Proposed Amendment of Class E Airspace; Willcox, AZ and Revocation of Class E Airspace; Cochise, AZ, 1428-1429 [2012-247]

Agencies

• Federal Aviation Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 6 (Tuesday, January 10, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 1428-1429]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-247]


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Proposed Rules
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.

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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 6 / Tuesday, January 10, 2012 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 1428]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2011-1314; Airspace Docket No. 11-AWP-18]


Proposed Amendment of Class E Airspace; Willcox, AZ and 
Revocation of Class E Airspace; Cochise, AZ

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to modify Class E airspace at Willcox, AZ 
and remove Class E airspace at Cochise, AZ. Controlled airspace is 
necessary to accommodate aircraft using Area Navigation (RNAV) Global 
Positioning System (GPS) standard instrument approach procedures at 
Cochise County Airport, Willcox, AZ. This action also proposes to 
remove the airspace designated as Cochise, AZ and combine it with 
Cochise County Airport, Willcox, AZ. Decommissioning of the Cochise VHF 
Omni-Directional Radio Range Tactical Air Navigation Aid (VORTAC) has 
made this action necessary for the safety and management of aircraft 
operations at the airport.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 24, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on this proposal to the U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, 
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590; 
telephone (202) 366-9826. You must identify FAA Docket No. FAA-2011-
1314; Airspace Docket No. 11-AWP-18, at the beginning of your comments. 
You may also submit comments through the Internet at https://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eldon Taylor, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center, 1601 
Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057; telephone (425) 203-4537.

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 both docket numbers (FAA Docket No. 
FAA 2011-1314 and Airspace Docket No. 11-AWP-18) 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 https://www.regulations.gov.
    Commenters 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 FAA 
Docket No. FAA-2011-1314 and Airspace Docket No. 11-AWP-18.'' 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 action may be changed in light of 
comments received. All comments submitted will be available for 
examination in the public docket 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 NPRMs

    An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded through the 
Internet at https://www.regulations.gov. Recently published rulemaking 
documents can also be accessed through the FAA's web page at https://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 the 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 Northwest Mountain Regional Office of the Federal 
Aviation Administration, Air Traffic Organization, Western Service 
Center, Operations Support Group, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 
98057.
    Persons interested in being placed on a mailing list for future 
NPRMs should contact the FAA's Office of Rulemaking, (202) 267-9677, 
for a copy of Advisory Circular No. 11-2A, Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking Distribution System, which describes the application 
procedure.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to Title 14 Code of Federal 
Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 to modify Class E airspace at Cochise 
County Airport, Willcox, AZ. Controlled airspace extending upward from 
700 feet above the surface is necessary to accommodate aircraft using 
RNAV (GPS) standard instrument approach procedures at Cochise County 
Airport. This action would then remove the Cochise, AZ, airspace 
extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface and combine this 
airspace with Cochise County Airport, Willcox, AZ. Decommissioning of 
the Cochise VORTAC has made this action necessary, and would enhance 
the safety and management of aircraft operations within the National 
Airspace System.
    Class E airspace designations are published in paragraph 6005, 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 E 
airspace designation listed in this document will be published 
subsequently in this Order.
    The FAA has determined 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

[[Page 1429]]

(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 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 U.S. Code. Subtitle 1, Section 106, describes 
the authority for the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII, Aviation 
Programs, describes in more detail the scope of the agency's authority. 
This 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 the 
airspace necessary to ensure the safety of aircraft and the efficient 
use of airspace. This regulation is within the scope of that authority 
as it would modify controlled airspace at Cochise County Airport, 
Willcox, AZ, and revoke controlled airspace over Cochise, AZ VORTAC.

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, B, C, D, AND E AIRSPACE AREAS; AIR 
TRAFFIC SERVICE 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 the FAA Order 
7400.9V, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 9, 
2011, and effective September 15, 2011 is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6005 Class E airspace areas extending upward from 700 
feet or more above the surface of the earth.

* * * * *

AWP AZ E5 Willcox, AZ [Modified]

Cochise County Airport, AZ
    (Lat. 32[deg]14'44'' N., long. 109[deg]53'41'' W.)
    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within 6.5-mile radius of the Cochise County Airport and within 5 
miles each side of the 225[deg] bearing of the Cochise County 
Airport extending from the 6.5-mile radius to 14.5 miles southwest 
of the Cochise County Airport, and within 5.5 miles southeast and 
4.5 miles northwest of the 055[deg] bearing of the Cochise County 
Airport extending from the 6.5-mile radius to 14.5 miles northeast 
of the Cochise County Airport. That airspace extending upward from 
1,200 feet above the surface bounded by a line beginning at lat. 
32[deg]22'30'' N., long. 110[deg]00'02'' W.; to lat. 32[deg]22'00'' 
N., long. 109[deg]57'30'' W.; to lat. 32[deg]30'00'' N., long. 
109[deg]54'00'' W.; to lat. 32[deg]22'40'' N., long. 109[deg]25'00'' 
W.; to lat. 32[deg]15'30'' N., long. 109[deg]27'30'' W.; to lat. 
32[deg]14'25'' N., long. 109[deg]25'22'' W.; to lat. 32[deg]10'20'' 
N., long. 109[deg]25'22'' W.; to lat. 32[deg]10'20'' N., and the 
Arizona/New Mexico border, thence south along the Arizona/New Mexico 
border to lat. 31[deg]52'40'' N.; to lat. 31[deg]54'00'' N., long. 
109[deg]25'27'' W.; to lat. 31[deg]57'05'' N., long. 109[deg]55'02'' 
W.; to lat. 32[deg]07'00'' N., long. 109[deg]54'02'' W.; to lat. 
32[deg]07'30'' N., long. 110[deg]00'02'' W., thence to the point of 
beginning.

Paragraph 6005 Class E airspace areas extending upward from 700 
feet or more above the surface of the earth.

* * * * *

AWP AZ E5 Cochise, AZ [Removed]

    Issued in Seattle, Washington, on December 27, 2011.
William Buck,
Acting Manager, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2012-247 Filed 1-9-12; 8:45 am]
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