Proposed Rule2026-18899
Amendment of Class E Airspace Over Pittsfield, ME
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 15, 2026
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
This action proposes to amend E airspace over Pittsfield, ME. This action would modify the dimensions of the Pittsfield, ME Class E5 airspace to appropriately contain Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the Pittsfield Municipal Airport. This action would also update the geographic coordinates of the airport in the Pittsfield, ME Class E5 airspace legal description. This action would also remove the decommissioned Burnham Non-Directional Beacon (NDB) from the airspace legal description. This action would also remove the exclusion for adjacent Class E5 airspace from the airspace legal description.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 177 (Tuesday, September 15, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 177 (Tuesday, September 15, 2026)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 58396-58398]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-18899]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2026-11422; Airspace Docket No. 26-ANE-6]
RIN 2120-AA66
Amendment of Class E Airspace Over Pittsfield, ME
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: This action proposes to amend E airspace over Pittsfield, ME.
This action would modify the dimensions of the Pittsfield, ME Class E5
airspace to appropriately contain Instrument Flight Rules (IFR)
operations at the Pittsfield Municipal Airport. This action would also
update the geographic coordinates of the airport in the Pittsfield, ME
Class E5 airspace legal description. This action would also remove the
decommissioned Burnham Non-Directional Beacon (NDB) from the airspace
legal description. This action would also remove the exclusion for
adjacent Class E5 airspace from the airspace legal description.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 30, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by FAA Docket No. FAA-2026-11422
and Airspace Docket No. 26-ANE-6 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: Docket Operations, M-30; U.S. Department of Transportation,
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Room W58-213, West Building, 5th Floor,
Washington, DC 20590-0001.
* Hand Delivery or Courier: Take comments to Docket Operations in
Room W58-213 of the West Building, 5th Floor at 1200 New Jersey Avenue
SE, Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except for 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 W58-213 of
the West Building, 5th Floor at 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington,
DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except for
Federal holidays.
FAA Order JO 7400.11M 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
[[Page 58397]]
Rules and Regulations Group, Policy Directorate, Federal Aviation
Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20597;
Telephone: (202) 267-8783.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marc Ellerbee, Operations Support
Group, Eastern Service Center, Federal Aviation Administration, 1701
Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337; Telephone: (404) 305-5589.
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 Class E airspace in Pittsfield, ME.
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 edits, 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
regular business hours at the office of the Eastern Service Center,
Federal Aviation Administration, Room 210, 1701 Columbia Ave., College
Park, GA, 30337.
Incorporation by Reference
Class E 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 7400.11M, dated July 30, 2026, and effective September 15, 2026.
These updates would be published in the next update to FAA Order JO
7400.11. FAA Order JO 7400.11M, 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
This action proposes to amend 14 CFR part 71 by modifying Class E
airspace over Pittsfield, ME. New instrument approach procedures (IAPs)
have been developed for Pittsfield Municipal Airport, Pittsfield, ME,
prompting a review of the associated airspace. A review of the new RNAV
(GPS) RWY 18 IAP revealed a need for an expansion of the Class E5
airspace to the north of the airport. This additional Class E5 airspace
would extend 2.1 miles each side of the 347[deg] bearing from the
airport from the 7.5-mile radius of the airport to 11.9 miles north of
the airport.
A review of the existing IAPs also revealed a need for a reduction
to the lateral dimensions of the Class E5 airspace extending south of
the airport. It was also found that the Burnham NDB, which is used in
the current airspace legal description, was decommissioned (National
Flight Data Digest No. 134, July 15, 2026) and should be removed from
the airspace legal description. The new Class E5 airspace extending
south of the airport would extend 2.2 miles each side of the 167[deg]
bearing from the airport from the 7.5-mile radius of the airport to
11.8 miles south of the airport.
This action would also update the geographic coordinates of the
airport from (Lat. 44[deg]46'06'' N, long. 69[deg]22'28'' W) to (Lat.
44[deg]46'07'' N, long. 69[deg]22'28'' W), which is one second of
latitude. This action would also remove the exclusion of the Belfast,
ME, Class E airspace area from the Pittsfield, ME Class E airspace
legal description, in order to comply with current FAA guidance.
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
Order 2100.6B, ``Rulemaking and Guidance Procedure'' (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 proposed amendments are routine and the expected
impact to operators is de minimis, the FAA certifies 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.
Lists of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71
Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).
[[Page 58398]]
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 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
7400.11M, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated July 30,
2026, and effective September 15, 2026, is amended as follows:
Paragraph 6005 Class E Airspace Areas Extending Upward From 700
Feet or More Above the Surface of the Earth.
* * * * *
ANE ME E5 Pittsfield, ME [Amended]
Pittsfield Municipal Airport, ME
(Lat. 44[deg]46'07'' N, long. 69[deg]22'28'' W)
That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface
within a 7.5-mile radius of Pittsfield Municipal Airport, and within
2.2 miles each side of the 167[deg] bearing from the airport
extending from the 7.5-mile radius to 11.8 miles south of the
airport; and within 2.1 miles each side of the 347[deg] bearing from
the airport extending from the 7.5-mile radius to 11.9 miles north
of the airport.
* * * * *
Issued in College Park, Georgia, on September 11, 2026.
Kristen Leake,
Acting Manager, Airspace & Procedures South Team, Eastern Service
Center, Air Traffic Organization.
[FR Doc. 2026-18899 Filed 9-14-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on September 15, 2026.
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