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Rule2026-18437

Amendment of Class D and Class E Airspace and Establishment of Class E Airspace; Clovis, NM, and Portales, NM

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
September 10, 2026
Effective
December 24, 2026

Issuing agencies

Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration

Abstract

This action amends the Class D and Class E airspace at Clovis, NM, and establishes Class E airspace at Clovis, NM, and Portales, NM. This action is the result of a biennial airspace review conducted for Cannon AFB (Air Force Base), Clovis, NM, and airspace reviews conducted at Clovis Regional Airport, Clovis, NM, and Portales Municipal Airport, Portales, NM, due to updated instrument procedures. The name and geographic coordinates for the Cannon TACAN are also being updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database. This action brings the airspace into compliance with FAA orders and supports instrument flight rule (IFR) procedures and operations.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 174 (Thursday, September 10, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 174 (Thursday, September 10, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 57492-57493]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-18437]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2026-3238; Airspace Docket No. 26-ASW-3]
RIN 2120-AA66


Amendment of Class D and Class E Airspace and Establishment of 
Class E Airspace; Clovis, NM, and Portales, NM

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action amends the Class D and Class E airspace at Clovis, 
NM, and establishes Class E airspace at Clovis, NM, and Portales, NM. 
This action is the result of a biennial airspace review conducted for 
Cannon AFB (Air Force Base), Clovis, NM, and airspace reviews conducted 
at Clovis Regional Airport, Clovis, NM, and Portales Municipal Airport, 
Portales, NM, due to updated instrument procedures. The name and 
geographic coordinates for the Cannon TACAN are also being updated to 
coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database. This action brings the 
airspace into compliance with FAA orders and supports instrument flight 
rule (IFR) procedures and operations.

DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, December 24, 2026. The Director of the 
Federal Register approves this incorporation by reference action under 
1 CFR part 51, subject to the annual revision of FAA Order JO 7400.11 
and publication of conforming amendments.

ADDRESSES: A copy of the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), all 
comments received, this final rule, and all background material may be 
viewed online at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> using the FAA Docket number. 
Electronic retrieval help and guidelines are available on the website. 
It is available 24 hours each day, 365 days each year. An electronic 
copy of this document may also be downloaded from 
<a href="http://www.federalregister.gov">www.federalregister.gov</a>.
    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, 
800 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; 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 amends the Class D and Class E airspace and establishes Class E 
airspace at the affected airport to support IFR operations.

History

    The FAA published an NPRM for Docket No. FAA-2026-3238 in the 
Federal Register (91 FR 14488; March 25, 2026) proposing to amend the 
Class D and Class E airspace at Clovis, NM, and establish Class E 
airspace at Clovis, NM, and Portales, NM. Interested parties were 
invited to participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting written 
comments on the proposal to the FAA. No comments were received.

Incorporation by Reference

    Class D and E airspace designations are published in paragraphs 
5000, 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 amends the current version of that 
order, FAA Order JO 7400.11K, dated August 4, 2025, and effective 
September 15, 2025. These amendments will 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 Rule

    This action amends 14 CFR part 71 by modifying the Class D 
airspace, Class E surface airspace, and Class E airspace extending 
upward from 700 ft. above the surface at Clovis, NM, and establishing 
Class E airspace extending upward from 700 ft. above the surface at 
Clovis, NM, and Portales, NM, due to a biennial airspace review and 
airspace reviews conducted due to updated instrument procedures.
    For the Cannon AFB, Clovis, NM, Class D airspace, this action: (1) 
decreases the radius from 6 miles to 5.4 miles; (2) adds an extension 
within 1 mile each side of the 039[deg] bearing from the Cannon TACAN 
extending from the 5.4-mile radius to 5.9 miles northeast of the 
airport; and (3) updates the outdated term ``Airport/Facility 
Directory'' to ``Chart Supplement.''
    For the Cannon AFB Class E surface area, this action: (1) decreases 
the radius from 6 miles to 5.4 miles; (2) adds an extension within 1 
mile each side of the 039[deg] bearing from the Cannon TACAN extending 
from the 5.4-mile radius to 5.9 miles northeast of the airport; (3) 
removes the Cannon ILS Localizer from the airspace legal description as 
it is not required; (4) updates the geographic coordinates and the name 
of the Cannon TACAN, previously Cannon TACAN0,

