Establishment of Class E Airspace; Peoria, IL

Issuing agencies

Abstract

This action establishes Class E airspace at OSF St Francis Medical Center Heliport, Peoria, IL. This action supports new instrument procedures and instrument flight rule (IFR) operations.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 192 (Tuesday, October 6, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 192 (Tuesday, October 6, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 63475-63476]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-20479]



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Rules and Regulations
                                                Federal Register
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Federal Register / Vol. 91, No. 192 / Tuesday, October 6, 2026 / 
Rules and Regulations

[[Page 63475]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2026-8054; Airspace Docket No. 26-AGL-15]
RIN 2120-AA66


Establishment of Class E Airspace; Peoria, IL

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action establishes Class E airspace at OSF St Francis 
Medical Center Heliport, Peoria, IL. This action supports new 
instrument procedures and instrument flight rule (IFR) 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 7400.11M, 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 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: Raul Garza Jr., Federal Aviation 
Administration, Operations Support Group, Central Service Center, 10101 
Hillwood Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5874.

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 establishes Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above 
the surface at OSF St Francis Medical Center Heliport, Peoria, IL, to 
support IFR operations.

History

    The FAA published an NPRM for Docket No. FAA-2026-8054 in the 
Federal Register (91 FR 44779; July 24, 2026) proposing to establish 
Class E airspace at OSF St Francis Medical Center Heliport, Peoria, IL. 
Interested parties were invited to participate in this rulemaking 
effort by submitting written comments on the proposal to the FAA. Nine 
comments were received. One comment expressed support for the NPRM.
    The FAA received eight comments objecting to the proposed amendment 
on the grounds that low-flying helicopter traffic is causing noise and 
vibration, resulting in disturbance and structural damage to homes 
within Peoria, including historic homes and districts. These commenters 
expressed concern with the proposal on these grounds without 
articulating how it would cause or worsen these conditions that they 
allege already exist. These commenters requested an environmental 
review pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act that considers 
these impacts, including cumulative impacts, and includes a formal 
Section 106 review and consultation under the National Historic 
Preservation Act (NHPA).
    In response to these comments, the FAA clarifies that Class E5 
airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface already 
exists in the Peoria, IL, area to protect instrument procedures for 
Peoria International Airport (PIA). The instant rulemaking action does 
not alter or expand the existing PIA Class E5 airspace footprint over 
the City of Peoria west of the Illinois River where the commenters' 
properties are located. This action only establishes a minimal 
extension of Class E5 airspace east of the Illinois River to safely 
contain aircraft executing the missed approach segment of the new 
instrument approach procedure for the OSF helipad. Moreover, this 
rulemaking action does not change existing flight patterns, altitudes, 
or baseline operations, including those over the historic districts 
cited by the commenters. Accordingly, the FAA has determined that the 
Area of Potential Effects (APE) for this undertaking does not encompass 
these properties. In accordance with 36 CFR 800.4(d)(1), the FAA finds 
that no historic properties are affected by this rule. A formal Section 
106 review and consultation with respect to the pre-existing Peoria 
airspace is outside the scope of this action.
    One commenter also raised issues outside the scope of this action, 
such as the number of annual operations at OSF, airspace congestion, 
and the perceived lack of standardized traffic patterns. Other 
commenters similarly referenced increasing numbers of operations. The 
FAA is not addressing these topics because this rulemaking action is 
unrelated to these matters.

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 amends the current version of that order, FAA Order JO 
7400.11M, dated July 30, 2026, and effective September 15, 2026. These 
amendments will 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

[[Page 63476]]

available as listed in the ADDRESSES section of this document.

The Rule

    This action modifies 14 CFR part 71 by establishing Class E 
airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface within a 6.6-
mile radius of OSF St Francis Medical Center Heliport, Peoria, IL. This 
action is the result of instrument procedures being developed for this 
heliport to support IFR operations.

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, ``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 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), which categorically 
excludes from further environmental impact review rulemaking actions 
that designate or modify classes of airspace areas, airways, routes, 
and reporting points (see 14 CFR part 71, Designation of Class A, B, C, 
D, and E Airspace Areas; Air Traffic Service Routes; and Reporting 
Points); and paragraph B-2.5(k), which categorically excludes from 
further environmental impact review the publication of existing air 
traffic control procedures that do not essentially change existing 
tracks, create new tracks, change altitude, or change concentration of 
aircraft on these tracks. As such, this action is not expected to 
result in 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 
7400.11M, 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.

* * * * *

AGL IL E5 Peoria, IL [Establish]

OSF St Francis Medical Center Heliport, IL
    (Lat. 40[deg]42'10'' N, long. 89[deg]35'32'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.6-mile radius of the OSF St Francis Medical Center 
Heliport.
* * * * *

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on September 28, 2026.
Jerry J. Creecy,
Acting Manager, Operations Support Group, ATO Central Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2026-20479 Filed 10-5-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


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