Establishment of Class E Airspace; Zeeland, MI, 100737-100738 [2024-29317]

Agencies

• Federal Aviation Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 240 (Friday, December 13, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 100737-100738]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-29317]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2024-2084; Airspace Docket No. 24-AGL-14]
RIN 2120-AA66


Establishment of Class E Airspace; Zeeland, MI

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action establishes Class E airspace at Zeeland, MI. This 
action is due to the development of new public instrument procedures at 
the Ottawa Executive Airport, Zeeland, MI, and to support instrument 
flight rule (IFR) operations.

DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, April 17, 2025. 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 7400.11J, 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: Rebecca Shelby, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Operations Support Group, Central Service Center, 10101 
Hillwood Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5857.

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 establishes the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet 
above the surface at Ottawa Executive Airport, Zeeland, MI, to support 
IFR operations at this airport.

History

    The FAA published an NPRM for Docket No. FAA-2024-2084 in the 
Federal Register (89 FR 68376; August 26, 2024) proposing to establish 
Class E airspace at Zeeland, MI. Interested parties were invited to 
participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting written comments on 
the proposal to the FAA. Two comments were received by the end of the 
comment period October 10, 2024. One of the anonymous commenters stated 
their support for the

[[Page 100738]]

proposed development of the Class E airspace at the Ottawa Executive 
Airport located in Zeeland, MI, believed that the development of a 
Class Echo airspace around Ottawa Executive Airport (Z98), will be 
greatly beneficial to the airport and its surrounding airports. They 
felt that since there is currently no published instrument procedures, 
it is unsafe for even instrumental rated pilots to attempt to navigate 
around the airport. It was also stated that Z98 should receive an AWOS 
system to ensure weather safety for pilots operating from the airport. 
They also, believed that the establishment of a Class E airspace would 
prove greatly beneficial to Ottawa Executive Airport.
    The other commenter expressed their support for the proposed 
development of Class E airspace at the Ottawa Executive Airport located 
in Zeeland, MI. Expressed that the change will significantly improve 
the safety of IFR operations at Z98. The 6.4-mile radius seems 
reasonable as the boundary for the airspace as this will establish 
safer approaches and departures under instrument operations. Also, 
stated that Z98, would be a great alternative as an airport with 
instrument procedures, if a pilot were not interested in entering the 
neighboring Class C and D airports. Commenter felt this would improve 
airport traffic and benefit the local economy. However, they would 
consider Z98 to obtain an AWOS/ASOS for METAs as an extra precaution, 
while this airport is developing a Class E. Overall, this proposal 
would be efficient in improving the safety and efficiency at the Ottawa 
Executive Airport in Zeeland, Michigan. The FAA only considers airports 
for Class E airspace establishment to support instrument flight rule 
operations at an airport.

Incorporation by Reference

    Class E airspace designations are published in paragraph 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 
7400.11J, dated July 31, 2024, and effective September 15, 2024. FAA 
Order JO 7400.11J 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 7400.11J lists Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, 
air traffic service routes, and reporting points.

The Rule

    This amendment to 14 CFR part 71 establishes Class E airspace 
extending upward from 700 feet above the surface to within a 6.4-mile 
radius of Ottawa Executive Airport, Zeeland, MI.

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

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

* * * * *

AGL MI E5 Zeeland, MI [Establish]

Ottawa Executive Airport, MI, SD
    (Lat. 42[deg]49'02'' N, long. 85[deg]55'41'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.4-mile radius of the Ottawa Executive Airport.
* * * * *

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on December 5, 2024.
Martin A. Skinner,
Acting Manager, Operations Support Group, ATO Central Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2024-29317 Filed 12-12-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P