Proposed Rule2023-08932
Amendment of Class D and E Airspace and Revocation of Class E Airspace; Kalamazoo, MI
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
May 8, 2023
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
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 would also be updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 88 (Monday, May 8, 2023)</title>
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[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 [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[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 <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> 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
<a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> 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 <a href="http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/">www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/</a>. 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 <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> as described in the system
of records notice (DOT/ALL-14FDMS), which can be reviewed at
<a href="http://www.dot.gov/privacy">www.dot.gov/privacy</a>.
Availability of Rulemaking Documents
An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded through the
internet at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>. Recently published rulemaking
documents can also be accessed through the FAA's web page at
<a href="http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/airspace_amendments/">www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/airspace_amendments/</a>.
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
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on May 8, 2023.
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