Proposed Rule2025-05059

Modification of Class E Airspace; Petersburg James A Johnson Airport, Petersburg, AK

Primary source

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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 above the surface to optimize instrument flight procedure containment at Petersburg James A Johnson Airport. Additionally, this action proposes to remove redundant Class E airspace and amend lines two and three of the text header in the airport's legal description. 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 14223-14224]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-05059]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2025-0183; Airspace Docket No. 23-AAL-66]
RIN 2120-AA66


Modification of Class E Airspace; Petersburg James A Johnson 
Airport, Petersburg, 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 above the surface to optimize instrument flight 
procedure containment at Petersburg James A Johnson Airport. 
Additionally, this action proposes to remove redundant Class E airspace 
and amend lines two and three of the text header in the airport's legal 
description. 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-2025-0183 and 
Airspace Docket No. 23-AAL-66 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, 
800 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; 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 scope of that 
authority as it would modify Class E airspace to support instrument 
flight rules (IFR) operations at Petersburg James A Johnson Airport, 
Petersburg, 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 and 
to update the administrative portion of the legal description at 
Petersburg James A Johnson Airport, AK.
    While the existing airspace contains widespread Class E coverage 
over an

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approximate 75 x 25-mile area, only that airspace within 6.5 miles of 
the airport extends upward from 700 feet. This proposal would expand 
that airspace to within 12.3 miles of the airport with a narrow segment 
extending 16.2 miles north to appropriately contain arriving IFR 
operations below 1,500 feet above the surface and departing and missed 
approach IFR operations until reaching 1,200 feet above the surface.
    Next, this proposal would remove multiple segments of Class E 
airspace that extend upward from 1,200 feet above the surface to the 
north and southeast, 3,300 feet to the south, 4,200 feet to the south 
and southeast, and 5,700 feet to the northwest. These airspace areas 
are redundant given existing southeast E6 domestic airspace blanketing 
the region provides sufficient controlled airspace for aircraft to 
transition into and out of the terminal and en route environments.
    Finally, administrative changes would be made to lines two and 
three of the text header for the airport's legal description. The 
airport name in line two is incorrect and should be changed to 
``Petersburg James A Johnson Airport''. Line three should remove 
unnecessary descriptive references to the Fredericks Point 
nondirectional beacon (NDB), Petersburg localizer (LOC), and Level 
Island very high frequency omnidirectional range/distance measuring 
equipment (VOR/DME) (LVD).

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

* * * * *

AAL AK E5 Petersburg, AK [Amended]

Petersburg James A Johnson Airport, AK
    (Lat. 56[deg]48'05'' N, long. 132[deg]56'46'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within the airport's 7.2-mile radius, between the 015[deg] and 
145[deg] bearings extending from the 7.2-mile radius to the 9.6-mile 
radius, between the 145[deg] and 277[deg] bearings extending from 
the 7.2-mile radius to the 12.3-mile radius, and within .4 miles 
west and 1.7 miles east of the 005[deg] bearing extending the 7.2-
mile radius to 16.2 miles north of the airport.
* * * * *

    Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on March 12, 2025.
B.G. Chew,
Group Manager, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2025-05059 Filed 3-28-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


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Indexed from Federal Register on March 31, 2025.

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