Proposed Amendment of Class C Airspace; Lansing, MI, 50346-50347 [2019-20714]

Agencies

• Federal Aviation Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 186 (Wednesday, September 25, 2019)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 50346-50347]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-20714]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2019-0662; Airspace Docket No. 19-AWA-2]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Amendment of Class C Airspace; Lansing, MI

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to modify the Lansing, MI, Class C 
airspace area by amending the effective hours to coincide with the 
associated radar approach control facility hours of operation. The 
designated boundaries and altitudes of the Lansing, MI, Class C 
airspace area would not change. Class C airspace areas are predicated 
on an operational air traffic control tower serviced by a radar 
approach control facility. Additionally, this proposed action would 
establish Class D airspace at Capital Region International Airport, MI, 
when the associated radar approach control facility is not in 
operation.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before November 25, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on this proposal to the U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Operations, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West 
Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590; telephone: 
1(800) 647-5527, or (202) 366-9826. You must identify FAA Docket No. 
FAA-2019-0662; Airspace Docket No. 19-AWA-2 at the beginning of your 
comments. You may also submit comments through the internet at https://www.regulations.gov. FAA Order 7400.11D, Airspace Designations and 
Reporting Points, and subsequent amendments can be viewed online at 
https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/. For further information, 
you can contact the Airspace Policy Group, Federal Aviation 
Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; 
telephone: (202) 267-8783. The Order is also available for inspection 
at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For 
information on the availability of FAA Order 7400.11D at NARA, email: 
[email protected] or go to https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Colby Abbott, Airspace Policy Group, 
Office of Airspace Services, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267-
8783.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Authority for This Rulemaking

    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 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 the National Airspace System as necessary 
to preserve the safe and efficient flow of air traffic.

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-2019-0662; Airspace Docket No. 19-AWA-2) and be submitted in 
triplicate to the Docket Management Facility (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-2019-0662; Airspace Docket No. 19-AWA-2.'' The 
postcard will be date/time stamped and returned to the commenter.
    All communications received on or before the specified comment 
closing date 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 comment 
closing date. 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/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 ADDRESSES section for 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 office of the Operations Support Group, Central 
Service Center, Federal Aviation Administration, 10101 Hillwood Blvd., 
Fort Worth, TX 76177.

Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference

    This document proposes to amend FAA Order 7400.11D, Airspace 
Designations and Reporting Points,

[[Page 50347]]

dated August 8, 2019, and effective September 15, 2019. FAA Order 
7400.11D is publicly available as listed in the ADDRESSES section of 
this document. FAA Order 7400.11D lists Class A, B, C, D, and E 
airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and reporting points.

Background

    The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Modernization and Reform 
Act of 2012, Section 804, (Pub. L. 112-95) required the FAA to 
developed a plan for realigning and consolidating facilities and 
services to support the transition to a Next Generation Air 
Transportation System (NextGen) and to reduce capital, operating, 
maintenance, and administrative costs where such reductions could be 
implemented without adversely affecting safety. As a result, the FAA 
transferred radar approach control service for the Capital Region 
International Airport from the Lansing Airport Traffic Control Tower 
(ATCT) to the Kalamazoo ATCT as part of the consolidation of terminal 
radar approach control facilities in the State of Michigan. The 
Kalamazoo ATCT now operates as ``Great Lakes Approach,'' but is not a 
24-hour radar approach control facility.
    Although radar approach control service for the Capital Region 
International Airport was transferred to Kalamazoo ATCT, which is not a 
24-hour radar approach control facility, the Lansing control tower 
remains a 24-hour facility supporting airport operations. With the 
Lansing control tower operating 24-hours daily, the Capital Region 
International Airport meets the criteria for Class D airspace when the 
Kalamazoo ATCT is not providing radar approach control service.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to Title 14, Code of Federal 
Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 to modify the Lansing, MI, Class C 
airspace area. The proposal would modify the Lansing, MI, Class C 
airspace by amending the effective hours to coincide with the 
associated radar approach control facility's hours of operation. The 
designated boundaries and altitudes of the Class C airspace area would 
not change. In addition, this action proposes to establish the Lansing, 
MI, Class D airspace area at the Capital Region International Airport 
to provide controlled airspace for airport operations and instrument 
approach and departure procedures when the associated radar approach 
control facility is not in operation.
    Class C airspace areas are published in paragraph 4000 and Class D 
airspace areas are published in paragraph 5000 of FAA Order 7400.11D, 
dated August 8, 2019, and effective September 15, 2019, which is 
incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Class C airspace area 
modification and Class D airspace establishment proposed in this 
document would be published subsequently in the Order.
    FAA Order 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, is 
published yearly and effective on September 15.

Regulatory Notices and Analyses

    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 
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.

Environmental Review

    This proposal will be subject to an environmental analysis in 
accordance with FAA Order 1050.1F, ``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

    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

0
1. The authority citation for part 71 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  49 U.S.C. 106(f), 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 FAA Order 7400.11D, 
Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 8, 2019, and 
effective September 15, 2019, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 4000 Subpart C--Class C Airspace

* * * * *

AGL MI C Lansing, MI [Amended]

Capital Region International Airport, MI
    (Lat. 42[deg]46'43'' N, long. 84[deg]35'10'' W)

That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including 
4,900 feet MSL within a 5-mile radius of Capital Region 
International Airport; and that airspace extending upward from 2,100 
feet MSL to and including 4,900 feet MSL within a 10-mile radius of 
Capital Region International Airport. This Class C airspace area is 
effective during the specific dates and times established in advance 
by a Notice to Airmen. The effective date and time will thereafter 
be continuously published in the Chart Supplement.
* * * * *

Paragraph 5000 Subpart D--Class D Airspace

* * * * *

AGL MI D Lansing, MI [New]

Capital Region International Airport, MI
    (Lat. 42[deg]46'43'' N, long. 84[deg]35'10'' W)

That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including 
3,400 feet MSL within a 5-mile radius of Capital Region 
International Airport. This Class D airspace area is effective 
during the specific dates and times established in advance by a 
Notice to Airmen. The effective date and time will thereafter be 
continuously published in the Chart Supplement.
* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on September 18, 2019.
Scott M. Rosenbloom,
Acting Manager, Airspace Policy Group.
[FR Doc. 2019-20714 Filed 9-24-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P