[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 75 (Tuesday, April 20, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 19314-19316]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-9777]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Airspace Docket No. 98-AAL-9]
Proposed Revision of Class E Airspace; Adak, AK
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This action would revise the Class E airspace at Adak, AK. The
upcoming decommission of the military Nondirectional Beacon (NDB) and
commission of the new NDB/Distance Measuring Equipment (DME), along
with the establishment of Global Positioning System (GPS) and NDB/DME
instrument approaches at Adak, AK, have made this action necessary.
Additionally, the Class E airspace descriptions at Adak, AK, have been
consolidated into one description. Adoption of this proposal would
result in an update of the airspace descriptions and provide adequate
controlled airspace for Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at
Adak, AK.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 4, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Send comments on the proposal in triplicate to: Manager,
Operations Branch, AAL-530, Docket No. 98-AAL-9, Federal Aviation
Administration, 222 West 7th Avenue, Box 14, Anchorage, AK 99513-7587.
The official docket may be examined in the Office of the Regional
Counsel for the Alaskan Region at the same address.
An informal docket may also be examined during normal business
hours in the Office of the Manager, Operations Branch, Air Traffic
Division, at the address shown above and on the Internet at Alaskan
Region's homepage at http://www.alaska.faa.gov/at or at address http://
162.58.28.41/at.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert van Haastert, Operations
Branch, AAL-538, Federal Aviation Administration, 222 West 7th Avenue,
Box 14, Anchorage, AK 99513-7587; telephone number (907) 271-5863; fax:
(907) 271-2850; email: Robert.van.H[email protected]. Internet address:
http://www.alaska.faa.gov/at or at address http://162.58.28.41/at.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
History
The Naval Air Facility (NAF) Adak ceased active military airfield
operations on March 31, 1997. The military tower closed and the
airfield converted to an uncontrolled airport. Consequently, the
airspace around Adak, AK, has been modified to reflect remaining
navigational aids and new requirements. The Adak military NDB and
military Tactical Air Navigational Aid (TACAN) will be decommissioned.
A new FAA NDB/DME (Mount Moffett NDB/DME) will be commissioned. Two new
instrument approach procedures, NDB/DME and GPS, have been developed
for runway (RWY) 23. These
[[Page 19315]]
actions have been coordinated with the U.S. Navy and the Adak Reuse
Corporation. The Adak Reuse Corporation has been established under
federal and State of Alaska oversight to plan and implement the reuse
of former NAF Adak. The Adak Reuse Corporation has been designated the
Local Reuse Authority under Base Realignment and Closure Act (BRAC) law
to be the responsible party to plan airport operations until a new city
is approved on the island.
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. 98-
AAL-9.'' 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 Operations Branch, Air Traffic Division, Federal
Aviation Administration, 222 West 7th Avenue, Box 14, Anchorage, AK,
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 Operations Branch, AAL-530,
Federal Aviation Administration, 222 West 7th Avenue, Box 14,
Anchorage, AK 99513-7587. 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.
Internet users may reach the Federal Register's web page for access
to recently published rulemaking documents at http://
www.access.gpo.gov/su__docs/aces/aces 140.html.
An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded, using a
modem and suitable communications software, from the FAA regulations
section of the Fedworld electronic bulletin board service (telephone:
703-321-3339) or the Federal Register's electronic bulleting board
service (telephone: 202-512-1661).
The Proposal
The FAA proposes to amend 14 CFR part 71 by revising the Class E
airspace at Adak, AK, due to the establishment of GPS and NDB/DME
instrument approach procedures to RWY 23 at Adak, AK. Additionally, the
Class E airspace descriptions will be consolidated into one
description. The intended effect of this proposal is to provide
adequate controlled airspace for IFR operations and revise the airspace
descriptions at Adak, AK.
The area would be depicted on aeronautical charts for pilot
reference. The coordinates for this airspace docket are based on North
American Datum 83. The Class E airspace areas designated as a surface
area for an airport are published in paragraph 6002 in FAA Order
7400.9F, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated September
10, 1998, and effective September 16, 1998, which is incorporated by
reference in 14 CFR 71.1 (63 FR 50139; September 21, 1998). The Class E
airspace areas designated as an extension to a Class D or Class E
surface area are published in FAA Order 7400.9F, paragraph 6004, and
paragraph 6005 lists the Class E airspace areas designated as an 700/
1200 foot transition area. The Class E airspace listed in this document
as a surface area or extension to a surface area will be revoked and
subsequently removed in the Order. The Class E airspace designations
listed in this document as 700/1200 foot transition areas will be
revised and published in the Order.
The FAA has determined that these proposed regulations only involve
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 rule, when promulgated, 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
In consideration of the foregoing, 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 14 CFR 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 7400.9F, Airspace Designations and
Reporting Points, dated September 10, 1998, and effective September 16,
1998, is to be amended as follows:
Paragraph 6002 Class E airspace areas designated as surface areas
for an airport
* * * * *
AAL AK E2 Adak, AK [Revoked]
* * * * *
Paragraph 6004 Class E airspace areas designated as an extension
to a Class D or Class E surface area.
* * * * *
AAL AK E4 Adak, AK [Revoked]
* * * * *
Paragraph 6005 Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet or
more above the surface of the earth.
* * * * *
AAL AK E5 Adak, AK [Revised]
Adak Airport, AK
(Lat. 51 deg. 52' 41'' N., long. 176 deg. 38' 45'' W.)
Mount Moffett NDB
(Lat. 51 deg. 52' 19'' N., long. 176 deg. 40' 34'' W.)
That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface
within a 7-mile radius of Adak Airport and within 5.2 miles
northwest and 4.2 miles southeast of the 061 deg.
[[Page 19316]]
bearing of the Mount Moffett NDB extending from the 7-mile radius to
11.5 miles northeast of the Adak Airport; and that airspace
extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface within 11-mile
radius of the Adak Airport, and within 16 miles of the Adak Airport
extending clockwise from the 033 deg. bearing to the 081 deg.
bearing of the Mount Moffett NDB.
* * * * *
Issued in Anchorage, AK, on April 9, 1999.
Willis C. Nelson,
Manager, Air Traffic Division, Alaskan Region.
[FR Doc. 99-9777 Filed 4-19-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P