Proposed Rule2024-20197
Modification of Class D and Class E Airspace; Revocation of Class E Airspace; Buckley Space Force Base, Aurora, CO
Primary source
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Published
September 9, 2024
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
This action proposes to modify the Class D and Class E airspace designated as a surface area and revoke the Class E airspace designated as an extension to a Class D or Class E surface area at Buckley Space Force Base (BKF), Aurora, CO. Additionally, this action proposes administrative amendments to update the airport's legal description to match the FAA database. These actions would support the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) and visual flight rules (VFR) operations at the airport.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 174 (Monday, September 9, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 174 (Monday, September 9, 2024)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 73022-73024]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-20197]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2024-1857; Airspace Docket No. 19-ANM-99]
RIN 2120-AA66
Modification of Class D and Class E Airspace; Revocation of Class
E Airspace; Buckley Space Force Base, Aurora, CO
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 and Class E
airspace designated as a surface area and revoke the Class E airspace
designated as an extension to a Class D or Class E surface area at
Buckley Space Force Base (BKF), Aurora, CO. Additionally, this action
proposes administrative amendments to update the airport's legal
description to match the FAA database. These actions would support the
safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) and visual
flight rules (VFR) operations at the airport.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 24, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by FAA Docket No. FAA-2024-1857 and
Airspace Docket No. 19-ANM-99 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 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
<a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> 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 7400.11H, 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: 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 Class D and Class E airspace designated as
a surface area and revoke Class E airspace designated as an extension
to a Class D and Class E surface area to support IFR and VFR operations
at Buckley Space Force Base, Aurora, CO.
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 <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>, as described in the system
of records notice (DOT/ALL-14 FDMS), 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
Operations office (see ADDRESSES section for address, phone number, and
hours of
[[Page 73023]]
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, E2, and E4 airspace designations are published in
paragraphs 5000, 6002, 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 7400.11H, dated
August 11, 2023, and effective September 15, 2023. 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 7400.11H lists Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas,
air traffic service routes, and reporting points.
Background
Buckley Space Force Base (BKF) is located south of Denver
International Airport (DEN) and is separated by United States
Interstate 70. Centennial Airport (APA) is located nearby,
approximately 9.1 nautical miles (NM) southeast of BKF. APA and BKF
airports have instrument approach procedures (IAP) that involve
conflicting and overlapping circling maneuver patterns. The circling
maneuver patterns of category D and E aircraft landing Runway (RWY) 32
at BKF extend beyond the airport's surface area to the west and
northwest of the airport. Additionally, APA and BKF Class D airspaces
are separated by less than 0.30 NM. This area is comprised of
controlled and uncontrolled airspace, which creates an unfavorable
passage as VFR aircraft navigate between the two airports' surface
areas. Lastly, IFR departures from BKF's RWY 14 occur underneath the
floor of controlled airspace and outside the lateral boundaries of the
BKF airport; this is due to rising terrain south-through-southeast of
the airport, and the need to size the surface area airspace based on a
climb rate of 200 feet per NM.
The Proposal
The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 that would
modify Class D airspace, modify Class E airspace designated as a
surface area, and revoke Class E airspace designated as an extension to
a Class D or surface area at Buckley Space Force Base, CO.
The lateral boundaries of the airport's Class D and Class E surface
areas are insufficiently sized and should be modified to better contain
IFR arrivals when less than 1,000 feet above the surface of the earth
and departing IFR aircraft until reaching the next adjacent airspace.
Additionally, an approximately 0.30 NM gap of Class E and Class G
airspaces exists between the BKF and APA surface areas. As such, the
airport's Class D and Class E surface areas should be re-sized to be
within a 4.4-mile radius of the airport, within 2 miles northeast and 4
miles southwest of the airport's 151[deg] bearing extending to 7.1
miles southeast, and within 4 miles south and 4.4 miles north of the
airport's 270[deg] bearing extending to 4.7 miles west, excluding that
airspace within the DEN Class B and APA Class D airspace areas. Closing
this gap would redirect some VFR aircraft to transition a 500-foot
vertical Class E airspace area between the vertical limits of BKF's
Class D airspace and the floor of DEN Class B Area E airspace.
The FAA is proposing to revoke BKF's Class E airspace, which is
designated as an extension to the Class D and E surface area. The Class
E airspace area extension is no longer required due to the proposed
modification of BKF's surface area airspace.
Finally, the FAA is proposing administrative actions to BKF's
airspace legal descriptions. The airport's name on line 2 of both legal
descriptions should state ``Buckley Space Force Base, CO.''
Additionally, line four of both surface area legal descriptions should
include ``Denver International Airport, CO'' and ``Centennial Airport,
CO'' as references, as they are used to define BKF's surface areas.
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
7400.11H, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 11,
2023, and effective September 15, 2023, is amended as follows:
Paragraph 5000 Class D Airspace.
* * * * *
ANM CO D Aurora, CO [Amended]
Buckley Space Force Base, CO
(Lat. 39[deg]42'06'' N, long. 104[deg]45'07'' W)
Denver International Airport, CO
(Lat. 39[deg]51'42'' N, long. 104[deg]40'23'' W)
Centennial Airport, CO
(Lat. 39[deg]34'12'' N, long. 104[deg]50'57'' W)
That airspace extending upward from the surface to but not
including 7,500 feet MSL within a 4.4-mile radius of the airport,
within 2 miles northeast and 4 miles southwest of the airport's
151[deg] bearing extending to 7.1 miles southeast, and within 4 miles
south and 4.4 miles north of the airport's 270[deg] bearing extending
to 4.7 miles west, excluding that airspace within the Denver
International Airport, CO, Class B and Centennial Airport, CO, Class D
airspace areas. 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.
* * * * *
[[Page 73024]]
Paragraph 6002 Class E Airspace Areas Designated as a Surface Area.
* * * * *
ANM CO E2 Aurora, CO [Amended]
Buckley Space Force Base, CO
(Lat. 39[deg]42'06'' N, long. 104[deg]45'07'' W)
Denver International Airport, CO
(Lat. 39[deg]51'42'' N, long. 104[deg]40'23'' W)
Centennial Airport, CO
(Lat. 39[deg]34'12'' N, long. 104[deg]50'57'' W)
That airspace extending upward from the surface to but not
including 7,500 feet MSL within a 4.4-mile radius of the airport,
within 2 miles northeast and 4 miles southwest of the airport's
151[deg] bearing extending to 7.1 miles southeast, and within 4 miles
south and 4.4 miles north of the airport's 270[deg] bearing extending
to 4.7 miles west, excluding that airspace within the Denver
International Airport, CO, Class B and Centennial Airport, CO, Class D
airspace areas. 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.
* * * * *
Paragraph 6004 Class E Airspace Areas Designated as an Extension to a
Class D or Class E Surface Area.
* * * * *
ANM CO E4 Aurora, CO [Removed]
Aurora, Buckley ANG Base, CO
(Lat. 39[deg]42'06'' N, long. 104[deg]45'07'' W)
* * * * *
Issued in Des Moines, Washington, August 30, 2024.
B.G. Chew,
Group Manager, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2024-20197 Filed 9-6-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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