Amendment of Class D Airspace and Establishment of Class E Airspace; Butts Army Airfield (AAF) (Fort Carson) Airport, CO, 74301-74302 [2022-26349]

Agencies

• Federal Aviation Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 232 (Monday, December 5, 2022)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 74301-74302]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-26349]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2022-0797; Airspace Docket No. 20-ANM-44]
RIN 2120-AA66


Amendment of Class D Airspace and Establishment of Class E 
Airspace; Butts Army Airfield (AAF) (Fort Carson) Airport, CO

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This action modifies the Class D surface area, and establishes 
Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at 
Butts AAF (Fort Carson) Airport, CO. Additionally, this action makes 
administrative changes to update the airport's existing Class D legal 
description. These actions will support the safety and management of 
instrument flight rules (IFR) and visual flight rules (VFR) operations 
at the airport.

DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, February 23, 2023. The Director of the 
Federal Register approves this incorporation by reference under 1 CFR 
part 51, subject to the annual revision of FAA Order JO 7400.11, 
Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, and publication of 
conforming amendments.

ADDRESSES: FAA Order JO 7400.11G, and subsequent amendments can be 
viewed online at 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nathan A. Chaffman, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Western Service Center, Operations Support Group, 2200 
S 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone (206) 231-3460.

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 modify the Class D airspace and establish Class E airspace 
at Butts AAF (Fort Carson) Airport, CO, to support IFR and VFR 
operations at the airport.

History

    The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) in the 
Federal Register for FAA-2022-0797 (87 FR 47150; August 2, 2022) to 
modify the Class D surface area, and establish Class E airspace 
extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Butts AAF (Fort 
Carson) Airport, CO. Additionally, the NPRM proposed administrative 
changes to update the airport's legal description. Interested parties 
were invited to participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting 
written comments on the proposal to the FAA. One comment was received 
which claimed: ``A proper environmental study was not done for these 
airspace changes or procedures for Fort Carson.'' This comment is 
inaccurate as proposed airspace changes were granted a categorical 
exclusion. See the ``Environmental Review'' section for further 
details.
    Subsequent to the publication of the NPRM, the FAA discovered that 
the removal of the southeast extension to the Class D airspace was not 
mentioned in the proposed actions. This airspace area is no longer 
needed to contain departures until reaching 700 feet above the ground 
to the south, as the existing 4.3-mile radius of airspace surrounding 
the airport is sufficient. Additionally, the Iron Horse Nondirectional 
Beacon (NDB) previously used to describe the southeast extension is no 
longer needed, and can be removed from the legal description's text 
header. The geographical coordinates of the airport are more 
appropriate for describing the airspace at Butts AAF, and will be used 
in the final Class D airspace legal description.
    Class D and Class E5 airspace designations are published in 
paragraphs 5000 and 6005, respectively, of FAA Order JO 7400.11G, dated 
August 19, 2022, and effective September 15, 2022, which is 
incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Class D and Class E 
airspace designations listed in this document will be published 
subsequently in FAA Order JO 7400.11.

Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference

    This document amends FAA Order JO 7400.11G, Airspace Designations 
and Reporting Points, dated August 19, 2022, and effective September 
15, 2022. FAA Order JO 7400.11G is publicly available as listed in the 
ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order JO 7400.11G lists Class 
A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and 
reporting points.

The Rule

    The FAA is amending 14 CFR part 71 by modifying the Class D surface 
area, and establishing Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet 
above the surface at Butts AAF (Fort Carson) Airport, CO.
    Class D airspace is extended to the northwest to contain Runway 31 
departures until reaching 700 feet above the surface due to rising 
terrain in that area. The extension southeast of the airport is 
removed, as it is no longer needed to contain departures until reaching 
700 feet above the ground to the south, and the existing 4.3-mile 
radius of airspace surrounding the airport is sufficient.
    Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
is established southeast and north of the airport to properly contain 
departures until reaching 1,200 feet above the surface in those areas.
    Finally, this action makes several administrative modifications to 
the Class D airspace legal description. The airport name in the text 
header is corrected to read: ``Butts AAF (Fort Carson) Airport, CO.'' 
The other airport referenced in the Class D legal description is 
corrected to read: ``City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport, CO.'' 
The geographic coordinates for both Butts AAF (Fort Carson) Airport, CO 
and the City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport, CO, are updated to 
match the FAA's database. Additionally, the outdated terms ``Notice to 
Airmen'' and ``Airport/Facility Directory'' have been replaced with the 
terms ``Notice to Air Missions'' and ``Chart Supplement'' respectively, 
to better match the FAA's current nomenclature. Lastly, reference to 
the ``Iron Horse NDB, CO'' is removed from the Class D legal 
description's text header, as it's no longer required to describe the 
airspace, and its removal simplifies the legal description.

[[Page 74302]]

    Class D and Class E5 airspace designations are published in 
paragraphs 5000 and 6005, respectively, of FAA Order JO 7400.11G, dated 
August 19, 2022, and effective September 15, 2022, which is 
incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Class D and Class E 
airspace designations listed in this document will be published 
subsequently in FAA Order JO 7400.11.
    FAA Order JO 7400.11 is published annually and becomes 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; Feb. 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 the 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 FAA 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 JO 
7400.11G, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 19, 
2022, and effective September 15, 2022, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 5000 Class D Airspace.

* * * * *

ANM CO D Fort Carson, CO [Amended]

Butts AAF (Fort Carson) Airport, CO
    (Lat. 38[deg]40'47'' N, long. 104[deg]45'39'' W)
City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport, CO
    (Lat. 38[deg]48'21'' N, long. 104[deg]42'03'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface to but not 
including 8,400 feet MSL within a 4.3-mile radius of Butts Army 
Airfield Airport, and within 2.3 miles each side of the 331[deg] 
bearing from the Butts Army Airfield Airport extending from the 4.3-
mile radius to 6.9 miles northwest of the airport, excluding that 
airspace within the City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport's 
Class C airspace area. This Class D airspace area is effective 
during the specific dates and times established in advance by a 
Notice to Air Missions. The effective dates and times 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.

* * * * *

ANM CO E5 Fort Carson, CO [New]

Butts AAF (Fort Carson) Airport, CO
    (Lat. 38[deg]40'47'' N, long. 104[deg]45'39'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within 2.0 miles each side of the 125[deg] bearing from the airport 
extending from the Butts Army Airfield Airport Class D to 7.7 miles 
southeast of the airport, and within 2.1 miles each side of the 
342[deg] bearing from the airport extending from the Butts Army 
Airfield Airport Class D to 9 miles north of the airport.

    Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on November 29, 2022.
B.G. Chew,
Group Manager, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2022-26349 Filed 12-2-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P