Modification of Offshore Airspace Areas: Gulf of Alaska Low and Control 1487L; AK, 4981-4983 [06-898]

Agencies

• Federal Aviation Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 20 (Tuesday, January 31, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 4981-4983]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-898]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2005-22708; Airspace Docket No. 05-AAL-32]
RIN 2120-AA66


Modification of Offshore Airspace Areas: Gulf of Alaska Low and 
Control 1487L; AK

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This action amends the Gulf of Alaska Low and Control 1487L 
Offshore airspace areas in Alaska. Specifically, this action modifies 
the Gulf of Alaska Low and Control 1487L airspace areas in the vicinity 
of the Yakutat Airport, Yakutat, AK, by lowering the affected 
controlled airspace floor to 700 feet mean sea level (MSL) for the Gulf 
of Alaska Low, and 1,200 feet MSL for Control 1487L. The FAA is taking 
this action to provide additional controlled airspace for the safety of 
aircraft executing instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the 
Yakutat Airport.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 0901 UTC, April 13, 2006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ken McElroy, Airspace and Rules, 
Office of

[[Page 4982]]

System Operations Airspace and AIM, Federal Aviation Administration, 
800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 
267-8783.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

History

    On December 8, 2005, the FAA published in the Federal Register a 
notice of proposed rulemaking to modify the Gulf of Alaska Low and 
Control 1487L Offshore Control Areas in Alaska (70 FR 72950). 
Interested parties were invited to participate in this rulemaking 
effort by submitting written comments on the proposal. No comments were 
received.

The Rule

    This action amends Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 
part 71 to modify the Gulf of Alaska Low airspace area, AK, by lowering 
the floor to 700 feet MSL in the vicinity of Yakutat Airport, Yakutat, 
AK. Additionally, the Control 1487L airspace area, AK, will be lowered 
from 5,500 feet MSL to 1,200 feet MSL in the vicinity of Yakutat 
Airport. These areas will provide controlled airspace beyond 12 miles 
from the shoreline of the United States where there is a requirement to 
provide IFR enroute Air Traffic Control services and within which the 
United States is applying domestic air traffic control procedures. This 
rule establishes controlled airspace sufficient in size to support the 
Terminal Arrival Area associated with new IFR operations at Yakutat 
Airport, AK. The FAA Instrument Flight Procedures Production and 
Maintenance Branch has developed three new standard instrument approach 
procedures (SIAP), revised seven SIAPs and revised one departure 
procedure for the Yakutat Airport. Additional controlled airspace 
extending upward from 700 feet and 1,200 feet above the surface in 
international airspace is created by this action. The airspace is 
sufficient to support IFR operations at the Yakutat Airport.
    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. 
Therefore, 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 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, will not have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria of 
the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

ICAO Considerations

    As part of this rule relates to navigable airspace outside the 
United States, the notice of this action is submitted in accordance 
with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) International 
Standards and Recommended Practices.
    The application of International Standards and Recommended 
Practices by the FAA, Office of System Operations Airspace and AIM, 
Airspace & Rules, in areas outside United States domestic airspace, is 
governed by the Convention on International Civil Aviation. 
Specifically, the FAA is governed by Article 12 and Annex 11, which 
pertain to the establishment of necessary air navigational facilities 
and services to promote the safe, orderly, and expeditious flow of 
civil air traffic. The purpose of Article 12 and Annex 11 is to ensure 
that civil aircraft operations on international air routes are 
performed under uniform conditions.
    The International Standards and Recommended Practices in Annex 11 
apply to airspace under the jurisdiction of a contracting state, 
derived from ICAO. Annex 11 provisions apply when air traffic services 
are provided and a contracting state accepts the responsibility of 
providing air traffic services over high seas or in airspace of 
undetermined sovereignty. A contracting state accepting this 
responsibility may apply the International Standards and Recommended 
Practices that are consistent with standards and practices utilized in 
its domestic jurisdiction.
    In accordance with Article 3 of the Convention, state-owned 
aircraft are exempt from the Standards and Recommended Practices of 
Annex 11. The United States is a contracting state to the Convention. 
Article 3(d) of the Convention provides that participating state 
aircraft will be operated in international airspace with due regard for 
the safety of civil aircraft. Since this action involves, in part, the 
designation of navigable airspace outside the United States, the 
Administrator has consulted with the Secretary of State and the 
Secretary of Defense in accordance with the provisions of Executive 
Order 10854.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71

    Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).

The Amendment

0
In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation Administration 
amends 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

0
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]

0
2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of the Federal 
Aviation Administration Order 7400.9N, Airspace Designations and 
Reporting Points, dated September 1, 2005, and effective September 15, 
2005, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6007 Offshore Airspace Areas.

* * * * *

Gulf of Alaska Low, AK [Amended]

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet MSL bounded by a 
line beginning at a point where the 12-mile offshore limit 
intersects long. 144[deg]30[min]00[sec] W.; thence eastward 12 miles 
off shore and parallel to the shoreline to lat. 
59[deg]10[min]36[sec] N., long. 139[deg]31[min]10[sec] W.; to lat. 
59[deg]02[min]49[sec] N., long. 139[deg]47[min]45[sec] W.; to lat. 
59[deg]27[min]12[sec] N., long. 140[deg]31[min]10[sec] W.; thence 
westward along the south boundary of V-440 to long. 
144[deg]30[min]00[sec] W.; thence northward along long. 
144[deg]30[min]00[sec] W.; to the point of beginning.
* * * * *

Control 1487L [Amended]

    That airspace extending upward from 5,500 feet MSL within the 
area bounded by a line beginning at lat. 58[deg]19[min]58[sec] N., 
long. 148[deg]55[min]07[sec] W.; to lat. 59[deg]08[min]34[sec] N., 
long. 147[deg]16[min]06[sec] W.; thence counterclockwise via the arc 
of a 149.5-mile radius centered on the Anchorage VOR/DME to the 
intersection of the 149.5-mile radius arc and a point 12 miles from 
and parallel to the U.S. coastline; thence southeast 12 miles from 
and parallel to the U.S. coastline to a point 12 miles offshore on 
the Vancouver FIR boundary; to lat. 54[deg]32[min]57[sec] N., long. 
133[deg]11[min]29[sec] W.; to lat. 54[deg]00[min]00[sec] N., long. 
136[deg]00[min]00[sec] W.; to lat. 52[deg]43[min]00[sec] N., long. 
135[deg]00[min]00[sec] W.; to lat. 56[deg]45[min]42[sec] N., long. 
151[deg]45[min]00[sec] W.; to the point of beginning; and that 
airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet MSL within the area 
bounded by a line beginning at lat. 59[deg]33[min]25[sec] N., long. 
141[deg]03[min]22[sec] W.; thence southeast 12 miles from and 
parallel to the U.S. coastline to lat. 58[deg]56[min]18[sec] N., 
long. 138[deg]45[min]19[sec] W.; to lat. 58[deg]40[min]00[sec] N., 
long. 139[deg]30[min]00[sec] W.; to lat. 59[deg]00[min]00[sec] N., 
long.

[[Page 4983]]

141[deg]10[min]00[sec] W.; to the point of beginning. The portion 
within Canada is excluded.
* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on January 25, 2006.
Kenneth McElroy,
Acting Manager, Airspace and Rules.
[FR Doc. 06-898 Filed 1-30-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P