Proposed Establishment of Class D Airspace; Bryant AAF, Anchorage, AK, 34608-34609 [2013-13596]

Agencies

• Federal Aviation Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 111 (Monday, June 10, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 34608-34609]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-13596]



[[Page 34608]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2012-0433; Airspace Docket No. 12-AAL-5]


Proposed Establishment of Class D Airspace; Bryant AAF, 
Anchorage, AK

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA is issuing a SNPRM for the Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking (NPRM) published on August 22, 2012 to establish Class D 
airspace at Bryant Army Airfield (AAF), Anchorage, AK. After review of 
comments received, the FAA determined that the portion of controlled 
airspace east of Glenn Highway needs further review and, therefore, 
would be eliminated from this proposal for the safety and management of 
aircraft operations at the airport.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 25, 2013.

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-2012-
0433; Airspace Docket No. 12-AAL-5, at the beginning of your comments. 
You may also submit comments through the Internet at https://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Roberts, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center, 1601 
Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057; telephone (425) 203-4517.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

History

    On August 22, 2012, the FAA published a NPRM to establish Class D 
airspace at Bryant AAF, Anchorage, AK, to provide controlled airspace 
due to an increase in the complexity, volume and variety of aircraft in 
the immediate vicinity of Bryant AAF (77 FR 50646). Thirteen comments 
were received, including comments from the Aircraft Owners and Pilots 
Association (AOPA), Alaska Airmen's Association (AAA), and the Alaskan 
Aviation Safety Foundation (AASF). One commenter believes it is a good 
idea to reestablish the Class D airspace, which previously existed at 
Bryant AAF.
    AOPA identified three issues that affect pilots using the Eastside 
VFR corridor they would like to see addressed. These include the impact 
on pilots' situational awareness due to additional communication 
frequencies to monitor, the possible compression of traffic using the 
Eastside VFR flyway (Glenn Highway), and the availability of weather 
information at Fort Richardson. The FAA agrees that additional 
information is needed to adequately address these concerns and will 
exclude that portion of the original design east of the highway from 
the surface to 1,600 feet MSL. The FAA does not agree with their 
concern for weather observation. The establishment of Class D airspace 
requires weather observation at the primary airport (Bryant AAF). As 
part of the activation of this airspace the United States Air Force 
(USAF) will assume responsibility for weather support and dissemination 
through normal means.
    AASF, along with several commenters, requested additional time to 
review the proposal. They were concerned with the impact of the 
proposal on pilots operating east of Glenn Highway, citing an increase 
in military aircraft operating east of the highway, a possible change 
in communication requirements, a potential negative impact in the 
pilots' situational awareness, the compression of traffic along the VFR 
corridor, a decrease in safety when weather is below 1600 feet AGL; and 
that reestablishment of the Class D at Bryant AAF will reduce the 
maneuvering room for aircraft entering the Merrill Field airspace area. 
The FAA finds merit in these comments and will exclude that portion of 
the original design east of the highway from the surface to 1,600 feet 
MSL. AASF also noted that there was an error in the latitude and 
longitude for two waypoints, which has been corrected in this SNPRM; 
and AWOS weather observation needs to be broadcast through all normal 
weather dissemination channels. The USAF will assume responsibility for 
weather support and dissemination through normal methods at the primary 
airport (Bryant AAF) as required for Class D airspace.
    The AAA requested additional time to review the proposal and that 
the entire composition of airspace be considered before making a 
determination. The FAA has completed an aeronautical study of the air 
traffic operations in this area and concludes that the majority of air 
traffic transits east of Glenn Highway. As previously stated, the FAA 
has excluded that portion east of Glenn Highway.

Remove Return

    After review of public comments, analysis of the traffic flow and 
the operational requirements for this area, the FAA believes the 
effects of operating with Class D airspace east of Glenn Highway would 
require further study. This SNPRM has excluded that portion of the 
original design east of the highway from the surface to 1,600 feet MSL. 
The FAA seeks comments on this SNPRM.

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 2012-0433 and Airspace Docket No. 12-AAL-5) 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-2012-0433 and airspace Docket No. 12-AAL-5''. 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://

[[Page 34609]]

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 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 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 
NPRM's 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 Supplemental Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to Title 14 Code of Federal 
Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 by establishing Class D airspace extending 
upward from the surface to and including 2,900 feet MSL at Bryant AAF, 
Anchorage AK. Controlled airspace is necessary to accommodate the 
increased volume and variety of aircraft arriving and departing the 
immediate vicinity of Bryant AAF. This action would enhance the safety 
and management of terminal VFR operations at the airport.
    Class D airspace designations are published in paragraph 5000 of 
FAA Order 7400.9W, dated August 8, 2012, and effective September 15, 
2012, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Class D 
airspace designation listed in this document will be published 
subsequently in this 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. 
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 (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 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 establish controlled airspace at Bryant AAF, Anchorage AK.
    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.

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

0
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]

0
2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of the Federal 
Aviation Administration Order 7400.9W, Airspace Designations and 
Reporting Points, dated August 8, 2012, and effective September 15, 
2012, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 5000 Class D Airspace.

* * * * *

AAL AK D Bryant Army Airfield, Anchorage AK [NEW]

Bryant AAF, AK
    (Lat. 61[deg]15'57'' N., long. 149[deg]39'12'' W.)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including 
2,900 feet MSL within an area bounded by a line beginning at lat. 
61[deg]17'3'' N., long. 149[deg]37'35'' W.; to lat. 61[deg]17'13'' 
N., long. 149[deg]43'08'' W.; to lat. 61[deg]13'49'' N., long. 
149[deg]43'08'' W.; to lat. 61[deg]13'54'' N., long. 149[deg]42'44'' 
W.; to lat. 61[deg]14'24'' N., long. 149[deg]41'23'' W.; to lat. 
61[deg]15'54'' N., long. 149[deg]38'20'' W.; thence to the point of 
beginning.

    Issued in Seattle, Washington, on May 24, 2013.
Clark Desing,
Manager, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2013-13596 Filed 6-7-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P