Proposed Rule2025-24026
Modification of Class E Airspace; Denver International Airport, Denver, CO
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
December 30, 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, and remove the Class E airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface, at Denver International Airport, Denver, CO. Additionally, this action proposes an administrative modification to the airport's Class E airspace legal description. These actions would support the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations within the airspace proposed herein.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 246 (Tuesday, December 30, 2025)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 246 (Tuesday, December 30, 2025)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 61105-61107]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-24026]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2025-5384; Airspace Docket No. 25-ANM-152]
RIN 2120-AA66
Modification of Class E Airspace; Denver International Airport,
Denver, CO
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This action proposes to modify the Class E airspace extending
upward from 700 feet above the surface, and remove the Class E airspace
extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface, at Denver
International Airport, Denver, CO. Additionally, this action proposes
an administrative modification to the airport's Class E airspace legal
description. These actions would support the safety and management of
instrument flight rules (IFR) operations within the airspace proposed
herein.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 13, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by FAA Docket No. FAA-2025-5384 and
Airspace Docket No. 25-ANM-152 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.
[[Page 61106]]
* 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 7400.11K, 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>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nathan A. Chaffman, Federal Aviation
Administration, Western Service Center, Operations Support Group, 2200
S 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone (206) 231-3460.
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 IFR operations
in Denver, 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 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 E2 and Class E5 airspace designations are published in
paragraphs 6002 and 6005, 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 7400.11K, dated
August 4, 2025, and effective September 15, 2025. These updates would
be published 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 transitional Class E airspace at Denver International
Airport, Denver, CO, by expanding the portion of the Class E airspace
extending upward from 700 feet above the surface and removing the
portion extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface.
The transitional Class E airspace at Denver serves Denver
International Airport and also provides containment for IFR aircraft
departing/arriving at Denver's surrounding airports. The Class E
airspace at Denver extends to 17.8 miles south of Centennial Airport,
Denver, CO, to provide containment for Centennial Airport's arriving
IFR aircraft operations below 1,500 feet above the surface. The
extension is not sufficient in size to fully capture the ZOMBZ SIX
ARRIVAL Area Navigation (RNAV) procedure that guides aircraft arriving
at Centennial Airport until established on an instrument arrival
procedure (or otherwise). The Class E airspace extending upward from
700 feet above the surface at Denver should be extended approximately
four miles to the south to better contain the ZOMBZ SIX ARRIVAL (RNAV)
procedure. The portion of Class E airspace extending upward from 1,200
feet above the surface at Denver should be removed, as the Denver Class
E Domestic En Route Airspace provides sufficient containment and
duplication is not necessary.
Finally, the legal description for Denver's Class E airspace
extending upward from at least 700 feet above the surface uses the
Denver Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range/Distance Measuring
Equipment (VOR/DME) as its reference point (which is incorrectly listed
as a VOR). In accordance with the VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON)
Implementation Program (81 FR 48694), the Denver VOR/DME should no
longer be used to describe the airspace as it was selected for phase
two discontinuance from the National Airspace System. A ``Point of
Origin'' with identical geographical coordinates as the Denver VOR/DME
should be used to describe the airspace in its place.
Regulatory Notices and Analyses
The FAA has determined that this proposed regulation only involves
an established body of technical regulations for which frequent and
[[Page 61107]]
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, would be amended as follows:
Paragraph 6005 Class E Airspace Areas Extending Upward From 700
Feet or More Above the Surface of the Earth.
* * * * *
ANM CO E5 Denver, CO [Amended]
Point of Origin
(Lat. 39[deg]48'45'' N, long. 104[deg]39'39'' W)
That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface
within a 28-mile radius of the Point of Origin, and within 13 miles
west of the Point of Origin's 178[deg] bearing extending to 37 miles
south.
* * * * *
Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on December 22, 2025.
B.G. Chew,
Group Manager, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2025-24026 Filed 12-29-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
</pre></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on December 30, 2025.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.