Amendment of Class D and Class E Airspace, and Establishment of Class E Airspace; Worcester, MA, 31113-31114 [2021-12273]

Agencies

• Federal Aviation Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 111 (Friday, June 11, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 31113-31114]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-12273]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2020-1188; Airspace Docket No. 20-ANE-10]
RIN 2120-AA66


Amendment of Class D and Class E Airspace, and Establishment of 
Class E Airspace; Worcester, MA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action amends Class D airspace, Class E surface airspace, 
and Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
for Worcester Regional Airport, Worcester, MA, as an airspace 
evaluation of the area determined additional airspace is necessary. 
Also, this action establishes Class E airspace extending upward from 
700 feet above the surface for UMass Memorial Medical Center--
University Campus Heliport, to accommodate new area navigation (RNAV) 
global positioning system (GPS) standard instrument approach procedures 
(SIAPs) serving this heliport. Controlled airspace is necessary for the 
safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations in 
the area.

DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, August 12, 2021. The Director of the Federal 
Register approves this incorporation by reference action under 1 CFR 
part 51, subject to the annual revision of FAA Order 7400.11 and 
publication of conforming amendments.

ADDRESSES: FAA Order 7400.11E 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 7400.11E at NARA, email [email protected] 
or go to https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Fornito, Operations Support 
Group, Eastern Service Center, Federal Aviation Administration, 1701 
Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337; Telephone (404) 305-6364.

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 amends Class D and Class E airspace, and establishes Class E 
airspace in Worcester, MA, to support IFR operations in the area.

History

    The FAA published a notice of prosed rulemaking in the Federal 
Register (86 FR 10886 February 23, 2021) for Docket No. FAA-2020-1188 
to amend Class D airspace and Class E surface airspace, for Worcester 
Regional Airport (formerly Worcester Municipal Airport), Worcester, MA, 
to amend the Class D and Class E surface areas, and amend the Class E 
airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface, and update 
the airport's name. In addition, the action proposed to establish Class 
E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at UMass 
Memorial Medical Center-University Campus Heliport.
    Interested parties were invited to participate in this rulemaking 
effort by submitting written comments on the proposal to the FAA. No 
comments were received.
    Class D and E airspace designations are published in Paragraphs 
5000, 6002, and 6005, respectively of FAA Order 7400.11E, dated July 
21, 2020, and effective September 15, 2020, which is incorporated by 
reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Class E airspace designations 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 7400.11E, Airspace Designations and 
Reporting Points, dated July 21, 2020, and effective September 15, 
2020. FAA Order 7400.11E is publicly available as listed in the 
ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order 7400.11E lists Class A, 
B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic routes, and reporting 
points.

The Rule

    The FAA is amending 14 CFR part 71 by amending Class D and Class E 
surface airspace for Worcester Regional Airport (formerly Worcester 
Municipal Airport), Worcester, MA. This rule increases the radius of 
the Class D and Class E surface airspace to 5.1 miles (from 4.2 miles). 
Also, the airport's Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet 
above the surface is increased to a 7.6-mile radius (from 6.7 miles). 
This action also updates the airport's name. In addition, the FAA 
establishes Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the 
surface for UMass Memorial Medical Center--University Campus Heliport, 
Worcester, MA, providing the controlled airspace required to support 
the new RNAV

[[Page 31114]]

(GPS) standard instrument approach procedures for IFR operations at the 
heliport. This action also replaces the outdated term Airport/Facility 
Directory with the term Chart Supplement in the legal description of 
associated Class D and Class E airspace.
    Class D and E airspace designations are published in Paragraphs 
5000, 6002, and 6005, respectively, of FAA Order 7400.11E, dated July 
21, 2020, and effective September 15, 2020, which is incorporated by 
reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Class E airspace designations 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 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 
only affects air traffic procedures an air navigation, it is certified 
that this rule, when promulgated, does 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.

Lists 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 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 Federal Aviation 
Administration Order 7400.11E, Airspace Designations and Reporting 
Points, dated July 21, 2020, and effective September 15, 2020, is 
amended as follows:

Paragraph 5000 Class D Airspace.

* * * * *

ANE MA D Worcester, MA [Amended]

Worcester Regional Airport, MA
    (Lat. 42[deg]16'02'' N, long. 71[deg]52'32'' W)
Spencer Airport, MA
    (Lat. 42[deg]17'26'' N, long. 71[deg]57'53'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including 
3,500 feet MSL within a 5.1-mile radius of Worcester Regional 
Airport, excluding that airspace from the surface up to but not 
including 1,900 feet MSL within a 1-mile radius of the Spencer 
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.

Paragraph 6002 Class E Surface Airspace.

* * * * *

ANE MA E2 Worcester, MA [Amended]

Worcester Regional Airport, MA
    (Lat. 42[deg]16'02'' N, long. 71[deg]52'32'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface within a 5.1-
mile radius of Worcester Regional Airport. This Class E 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 6005 Class E Airspace Areas Extending Upward From 700 
Feet or More Above the Surface of the Earth.

* * * * *

ANE MA E5 Worcester, MA [Amended]

Worcester Regional Airport, MA
    (Lat. 42[deg]16'02'' N, long. 71[deg]52'32'' W)
UMass Memorial Medical Center--University Campus Heliport
    (Lat. 42[deg]16'30'' N, long. 71[deg]45'36'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 7.6-mile radius of Worcester Regional Airport, and within a 
6-mile radius of UMass Memorial Medical Center--University Campus 
Heliport.

    Issued in College Park, Georgia, on June 7, 2021.
Andreese C. Davis,
Manager, Airspace & Procedures Team South, Eastern Service Center, Air 
Traffic Organization.
[FR Doc. 2021-12273 Filed 6-10-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P