Proposed Amendment of Class E Airspace; Sweetwater, TX, 5346-5347 [2020-01586]

Agencies

• Federal Aviation Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 20 (Thursday, January 30, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 5346-5347]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-01586]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2019-0787; Airspace Docket No. 19-ASW-11]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Amendment of Class E Airspace; Sweetwater, TX

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to amend Class E airspace areas extending 
upward from 700 feet or more above the surface of the earth at Avenger 
Field Airport, Sweetwater, TX. The FAA is proposing this action as the 
result of an airspace review caused by the decommissioning of the 
Sweetwater non-directional radio beacon (NDB). The geographic 
coordinates for the airport and the name of the airport would be 
updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database. Airspace 
redesign is necessary for the safety and management of instrument 
flight rules (IFR) operations at these airports.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 16, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on this proposal to the U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Operations, West Building Ground Floor, Room 
W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590, telephone 
(202) 366-9826, or (800) 647-5527. You must identify FAA Docket No. 
FAA-2019-0787; Airspace Docket No. 19-ASW-11, at the beginning of your 
comments. You may also submit comments through the internet at https://www.regulations.gov. You may review the public docket containing the 
proposal, any comments received, and any final disposition in person in 
the Dockets Office between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except federal holidays.
    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: Rebecca Shelby, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Operations Support Group, Central Service Center, 10101 
Hillwood Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5857.

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 
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 amend Class E airspace at Avenger Field Airport, in support 
of standard instrument approach procedures for IFR operations at the 
airport.

Comments Invited

    Interested parties are invited to participate in this proposed 
rulemaking by submitting such written data, views,

[[Page 5347]]

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 and be 
submitted in triplicate to the address listed above. Commenters wishing 
the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments on this notice must 
submit with those comments a self-addressed, stamped postcard on which 
the following statement is made: ``Comments to Docket No. FAA-2019-
0787; Airspace Docket No. 19-ASW-11.'' 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 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/">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 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 Federal Aviation Administration, Air Traffic 
Organization, Central Service Center, Operations Support Group, 10101 
Hillwood Parkway, 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, 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.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to Title 14 Code of Federal 
Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 by amending Class E airspace extending 
upward from 700 feet above the surface within a 6.6-mile radius of the 
Avenger Field Airport, Sweetwater, TX, and within 2 miles each side of 
the 174[deg] bearing from the airport extending from the 6.6-mile 
radius to 12.1 miles southeast of the airport, and by removing the 
Sweetwater NDB and associated extension from the airspace legal 
description; and removing the city associated with the airport from the 
airspace legal description to comply with FAA Order 7400.2L, Procedures 
for Handling Airspace Matters and updating the geographic coordinates 
of the airport to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database. This 
action would enhance safety and the management of IFR operations at the 
airport.
    Class E airspace designations are published in paragraph 6005 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 E 
airspace designation listed in this document will 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, is 
non-controversial and unlikely to result in adverse or negative 
comments. 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.

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

    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(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 6005 Class E Airspace Areas Extending Upward from 700 
Feet or More Above the Surface of the Earth.

* * * * *

ASW TX E5 Sweetwater, TX [Amended]

Avenger Field Airport, TX
    (Lat. 32[deg]28'03'' N, long 100[deg]27'00'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.6-mile radius of the Avenger Field Airport, and within 2 
miles each side of the 174[deg] bearing from the airport extending 
from the 6.6-mile radius to 12.1 miles southeast of the airport.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on January 23, 2020.
Steve Szukala,
Acting Manager, Operations Support Group, ATO Central Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2020-01586 Filed 1-29-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P