Proposed Rule2025-05058
Modification of Class E Airspace; Wrangell Airport, Wrangell, AK
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
March 31, 2025
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
This action proposes to modify the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet to more appropriately contain instrument flight procedures, remove redundant Class E airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet, and to make administrative updates to the legal description for Wrangell Airport, Wrangell, AK. These actions would support the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the airport.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 60 (Monday, March 31, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 60 (Monday, March 31, 2025)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 14217-14219]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-05058]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2025-0182; Airspace Docket No. 22-AAL-75]
RIN 2120-AA66
Modification of Class E Airspace; Wrangell Airport, Wrangell, AK
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: This action proposes to modify the Class E airspace extending
upward from 700 feet to more appropriately contain instrument flight
procedures, remove redundant Class E airspace extending upward from
1,200 feet, and to make administrative updates to the legal description
for Wrangell Airport, Wrangell, AK. These actions would support the
safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at
the airport.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 15, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by FAA Docket No. FAA-2025-0182 and
Airspace Docket No. 22-AAL-75 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 7400.11J, 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,
600 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20597; telephone: (202) 267-
8783.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeffrey Drasin, Federal Aviation
Administration, Western Service Center, Operations Support Group, 2200
S 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone (206) 231-2248.
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
[[Page 14218]]
scope of that authority as it would modify Class E airspace to support
IFR operations at Wrangell Airport, Wrangell, AK.
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 operations). An informal docket may also be examined during
normal business hours 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 E5 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 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.
The Proposal
The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 to modify the
Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface due
to insufficient controlled airspace containment of instrument flight
procedures at Wrangell Airport, Wrangell, AK. The proposal would expand
coverage to the north-northwest and southeast, remove unnecessary
coverage to the west-northwest, and remove redundant Class E airspace
areas that extend upward from 1,200 feet, and higher, above the
surface. Class E airspace extending upward from the surface was
considered, but regional equipment limitations preclude meeting the
surface area communication requirements outlined in FAA Order JO
7400.2R, paragraph 17-2-10.
The terrain-driven airspace proposal would better contain departing
IFR operations until reaching 1,200 feet above the surface to the south
and southwest on the LASOE TWO Area Navigation (RNAV) (Required
Navigation Performance [RNP]) Runway (RWY) 10 and RWY 28 DEPARTURES,
KAJBU FIVE RNAV (RNP) RWY 10 DEPARTURE, LEVEL ISLAND THREE DEPARTURE
(OBSTACLE), and the SUMNER TWO (RNAV) DEPARTURE. Additionally, the
proposal would better contain arriving IFR operations that descend
below 1,500 feet above the surface to the north on the RNAV (Global
Positioning System [GPS]) P RWY 10 and RNAV (GPS)-E approach
procedures.
Additionally, this action proposes removal of redundant Class E
airspace areas that extend upward from 1,200 and 5,700 feet above the
surface at Wrangell Airport, as the Southeast En Route Domestic
Airspace Area provides sufficient airspace containment.
Finally, references to the Wrangell nondirectional beacon, Wrangell
localizer, and Level Island very high frequency omnidirectional range/
distance measuring equipment should be removed from line three of the
legal description's text header as they are no longer needed to
describe the proposed airspace.
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
[[Page 14219]]
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.
* * * * *
AAL AK E5 Wrangell, AK [Amended]
Wrangell Airport, AK
(Lat. 56[deg]29'04'' N, long. 132[deg]22'11'' W)
That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface
within a 5.6-mile radius of the airport, within five miles on either
side of the 151[deg] bearing extending from the 5.6-mile radius to
9.5 miles southeast of the airport, within 5.6 miles on the
southwest side of the 320[deg] bearing extending from the 5.6-mile
radius to 11.8 miles northwest of the airport, and within 5.6 miles
on the northeast side of the 320[deg] bearing extending from the
5.6-mile radius to 13.5 miles northwest of the airport.
* * * * *
Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on March 14, 2025.
B.G. Chew,
Group Manager, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2025-05058 Filed 3-28-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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