Amendment of Class D and E Airspace and Revocation of Class E Airspace; Kalamazoo, MI, 29575-29577 [2023-08932]

Agencies

• Federal Aviation Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 88 (Monday, May 8, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 29575-29577]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-08932]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2023-1007; Airspace Docket No. 23-AGL-13]
RIN 2120-AA66


Amendment of Class D and E Airspace and Revocation of Class E 
Airspace; Kalamazoo, MI

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to amend the Class D and Class E airspace 
and remove Class E airspace at Kalamazoo, MI. The FAA is proposing this 
action as the result of an airspace review due to the decommissioning 
of the Kalamazoo very high frequency omnidirectional range (VOR) as 
part of the VOR Minimum Operating Network (MON) Program. The geographic 
coordinates of Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport and the 
name of the Borgess Medical Center Helipad

[[Page 29576]]

would also be updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 22, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by FAA Docket No. FAA-2023-1007 and 
Airspace Docket No. 23-AGL-13 using any of the following methods:
    * Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov and follow 
the online instruction for sending your comments electronically.
    * Mail: Send comments to Docket Operations, M-30, U.S. Department 
of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Room W12-140, West 
Building Ground Floor, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
    * Hand Delivery or Courier: Take comments to Docket Operations in 
Room W12-140 of the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey 
Avenue SE, Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays.
    * Fax: Fax comments to Docket Operations at (202) 493-2251.
    Docket: Background documents or comments received may be read at 
www.regulations.gov at any time. Follow the online instructions for 
accessing the docket or go to Docket Operations in Room W12-140 of the 
West Building Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, 
DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays.
    FAA Order JO 7400.11G, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, 
and subsequent amendments can be viewed online at www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/. You may also contact the Rules and 
Regulations Group, Office of Policy, Federal Aviation Administration, 
800 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267-
8783.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeffrey Claypool, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Operations Support Group, Central Service Center, 10101 
Hillwood Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5711.

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 the Class D airspace and the Class E airspace 
extending upward from 700 feet above the surface Class E surface 
airspace, and remove the Class E airspace designated as an extension to 
Class D airspace at Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport, 
Kalamazoo, MI, to support instrument flight rule (IFR) operations at 
this airport.

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites interested persons to participate in this 
rulemaking by submitting written comments, data, or views. Comments are 
specifically invited on the overall regulatory, aeronautical, economic, 
environmental, and energy-related aspects of the proposal. The most 
helpful comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain 
the reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. To 
ensure the docket does not contain duplicate comments, commenters 
should submit only one time if comments are filed electronically, or 
commenters should send only one copy of written comments if comments 
are filed in writing.
    The FAA will file in the docket all comments it receives, as well 
as a report summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA 
personnel concerning this proposed rulemaking. Before acting on this 
proposal, the FAA will consider all comments it received on or before 
the closing date for comments. The FAA will consider comments filed 
after the comment period has closed if it is possible to do so without 
incurring expense or dely. The FAA may change this proposal in light of 
the comments it receives.
    Privacy: In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits comments 
from the public to better inform its rulemaking process. DOT post these 
comments, without edit, including any personal information the 
commenter provides, to www.regulations.gov as described in the system 
of records notice (DOT/ALL-14FDMS), which can be reviewed at 
www.dot.gov/privacy.

Availability of Rulemaking Documents

    An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded through the 
internet at www.regulations.gov. Recently published rulemaking 
documents can also be accessed through the FAA's web page at 
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, phone number, and 
hours of operations). 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.

Incorporation by Reference

    Class D and E airspace are published in paragraphs 5000, 6004, and 
6005 of FAA Order JO 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting 
Points, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 on an annual 
basis. This document proposes to amend the current version of that 
order, FAA Order JO 7400.11G, dated August 19, 2022, and effective 
September 15, 2022. These updates would be published subsequently in 
the next update to FAA Order JO 7400.11. That order 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 Proposal

    The FAA is proposing to amend 14 CFR part 71 by:
    Modifying the Class D airspace to within a 4.2-mile (increased from 
a 4.1-mile) radius of Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport, 
Kalamazoo, MI; replacing the outdated terms ``Notice to Airmen'' with 
``Notice to Air Missions'' and ``Airport/Facility Directory'' with 
``Chart Supplement''; and updating the geographic coordinates of 
Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport to coincide with the FAAs 
aeronautical database;
    Removing the Class E airspace designated as an extension to Class D 
airspace at Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport as it is no 
longer required;
    And modifying the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet 
above the surface to within a 6.7-mile (increased from a 6.6-mile) 
radius of Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport; updating 
geographic coordinates of Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport 
and the name of Borgess Medical Center Helipad (previously Burgess 
Hospital), Kalamazoo, MI, to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical 
database; and removing the cities associated with the airports in the 
header of the airspace

[[Page 29577]]

legal description to comply with changes to FAA Order JO 7400.2N, 
Procedures for Handling Airspace Matters.
    This action is the result of an airspace review due to the 
decommissioning of the Kalamazoo VOR, which provided navigation 
information to this airport, as part of the VOR MON Program, and to 
support IFR operations at this airport.

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 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 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.

* * * * *

AGL MI D Kalamazoo, MI [Amended]

Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport, MI
    (Lat. 42[deg]14'04'' N, long 85[deg]33'06'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including 
3,400 feet MSL within a 4.2-mile radius of the Kalamazoo/Battle 
Creek International Airport. 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 6004 Class E Airspace Areas Designated as an Extension to 
a Class D or Class E Surface Area.

* * * * *

AGL MI E4 Kalamazoo, MI [Remove]

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

* * * * *

AGL MI E5 Kalamazoo, MI [Amended]

Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport, MI
    (Lat. 42[deg]14'04'' N, long 85[deg]33'06'' W)
Borgess Medical Center Helipad, MI, Point in Space Coordinates
    (Lat. 42[deg]19'44'' N, long 85[deg]34'47'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.7-mile radius of the Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International 
Airport; and within a 6-mile radius of the Borgess Medical Center 
Helipad point in space coordinates.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on April 24, 2023.
Martin A. Skinner,
Acting Manager, Operations Support Group, ATO Central Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2023-08932 Filed 5-5-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P