 30320; telephone (404) 305-6364.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
Interested persons are invited to comment on this rule 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 both docket numbers (FAA Docket No.
FAA-2011-1457; Airspace Docket No. 11-ASO-47) and be submitted in
triplicate to the Docket Management System (see ADDRESSES section for
address and phone number). You may also submit comments through the
Internet at http://www.regulations.gov.
Persons wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments on
this action must submit with those comments a self-addressed stamped
postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments to Docket
No. FAA-2011-1457; Airspace Docket No. 11-ASO-47.'' The postcard will
be date/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 light of the
comments received. A report summarizing each substantive public contact
with FAA personnel concerned with this rulemaking will be filed in the
docket.
Availability of NPRMs
An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded from and
comments submitted through http://www.regulations.gov. Recently
published rulemaking documents can also be accessed through the FAA's
Web page at http://www.faa.gov/airports_airtraffic/air_traffic/publications/airspace_amendments/.
You may review the public docket containing the proposal, any
comments received and any final disposition in person in the Dockets
Office (see the ADDRESSES section for address and phone number) between
9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays. An
informal docket may also be examined during normal business hours at
the office of the Eastern Service Center, Federal Aviation
Administration, room 350, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, Georgia
30337.
Persons interested in being placed on a mailing list for future
NPRM's should contact the FAA's Office of Rulemaking, (202) 267-9677,
to request a copy of Advisory circular No. 11-2A, Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking distribution System, which describes the application
procedure.
The Proposal
The FAA is considering an amendment to Title 14, Code of Federal
Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 to remove Class D airspace at Andalusia,
AL, due to the closing of the air traffic control tower at South
Alabama Regional Airport at Bill Benton Field (formerly Andalusia-Opp
Airport.) This action also amends Class E airspace to recognize the
name change from Andalusia-Opp Airport to South Alabama Regional
Airport at Bill Benton Field, and adjust the geographic coordinates of
the above airport, Cairns AAF, Ft Rucker, AL and Florala Municipal, AL.
Class D and E airspace designations are published in Paragraph 5000
and 6005 respectively of FAA Order 7400.9V, dated August 9, 2011, and
effective September 15, 2011, which is incorporated by reference in 14
CFR 71.1. The Class D and E airspace designations listed in this
document will 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.
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 proposed rule, when promulgated, would not have a
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities
under the criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
The FAA's authority to issue rules regarding aviation safety is
found in Title 49 of the United States Code. Subtitle I, Section 106
describes the authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII,
Aviation Programs, describes in more detail the scope of the agency's
authority. This proposed rulemaking is promulgated under the authority
described in Subtitle VII, Part, A, Subpart I, Section 40103. Under
that section, the FAA is charged with prescribing regulations to assign
the use of airspace necessary to ensure the safety of aircraft and the
efficient use of airspace. This proposed regulation is within the scope
of that authority as it would remove Class D airspace at Andalusia, AL,
and amend Class E airspace at Fort Rucker, AL.
This proposal will be subject to an environmental analysis in
accordance with FAA Order 1050.1E, ``Environmental Impacts: Policies
and Procedures'' prior to any FAA final regulatory action.
Lists 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--DESIGNATION OF CLASS A, B, C, D, AND E AIRSPACE AREAS; AIR
TRAFFIC SERVICE 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 7400.9V, Airspace Designations and
Reporting Points,
[[Page 21512]]
dated August 9, 2011, effective September 15, 2011, is amended as
follows:
Paragraph 5000 Class D airspace.
* * * * *
ASO AL D Andalusia, AL [Removed]
Paragraph 6005 Class E airspace.
* * * * *
ASO AL E5 Fort Rucker, AL [Amended]
Fort Rucker, Cairns AAF, AL
(Lat. 31[deg]16'33'' N., long. 85[deg]42'48'' W.)
South Alabama Regional Airport at Bill Benton Field, Andalusia, AL
(Lat. 31[deg]18'30'' N., long. 86[deg]23'32'' W.)
Florala Municipal Airport, AL
(Lat. 31[deg]02'33'' N., long. 86[deg]18'42'' W.)
That airspace extending upward from 700 feet or more above the
surface within the area bounded by a line beginning at lat.
31[deg]38'01'' N., long. 86[deg]23'30'' W.; to lat. 31[deg]45'01''
N., long. 85[deg]38'00'' W.; to lat. 31[deg]17'01'' N., long.
85[deg]26'00'' W.; thence to lat. 31[deg]04'01'' N., long.
85[deg]52'00'' W.; to lat. 31[deg]03'02'' N., long. 86[deg]11'04''
W.; to and clockwise along the arc of a 6.5-mile radius circle of
Florala Municipal Airport to lat. 31[deg]02'14'' N., long.
86[deg]26'10'' W.; thence to the point of beginning and within a 7-
mile radius of South Alabama Regional Airport at Bill Benton Field.
Issued in College Park, Georgia, on March 30, 2012.
Barry A. Knight,
Manager, Operations Support Group, Eastern Service Center, Air Traffic
Organization.
[FR Doc. 2012-8560 Filed 4-9-12; 8:45 am]
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