Proposed Revocation of Class D Airspace; Andalusia, AL and Proposed Amendment of Class E Airspace; Fort Rucker, AL, 21510-21512 [2012-8560]

Agencies

• Federal Aviation Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 69 (Tuesday, April 10, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 21510-21512]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing 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 https://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 https://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 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 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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