[[Page 57493]]

to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database; and (5) updates the 
outdated term ``Airport/Facility Directory'' to ``Chart Supplement.''
    For the Cannon AFB Class E airspace extending upward from 700 ft. 
above the surface, this action: (1) decreases the radius from 20 miles 
to 7.9 miles; (2) removes the Portales Municipal Airport and associated 
airspace from the airspace legal description as separate airspace is 
being established to comply with FAA Order JO 7400.2R, Procedures for 
Handling Airspace Matters; (3) removes the Texico VORTAC and associated 
extension as they are no longer required; and (4) removes the city 
associated with Cannon AFB from the airspace legal description header 
to comply with changes to FAA Order JO 7400.2R.
    This action establishes Class E airspace extending upward from 700 
ft. above the surface within a 7.5-mile radius of Clovis Regional 
Airport, Clovis, NM.
    And this action establishes Class E airspace extending upward from 
700 ft. above the surface within a 7.4-mile radius of Portales 
Municipal Airport, Portales, NM.

Regulatory Notices and Analyses

    The FAA has determined that this 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 
Order 2100.6B, ``Policies and Procedures for Rulemakings'' (March 10, 
2025); and (3) is expected to result in, at most, de minimis costs from 
compliance with applicable operating requirements or minor flight 
rerouting for operators choosing to navigate around the controlled 
airspace. Since these amendments are routine and the expected impact to 
operators is de minimis, the FAA certifies that this rule, when 
promulgated, does not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities under the criteria of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act.

Environmental Review

    The FAA has determined that this action qualifies for categorical 
exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act in accordance 
with FAA Order 1050.1G, ``FAA National Environmental Policy Act 
Implementing Procedures,'' Paragraph B-2.5(a). This airspace action is 
not expected to cause any potentially significant environmental 
impacts, and no extraordinary circumstances exist that warrant 
preparation of an environmental assessment.

Lists of Subjects in 14 CFR 71

    Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).

The Amendment

    In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation 
Administration amends 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:

Paragraph 5000 Class D Airspace.

* * * * *

ASW NM D Clovis, NM [Amended]

Cannon AFB, NM
    (Lat. 34[deg]22'58'' N, long. 103[deg]19'20'' W)
Cannon TACAN
    (Lat. 34[deg]22'50'' N, long. 103[deg]19'21'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including 
6,800 feet MSL within a 5.4-mile radius Cannon AFB; and within 1 
mile each side of the 039[deg] bearing from the Cannon TACAN 
extending from the 5.4-mile radius of Cannon AFB to 5.9 miles 
northeast of Cannon AFB. The Class D airspace area is effective 
during the specific dates and times established in advance by the 
Notice to Airmen. The effective dates and times will thereafter be 
continuously published in the Chart Supplement.
* * * * *

Paragraph 6002 Class E Airspace Areas Designated as Surface Areas.

* * * * *

ASW NM E2 Clovis, NM [Amended]

Cannon AFB, NM
    (Lat. 34[deg]22'58'' N, long. 103[deg]19'20'' W)
Cannon TACAN
    (Lat. 34[deg]22'50'' N, long. 103[deg]19'21'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface within a 5.4-
mile radius Cannon AFB; and within 1 mile each side of the 039[deg] 
bearing from the Cannon TACAN extending from the 5.4-mile radius of 
Cannon AFB to 5.9 miles northeast of Cannon AFB. The Class E 
airspace area is effective during the specific dates and times 
established in advance by the 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.

* * * * *

ASW NM E5 Clovis, NM [Amended]

Cannon AFB, NM
    (Lat. 34[deg]22'58'' N, long. 103[deg]19'20'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 7.9-mile radius of Cannon AFB.
* * * * *

ASW NM E5 Clovis, NM [Establish]

Clovis Regional Airport, NM
    (Lat. 34[deg]25'36'' N, long. 103[deg]04'39'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 7.5-mile radius of Clovis Regional Airport.
* * * * *

ASW NM E5 Portales, NM [Establish]

Portales Municipal Airport, NM
    (Lat. 34[deg]08'44'' N, long. 103[deg]24'37'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 7.4-mile radius of Portales Municipal Airport.
* * * * *

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on September 8, 2026.
Courtney E. Johns,
Acting Manager, Operations Support Group, ATO Central Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2026-18437 Filed 9-9-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


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Indexed from Federal Register on September 10, 2026.

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