82 FR 11810 - Amendment of Class E Airspace, Willows, CA

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 37 (February 27, 2017)

This action to modifies Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Willows-Glenn County Airport, Willows, CA, for the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport. Decommissioning of the Maxwell VHF Omni- directional Range/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) navigation aid and cancellation of associated approaches has made this action necessary. Also, the airport's geographic coordinates are adjusted to match the current FAA aeronautical database.

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 37 (Monday, February 27, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 11810-11811]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-03512]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2016-9138; Airspace Docket No. 16-AWP-13]


Amendment of Class E Airspace, Willows, CA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action to modifies Class E airspace extending upward from 
700 feet above the surface at Willows-Glenn County Airport, Willows, 
CA, for the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) 
operations at the airport. Decommissioning of the Maxwell VHF Omni-
directional Range/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) navigation aid and 
cancellation of associated approaches has made this action necessary. 
Also, the airport's geographic coordinates are adjusted to match the 
current FAA aeronautical database.

DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, April 27, 2017. The Director of the Federal 
Register approves this incorporation by reference action under Title 1, 
Code of Federal Regulations, part 51, subject to the annual revision of 
FAA Order 7400.11 and publication of conforming amendments.

ADDRESSES: FAA Order 7400.11A, Airspace Designations and Reporting 
Points, and subsequent amendments can be viewed on line at http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/.

[[Page 11811]]

For further information, you can contact the Airspace Policy Group, 
Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW., 
Washington, DC 20591; telephone: 202-267-8783. The Order is also 
available for inspection at the National Archives and Records 
Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this 
material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal-regulations/ibr_locations.html.
    FAA Order 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, is 
published yearly and effective on September 15.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Clark, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center, 1601 
Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057; telephone (425) 203-4511.

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 modifies controlled airspace at Willows-Glenn County Airport, 
Willows, CA, due to the decommissioning of the Maxwell VHF Omni-
directional Range/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) navigation aid and 
cancellation of associated approaches.

History

    On November 25, 2016, the FAA published in the Federal Register (81 
FR 85171), Docket FAA-2016-9138, a notice of proposed rulemaking to 
modify Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the 
surface at Willows-Glenn County Airport, Willows, CA, by removing a 
segment extending 3 miles north of the Maxwell VHF Omni-directional 
Range/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC), which has been decommissioned. 
Interested parties were invited to participate in this rulemaking 
effort by submitting written comments on the proposal to the FAA. No 
comments were received.
    Class E airspace designations are published in paragraph 6005 of 
FAA Order 7400.11A, dated August 3, 2016, and effective September 15, 
2016, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR part 71.1. The Class 
E airspace designation listed in this document will be published 
subsequently in the Order.

Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference

    This document amends FAA Order 7400.11A, Airspace Designations and 
Reporting Points, dated August 3, 2016, and effective September 15, 
2016. FAA Order 7400.11A is publicly available as listed in the 
ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order 7400.11A lists Class A, 
B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and 
reporting points.

The Rule

    This amendment to Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 
part 71 modifies Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above 
the surface to within a 6.4-mile radius of Willows-Glenn County 
Airport, Willows, CA by removing a segment extending 3 miles north of 
the decommissioned Maxwell VORTAC. Additionally, the airport's 
geographic coordinates are updated to match the current FAA 
aeronautical database. These modifications are necessary to ensure the 
safety and management of IFR operations at the airport, with a minimum 
degree of airspace restriction.

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, is 
non-controversial and unlikely to result in adverse or negative 
comments. 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 only affects air traffic procedures and air navigation, it is 
certified 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 1050.1F, ``Environmental Impacts: Policies and 
Procedures,'' paragraph 5-6.5a. 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 Part 71

    Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (Air).

Adoption of 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 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 7400.11A, 
Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 3, 2016, and 
effective September 15, 2016, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6005 Class E Airspace Areas Extending Upward From 700 
Feet or More Above the Surface of the Earth.

* * * * *

AWP CA E5 Willows, CA [Modified]

Willows-Glenn County Airport, CA
    (Lat. 39[deg]30'57'' N., long. 122[deg]13'02'' W.)

That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.4-mile radius of Willows-Glenn County Airport.

    Issued in Seattle, Washington, on February 14, 2017.
Tracey Johnson,
Manager, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2017-03512 Filed 2-24-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P