Modification of Class D Airspace and Modification of Class E Airspace; Jack Northrop Field/Hawthorne Municipal Airport, Hawthorne, CA, 92869-92870 [2024-27379]

Agencies

• Federal Aviation Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 227 (Monday, November 25, 2024)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 92869-92870]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-27379]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2024-2441; Airspace Docket No. 24-AWP-89]
RIN 2120-AA66


Modification of Class D Airspace and Modification of Class E 
Airspace; Jack Northrop Field/Hawthorne Municipal Airport, Hawthorne, 
CA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to modify the Class D airspace and Class 
E airspace designated as an extension to a Class D airspace at Jack 
Northrop Field/Hawthorne Municipal Airport, Hawthorne, CA. This action 
would more appropriately contain instrument flight rules (IFR) and 
visual flight rules (VFR) operations at the airport. Additionally, the 
airport's legal description would be amended to match the FAA's 
database.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before January 9, 2025.

ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by FAA Docket No. FAA-2024-2441 and 
Airspace Docket No. 24-AWP-89 using any of the following methods:
    * Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov and follow 
the online instructions 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 the 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 7400.11J, 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: Keith T. Adams, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Western Service Center, Operations Support Group, 2200 
S 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone (206) 231-2428.

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 
the 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 and Class E airspace to 
support IFR and VFR operations at Jack Northrop Field/Hawthorne 
Municipal Airport, Hawthorne, CA.

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 receives 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 delay. 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 posts 
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-14 FDMS), 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 
Operations office (see ADDRESSES section for address, phone number, and 
hours of operations). An informal docket may also be examined during 
normal business hours at the office at the Northwest Mountain Regional 
Office of the Federal Aviation Administration, Air Traffic 
Organization, Western Service Center, Operations Support Group, 2200 S 
216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198.

Incorporation by Reference

    Class D and Class E airspace designations are published in 
paragraphs 5000 and 6004, respectively, 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 7400.11J, dated 
July 31, 2024, and effective September 15, 2024. These updates would be 
published 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 7400.11J lists Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, 
air traffic service routes, and reporting points.

Background

    The current Class D airspace is inadequately sized to effectively 
contain IFR operations at Jack Northrop Field/Hawthorne Municipal 
Airport. The airport's Class D airspace does not fully contain aircraft 
conducting an IFR circling maneuver. The maximum allowable circling 
radius at the airport

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is 3.6 nautical miles, which extends beyond the current Class D 
airspace lateral limits. Lastly, Jack Northrop Field/Hawthorne 
Municipal Airport's (HHR) airport reference point geographic 
coordinates representing the centralized point of all usable runways 
should be updated.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 to modify the 
Class D airspace and Class E airspace designated as an extension to a 
Class D airspace at Jack Northrop Field/Hawthorne Municipal Airport, 
Hawthorne, CA, to support containment of IFR operations.
    The existing HHR Class D airspace is described as that airspace 
within an 2.6-miles radius of airport reference point, with associated 
extensions from the 229[deg] bearing extending 3.8 miles southwest and 
the 096[deg] bearings extending 3.9 miles northeast do not fully 
contain aircraft conducting a IFR circling maneuver. The Class D 
airspace should be modified to within a 3.9-mile radius and within 2.9 
miles southeast of the airport's 205[deg] bearing extending 3.9 miles 
southwest, excluding that airspace within Zamperini Field Airport Class 
D airspace area, Los Angeles International Airport Class D airspace 
area, and Los Angeles International Airport Class B airspace area. The 
proposed Class D airspace would extend upward from the surface up to 
and including 2,500 feet mean sea level. This proposed rulemaking 
action would accommodate IFR arrival operations descending from 1,000 
feet above the surface and departing IFR operations until reaching 700 
feet above the surface or the next adjacent controlled airspace.
    The Class E airspace designated as an extension to a Class D 
airspace should be modified to within 2 miles north and .5 miles south 
of the airport's 096[deg] bearing, beginning from the 3.9-mile arc 
extending to 6.3 miles east of the airport, excluding the Los Angeles 
International Airport Class B airspace area. This extension would 
extend upward from the surface to the next controlled airspace.
    Additionally, administrative amendments are required for Jack 
Northrop Field/Hawthorne Municipal Airport's legal descriptions. The 
airport's reference point geographic coordinates should be amended from 
lat. 33[deg]55'22'' N, long. 118[deg]20'07'' W to lat. 33[deg]55'22'' 
N, long. 118[deg]20'06'' W. Lastly, the part-time texts for airports 
with a Class D airspace not operational for 24 hours should be amended 
to the appropriate texts reading ``The effective date and time 
thereafter be continuously published in the Chart Supplement. The 
phrases ``Notice to Airmen'' and ``Airport/Facility Directory.'' These 
phrases should read ``Notice to Air Missions'' and ``Chart 
Supplement,'' respectively, to align with the FAA's current 
nomenclature.

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 
7400.11J, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated July 31, 
2024, and effective September 15, 2024, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 5000 Class D Airspace.

* * * * *

AWP CA D Hawthorne, CA [Amended]

Jack Northrop Field/Hawthorne Municipal Airport, CA
    (Lat. 33[deg]55'22'' N, long. 118[deg]20'06'' W)
Los Angeles International Airport, CA
    (Lat. 33[deg]56'33'' N, long. 118[deg]24'29'' W)
Zamperini Field Airport, CA
    (Lat. 33[deg]48'12'' N, long. 118[deg]20'23'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface up to and 
including 2,500 feet MSL within a 3.9-mile radius, and within 2.9 
miles southeast of the airport's 205[deg] bearing extending 3.9 
miles southwest, excluding that airspace within Zamperini Field 
Airport Class D airspace area, Los Angeles International Airport 
Class D airspace area, and Los Angeles International Airport Class B 
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 date and time 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.

* * * * *

AWP CA E4 Hawthorne, CA [Amended]

Jack Northrop Field/Hawthorne Municipal Airport, CA
    (Lat. 33[deg]55'22'' N, long. 118[deg]20'06'' W)
Los Angeles International Airport, CA
    (Lat. 33[deg]56'33'' N, long. 118[deg]24'29''W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface within 2 miles 
north and .5 miles south of the airport's 096[deg] bearing, 
beginning from the 3.9-mile arc extending to 6.3 miles east of the 
airport, excluding the Los Angeles International Airport Class B 
airspace area. This Class E airspace area is effective during the 
specific dates and times established in advance by a Notice to Air 
Missions. The effective date and time will thereafter be 
continuously published in the Chart Supplement.
* * * * *

    Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on November 15, 2024.
B.G. Chew,
Group Manager, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2024-27379 Filed 11-22-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P