Amendment of Class E Airspace; Gunnison, CO, 12437-12439 [2020-04259]

Agencies

• Federal Aviation Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 42 (Tuesday, March 3, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 12437-12439]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-04259]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2019-0341; Airspace Docket No. 18-ANM-4]
RIN 2120-AA66


Amendment of Class E Airspace; Gunnison, CO

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action amends Class E airspace at Gunnison-Crested Butte 
Regional Airport, Gunnison, CO. The action increases the circular 
radius of the Class E airspace designated as a surface area and adds an 
extension to the west of the airport. Also, this action amends the 
Class E airspace by adding an airspace area, designated as an extension 
to a Class D or Class E surface area, to the southwest of the airport. 
Additionally, this action amends the Class E airspace extending upward 
from 700 feet above the surface by significantly reducing the area 
around the airport, except to the west and southwest of the airport. 
Furthermore, this action amends the Class E airspace extending upward 
from 1,200 feet above the surface by removing this area. This area is 
wholly contained within the Denver Class E6 en route airspace area and 
duplication is not necessary. Lastly, this action makes several 
administrative corrections to the airspace legal descriptions for the 
airport.

DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, May 21, 2020. The Director of 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 7400.11 and publication of conforming amendments.

ADDRESSES: 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: Matthew Van Der Wal, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Western Service Center, Operations Support Group, 2200 
S 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone (206) 231-3695.

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 Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional 
Airport, Gunnison, CO, to ensure the safety and management of 
Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

History

    The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal 
Register (84 FR 68381; December 16, 2019) for Docket No. FAA-2019-0341 
to amend Class E airspace at Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport, 
Gunnison, CO. Interested parties were invited to participate in this 
rulemaking effort by submitting written comments on the proposal to the 
FAA. One comment was received.
    The commenter stated ``that the Final Rule should state that the 
Class E Surface Area hours of operation are continuous''. This topic 
was addressed in the NPRM and the Final Rule removes the part time 
language from the legal description.
    Class E2, E4 and E5 airspace designations are published in 
paragraph 6002, 6004 and 6005, respectively, 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.

Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference

    This document amends 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

[[Page 12438]]

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 Rule

    This amendment to Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 
part 71 amends Class E airspace at the Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional 
Airport, Gunnison, CO. The action amends the Class E airspace, 
designated as a surface area, by increasing the circular radius and 
adds an extension to the west of the airport. The airspace area is 
defined as follows: That airspace extending upward from the surface 
within a 4.8-mile radius of the airport and within 1 mile each side of 
the 256[deg] bearing from the airport, extending from the 4.8-mile 
radius to 5.7 miles west of the Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional 
Airport.
    Also, this action amends Class E airspace by adding an area 
designated an extension to Class D and Class E2 surface areas. This 
airspace area is defined as follows: That airspace extending upward 
from the surface within 1.4 miles each side of the 225[deg] bearing, 
extending from the 4.8-mile radius to 14.1 miles southwest of the 
Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport.
    Additionally, this action amends the Class E airspace extending 
upward from 700 feet above the surface. The action removes most of the 
area extending upward from 700 feet above the surface, from the 
northwest of the airport clockwise to the south of the airport. A small 
area would remain east of the airport and two larger areas would remain 
to the southwest and west of the airport. This airspace area is defined 
as follows: That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the 
surface, extending from the 4.8-mile radius to a 7-mile radius along 
the 052[deg] bearing from the airport, clockwise to the 107[deg] 
bearing from the airport, thence along the 107[deg] bearing back to the 
4.8-mile radius, and within 2.5 miles each side of the 254[deg] bearing 
from the airport, extending from the 4.8-mile radius to 9.6 miles west 
of the airport, and within 8.1 miles north and 3.9 miles south of the 
225[deg] bearing from the airport, extending from 7.1 miles to 23.1 
miles southwest of the Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport.
    Furthermore, this action removes the Class E airspace extending 
upward from 1,200 feet above the surface. This airspace area is wholly 
contained within the Denver Class E6 en route airspace area and 
duplication is not necessary.
    Lastly, the action makes several administrative corrections to the 
airspaces legal descriptions. The geographic coordinates need to be 
updated to (lat. 38[deg]32'04'' N, long. 106[deg]55'54'' W) to match 
the FAA's aeronautical database. The Class E surface airspace is full 
time; the following two sentences do not accurately represent the time 
of use for this airspace area are removed from the legal description: 
``This Class E airspace area is effective during specific dates and 
times established in advance by a Notice to Airmen. The effective date 
and time will thereafter be continuously published in the Airport/
Facility Directory.''
    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 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 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

    The FAA has determined that this action qualifies for categorical 
exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act in accordance 
with FAA Order 1050.1F, ``Environmental Impacts: Policies and 
Procedures,'' paragraph 5-6.5a. This airspace action is not expected to 
cause any potentially significant environmental impacts, and no 
extraordinary circumstances exist that warrant preparation of an 
environmental assessment.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71

    Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).

Adoption of the Amendment

    In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation 
Administration amends 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 6002 Class E Airspace Areas Designated as a Surface Area.

* * * * *

ANM CO E2 Gunnison, CO [AMENDED]

Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport, CO
    (Lat. 38[deg]32'04'' N, long. 106[deg]55'54'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface within a 4.8-
mile radius of the airport, and within 1 mile each side of the 
256[deg] bearing from the airport, extending from the 4.8-mile 
radius to 5.7 miles west of the Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional 
Airport.

Paragraph 6004 Class E Airspace Areas Designated as an Extension to 
a Class D or Class E Surface Area.

* * * * *

ANM CO E4 Gunnison, CO [NEW]

Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport, CO
    (Lat. 38[deg]32'04'' N, long. 106[deg]55'54'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface within 1.4 miles 
each side of the 225[deg] bearing from the airport, extending from 
the 4.8-mile radius to 14.1 miles southwest of the Gunnison-Crested 
Butte Regional Airport.

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

* * * * *

ANM CO E5 Gunnison, CO [AMENDED]

Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport, CO
    (Lat. 38[deg]32'04'' N, long. 106[deg]55'54'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
extending from the 4.8-mile radius to a 7-mile radius along the 
052[deg] bearing from the airport, clockwise to the 107[deg] bearing 
from the airport, thence along the 107[deg] bearing back to the 4.8-
mile radius, and within 2.5 each side of the 254[deg] bearing from 
the airport, extending from the 4.8-mile radius to 9.6 miles west of 
the airport, and within 8.1 miles north and 3.9 miles south of the 
225[deg] bearing from the airport, extending from 7.1 miles to 23.1 
miles southwest of the Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport.


[[Page 12439]]


    Issued in Seattle, Washington, on February 26, 2020.
Shawn M. Kozica,
Group Manager, Western Service Center, Operations Support Group.
[FR Doc. 2020-04259 Filed 3-2-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P