82 FR 44915 - Amendment of Class E Airspace; Midland, TX and Establishment of Class E Airspace; Odessa, TX and Midland, TX

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 186 (September 27, 2017)

This action modifies Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Midland International Air and Space Port Airport (formerly Midland International Airport), Midland, TX, due to the closing of Mabee Ranch Airport, decommissioning of the Mabee non- directional radio beacon (NDB), and cancellation of NDB approaches at Mabee Ranch Airport. Additionally, this action establishes Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Odessa Airport-Schlemeyer Field, Odessa, TX and Midland Airpark, Midland, TX, to accommodate special instrument approach procedures developed at these airports to enhance the safety and management of standard instrument approach procedures for instrument flight rules (IFR) operations. Also, an editorial change is made to the Class E surface area airspace legal description replacing Airport/Facility Directory with the term Chart Supplement. In addition, the airport name is changed to Midland International Air and Space Port Airport to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 186 (Wednesday, September 27, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 44915-44917]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-20592]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2016-9481; Airspace Docket No. 16-ASW-18]


Amendment of Class E Airspace; Midland, TX and Establishment of 
Class E Airspace; Odessa, TX and Midland, TX

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action modifies Class E airspace extending upward from 
700 feet above the surface at Midland International Air and Space Port 
Airport (formerly Midland International Airport), Midland, TX, due to 
the closing of Mabee Ranch Airport, decommissioning of the Mabee non-
directional radio beacon (NDB), and cancellation of NDB approaches at 
Mabee Ranch Airport. Additionally, this action establishes Class E 
airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Odessa 
Airport-Schlemeyer Field, Odessa, TX and Midland Airpark, Midland, TX, 
to accommodate special instrument approach procedures developed at 
these airports to enhance the safety and management of standard 
instrument approach procedures for instrument flight rules (IFR) 
operations. Also, an editorial change is made to the Class E surface 
area airspace legal description replacing Airport/Facility Directory 
with the term Chart Supplement. In addition, the airport name is 
changed to Midland International Air and Space Port Airport to coincide 
with the FAA's aeronautical database.

DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, December 7, 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 7400.11B, Airspace Designations and Reporting 
Points, and subsequent amendments can be viewed online at http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/. 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 FAA

[[Page 44916]]

Order 7400.11B at NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go to https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.
    FAA Order 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, is 
published yearly and effective on September 15.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Rebecca Shelby, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Operations Support Group, Central Service Center, 10101 
Hillwood Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5857.

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 Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the 
surface at Midland International Air Space Port Airport by removing 
Mabee Ranch Airport, Midland, TX, due to closing of the airport; and 
establishes Class E airspace at Odessa Airport-Schlemeyer Field, 
Odessa, TX, and Midland Airpark, Midland, TX, to support special 
instrument approach procedures for IFR operations at these airports.

History

    On May 26, 2017, the FAA published in the Federal Register (82 FR 
24266) Docket No. FAA-2016-9481, a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) 
to amend Class E airspace at Midland International Air and Space Port 
Airport, Midland, TX; and establish Class E airspace extending upward 
from 700 feet above the surface at Odessa Airport-Schlemeyer Field, 
Odessa, TX, and Midland Airpark, Midland, TX. 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 6002, and 
6005, respectively, of FAA Order 7400.11B, dated August 3, 2017, and 
effective September 15, 2017, which is incorporated by reference in 14 
CFR 71.1. The Class E airspace designations 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 7400.11B, Airspace Designations and 
Reporting Points, dated August 3, 2017, and effective September 15, 
2017. FAA Order 7400.11B is publicly available as listed in the 
ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order 7400.11B 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 7.1-mile radius (from a 17.4-mile radius) of 
Midland International Air and Space Port Airport, Midland, TX, and also 
amends the airport name from Midland International Airport to Midland 
International Air and Space Port Airport in this and other associated 
Class E airspace areas. Airspace reconfiguration is necessary due to 
the closing of Mabee Ranch Airport, and decommissioning and 
cancellation of the Mabee NDB and NDB approaches.
    This action also established Class E airspace extending upward from 
700 feet above the surface within a 6.6-mile radius of both Midland 
Airpark, Midland, TX and Odessa Airport-Schlemeyer Field, Odessa, TX, 
to accommodate special instrument approach procedures for IFR 
operations at these airports.
    Additionally, this action makes an editorial change in the legal 
description by replacing Airport/Facility Directory with the term Chart 
Supplement in the Class E surface area airspace.
    Class E airspace areas are published in Paragraph 6002 and 6005, 
respectively, of FAA Order 7400.11B, dated August 3, 2017, and 
effective September 15, 2017, which is incorporated by reference in 14 
CFR 71.1. The Class E airspace designation listed in this document will 
be published subsequently in the Order.

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 5-6.5.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 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 7400.11B, 
Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 3, 2017, and 
effective September 15, 2017, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6002 Class E Airspace Areas Designated as Surface Areas.

* * * * *

ASW TX E2 Midland International Air and Space Port Airport, TX 
[Amended]

Midland International Air and Space Port Airport, TX
    (Lat. 31[deg]56'33'' N., long. 102[deg]12'07'' W.)

    Within a 5-mile radius of Midland International Air and Space 
Port Airport. This Class E airspace area is effective during the 
specific dates and times established in

[[Page 44917]]

advance by a Notice to Airmen. The effective date and time 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 TX E5 Midland, TX [Amended]

Midland International Air and Space Port Airport, TX
    (Lat. 31[deg]56'33'' N., long. 102[deg]12'07'' W.)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 7.1-mile radius of Midland International Air and Space Port 
Airport.

ASW TX E5 Midland, TX [New]

Midland Airpark, TX
    (Lat. 32[deg]02'12'' N., long. 102[deg]06'05'' W.)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.6-mile radius of Midland Airpark.
* * * * *

ASW TX E5 Odessa, TX [New]

Odessa Airport-Schlemeyer Field, TX
    (Lat. 31[deg]55'17'' N., long. 102[deg]23'14'' W.)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.6-mile radius of Odessa Airport-Schlemeyer Field Airport.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on September 19, 2017.
Walter Tweedy,
Acting Manager, Operations Support Group, ATO Central Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2017-20592 Filed 9-26-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P