Proposed Rule2025-22171
Amendment of Class E Airspace; Benton Harbor, MI
Primary source
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Published
December 8, 2025
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
This action proposes to amend the Class E airspace at Benton Harbor, MI. The name and geographic coordinates of the Southwest Michigan Regional Airport, Benton Harbor, MI, would also be updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database. The FAA is proposing this action as the result of an airspace review conducted due to the decommissioning of the Keeler very high frequency omnidirectional range (VOR) as part of the VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) Program. This action would bring the airspace into compliance with FAA orders and support instrument flight rule (IFR) procedures and operations.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 233 (Monday, December 8, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 233 (Monday, December 8, 2025)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 56711-56712]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-22171]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2025-5367; Airspace Docket No. 25-AGL-19]
RIN 2120-AA66
Amendment of Class E Airspace; Benton Harbor, 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 E airspace at Benton
Harbor, MI. The name and geographic coordinates of the Southwest
Michigan Regional Airport, Benton Harbor, MI, would also be updated to
coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database. The FAA is proposing
this action as the result of an airspace review conducted due to the
decommissioning of the Keeler very high frequency omnidirectional range
(VOR) as part of the VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) Program.
This action would bring the airspace into compliance with FAA orders
and support instrument flight rule (IFR) procedures and operations.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before January 22, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by FAA Docket No. FAA-2025-5367 and
Airspace Docket No. 25-AGL-19 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 7400.11K, 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 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 E airspace at the affected airport to
support IFR operations.
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 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-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
[[Page 56712]]
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 E airspace is published in paragraphs 6002 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 7400.11K, dated August 4, 2025, and effective September 15, 2025.
These updates would be published subsequently in the next update to FAA
Order JO 7400.11. FAA Order JO 7400.11K, which lists Class A, B, C, D,
and E airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and reporting points,
is publicly available as listed in the ADDRESSES section of this
document.
The Proposal
The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 that would
modify the Class E surface airspace and the Class E airspace extending
upward from 700 ft. above the surface at Benton Harbor, Michigan, due
to an airspace review conducted as part of the decommissioning of the
Keeler VOR as part of the VOR MON Program.
For the Southwest Michigan Regional Airport, Benton Harbor, MI,
Class E surface area, the proposal would: (1) increase the radius from
4.2 miles to 4.5 miles; (2) update the name of the airport from Ross-
Field-Twin Cities Airport to Southwest Michigan Regional Airport and
update the geographic coordinates of the airport to coincide with the
FAA's aeronautical database; (3) remove the city associated with the
airport from the airspace legal description header to comply with
changes to FAA Order JO 7400.2R, Procedures for Handling Airspace
Matters; and (4) update the outdated term ``Airport/Facility
Directory'' to ``Chart Supplement.''
For the Southwest Michigan Regional Airport Class E airspace
extending upward from 700 ft. above the surface, the proposal would:
(1) increase the radius from 6.5 miles to 7 miles; (2) add an extension
within 3.7 miles each side of the 090[deg] bearing from the Southwest
Michigan RGNL: RWY 28-LOC extending from the 7-mile radius of the
airport to 9.3 miles east of the airport; (3) add an extension within 2
miles each side of the 090[deg] bearing from the airport extending from
the 7-mile radius to 11.5 miles east of the airport; (4) update the
name of the airport from Ross-Field-Twin Cities Airport to Southwest
Michigan Regional Airport and update the geographic coordinates of the
airport to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database; and (5)
remove the city associated with the airport from the airspace legal
description header to comply with changes to FAA Order JO 7400.2R.
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 1050.1G, ``FAA National Environmental Policy
Act Implementing 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
7400.11K, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 4,
2025, and effective September 15, 2025, is amended as follows:
6002 Class E Airspace Areas Designated as Surface Areas.
* * * * *
AGL MI E2 Benton Harbor, MI [Amended]
Southwest Michigan Regional Airport, MI
(Lat 42[deg]07'42'' N, long 086[deg]25'30'' W)
Within a 4.5-mile radius of Southwest Michigan Regional Airport.
This Class E airspace area is effective during the specific dates
and times established in advance by a Notice to Airmen. The
effective dates and times will thereafter be continuously published
in the Chart Supplement.
* * * * *
Paragraph 6005 Class E Airspace Areas Extending Upward From 700
Feet or More Above the Surface of the Earth.
* * * * *
AGL MI E5 Benton Harbor, MI [Amended]
Southwest Michigan Regional Airport, MI
(Lat 42[deg]07'42'' N, long 086[deg]25'30'' W)
Southwest Michigan RGNL: RWY 28-LOC
(Lat 42[deg]07'41'' N, long 086[deg]26'15'' W)
That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface
within a 7-mile radius of Southwest Michigan Regional Airport; and
within 3.7 miles each side of the 090[deg] from the Southwest
Michigan RGNL: RWY 28-LOC extending from the 7-mile radius of the
airport to 9.3 miles east of the airport; and within 2 miles each
side of the 090[deg] bearing from the airport extending from the 7-
mile radius of the airport to 11.5 miles east of the airport.
* * * * *
Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on December 3, 2025.
Jerry J. Creecy,
Acting Manager, Operations Support Group, ATO Central Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2025-22171 Filed 12-5-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on December 8, 2025.
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