Amendment of Class D and Class E Airspace; Lake Charles, LA, 42349-42350 [2024-09871]

Agencies

• Federal Aviation Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 95 (Wednesday, May 15, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 42349-42350]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-09871]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2024-0270; Airspace Docket No. 24-ASW-3]
RIN 2120-AA66


Amendment of Class D and Class E Airspace; Lake Charles, LA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action amends the Class D and Class E airspace at Lake 
Charles, LA. This action is the result of airspace reviews conducted 
due to the decommissioning of the Beaumont very high frequency 
omnidirectional range (VOR) as part of the VOR Minimum Operational 
Network (MON) Program. This action also updates the geographic 
coordinates of various airports. This action brings the airspace into 
compliance with FAA orders and supports instrument flight rule (IFR) 
operations and procedures.

DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, July 11, 2024. 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 JO 7400.11 and 
publication of conforming amendments.

ADDRESSES: A copy of the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), all 
comments received, this final rule, and all background material may be 
viewed online at www.regulations.gov using the FAA Docket number. 
Electronic retrieval help and guidelines are available on the website. 
It is available 24 hours each day, 365 days each year.
    FAA Order JO 7400.11H, 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 amends: the Class D airspace, Class E surface airspace, and Class 
E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Lake 
Charles Regional Airport, Lake Charles, LA; the Class D airspace and 
Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at 
Chennault International Airport, Lake Charles, LA; and the Class E 
airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at 
Southerland Field, Sulphur, LA, (Contained within the Lake Charles, LA, 
airspace legal description.) to support instrument flight rule 
operations at these airports.

History

    The FAA published an NPRM for Docket No. FAA-2024-0270 in the 
Federal Register (89 FR 14002; February 26, 2024) proposing to amend 
the Class D and Class E airspace at Lake Charles, LA. Interested 
parties were invited to participate in this rulemaking effort by 
submitting written comments on the proposal to the FAA. No comments 
were received.

Incorporation by Reference

    Class D and E airspace designations are published in paragraphs 
5000, 6002, 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 amends the current version of that 
order, FAA Order JO 7400.11H, dated August 11, 2023, and effective 
September 15, 2023. FAA Order JO 7400.11H is publicly available as 
listed in the ADDRESSES section of this document. These amendments will 
be published in the next update to FAA Order JO 7400.11.
    FAA Order JO 7400.11H lists Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, 
air traffic service routes, and reporting points.

Differences From the NPRM

    Subsequent to publication, the FAA discovered typos in the Class D 
airspace, Lake Charles, LA, and the Class E airspace extending upward 
from 700 feet above the surface, Lake Charles, LA, in the Chennault 
International Airport airspace legal descriptions. The radius in the 
Class D airspace legal description should be ``4.4-mile'' vice ``4.5-
mile. And the latitude for Chennault International Airport in the Class 
E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface airspace 
legal description should be ``long 93[deg]08'35'' W'' vice ``long 
93[deg]08'36'' W.'' These errors have been corrected in this action.

The Rule

    This amendment to 14 CFR part 71:
    Modifies the Class D airspace at Lake Charles Regional Airport, 
Lake Charles, LA, by removing the Lake Charles VORTAC and the 
associated extension

[[Page 42350]]

as they are no longer required; and replaces the outdated terms 
``Notice to Airmen'' and ``Airport/Facility Directory'' with ``Notice 
to Air Missions'' and ``Chart Supplement'';
    Modifies the Class D airspace to within a 4.4-mile (decreased from 
a 4.5-mile) radius of Chennault International Airport, Lake Charles, 
LA; adds an extension within 1 mile each side of the 334[deg] bearing 
from the airport extending from the 4.4-mile radius to 4.5 miles 
northwest of the airport; updates the header of the airspace legal 
description from ``Lake Charles, Chennault International Airport, LA'' 
to ``Lake Charles, LA'' to comply with changes to FAA Order JO 7400.2P, 
Procedures for Handling Airspace Matters; and removes the city 
associated with the airport to comply with changes to FAA Order JO 
7400.2P; updates the geographic coordinates of the airport to coincide 
with the FAA's aeronautical database; and replaces the outdated terms 
``Notice to Airmen'' and ``Airport/Facility Directory'' with ``Notice 
to Air Missions'' and ``Chart Supplement'';
    Modifies the Class E surface airspace at Lake Charles Regional 
Airport by removing the Lake Charles VORTAC and the associated 
extension as they are no longer required; and replaces the outdated 
terms ``Notice to Airmen'' and ``Airport/Facility Directory'' with 
``Notice to Air Missions'' and ``Chart Supplement'';
    And modifies the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet 
above the surface to within a 6.9-mile (decreased from a 7-mile) radius 
of Chennault International Airport; removes the extension southeast of 
Chennault International Airport from the airspace legal description as 
it is no longer required; removes the Sulphur NDB and associated 
extension as they are no longer required; updates the geographic 
coordinates of Chennault International Airport to coincide with the 
FAA's aeronautical database; and removes the cities associated with the 
airports in the airspace legal description to comply with changes to 
FAA Order JO 7400.2P.

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 and 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 5-6.5.a. 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 71

    Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).

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 JO 
7400.11H, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 11, 
2023, and effective September 15, 2023, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 5000 Class D Airspace.

* * * * *

ASW LA D Lake Charles, LA [Amended]

Lake Charles Regional Airport, LA
    (Lat. 30[deg]07'34'' N, long. 93[deg]13'24'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including 
2,500 feet MSL within a 5-mile radius of Lake Charles Regional 
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.

ASW LA D Lake Charles, LA [Amended]

Chennault International Airport, LA
    (Lat. 30[deg]12'38'' N, long. 93[deg]08'35'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including 
2,500 feet MSL within a 4.4-mile radius of Chennault International 
Airport, and within 1 mile each side of the 334[deg] bearing from 
the airport extending from the 4.4-mile radius to 4.5 miles 
northwest of the airport, excluding that airspace within the Lake 
Charles Regional Airport, Lake Charles, LA, Class D airspace. 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 6002 Class E Airspace Areas Designated as Surface Areas.

* * * * *

ASW LA E2 Lake Charles, LA [Amended]

Lake Charles Regional Airport, LA
    (Lat. 30[deg]07'34'' N, long. 93[deg]13'24'' W)

    Within a 5-mile radius of Lake Charles Regional Airport. This 
Class E 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.

* * * * *

ASW LA E5 Lake Charles, LA [Amended]

Lake Charles Regional Airport, LA
    (Lat. 30[deg]07'34'' N, long. 93[deg]13'24'' W)
Chennault International Airport, LA
    (Lat. 30[deg]12'38'' N, long. 93[deg]08'35'' W)
Southland Field, LA
    (Lat. 30[deg]07'53'' N, long. 93[deg]22'34'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 7.5-mile radius of Lake Charles Regional Airport; and 
within a 6.9-mile radius of Chennault International Airport; and 
within a 6.5-mile radius of Southland Field.
* * * * *

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on May 1, 2024.
Steven T. Phillips,
Acting Manager, Operations Support Group, ATO Central Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2024-09871 Filed 5-14-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P