83 FR 1584 - Proposed Revocation and Amendment of Class E Airspace, Philipsburg, PA

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 9 (January 12, 2018)

This action proposes to remove Class E surface airspace at Mid-State Airport, as the airport no longer qualifies for surface airspace. Also, this action proposes to remove Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Philipsburg Area Hospital Heliport, as the Hospital has closed. Controlled airspace redesign is necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at Mid-State Airport.

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 9 (Friday, January 12, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 1584-1586]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-00395]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0755; Airspace Docket No. 17-AEA-11]


Proposed Revocation and Amendment of Class E Airspace, 
Philipsburg, PA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to remove Class E surface airspace at 
Mid-State Airport, as the airport no longer qualifies for surface 
airspace. Also, this action proposes to remove Class E airspace 
extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Philipsburg Area 
Hospital Heliport, as the Hospital has closed. Controlled airspace 
redesign is necessary for the safety and management of instrument 
flight rules (IFR) operations at Mid-State Airport.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 26, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on this proposal to: U. S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Operations, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West 
Bldg. Ground Floor Rm. W12-140, Washington, DC 20590; Telephone: 1 
(800) 647-5527, or (202) 366-9826. You must identify the Docket No. 
FAA-2017-0755; Airspace Docket No. 17-AEA-11, at the beginning of your 
comments. You may also submit and review received comments through the 
internet at http://www.regulations.gov. You may review the public 
docket containing the proposal, any comments received, and any final 
disposition in person in the Dockets Office between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 
p.m., Monday through Friday, except federal holidays.
    FAA Order 7400.11B, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, and 
subsequent amendments can be viewed on line 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 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: John Fornito, Operations Support 
Group, Eastern Service Center, Federal Aviation Administration, P.O. 
Box 20636, Atlanta, Georgia 30320; telephone 404 305-6364.

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.

[[Page 1585]]

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 and remove Class E airspace in the 
Philipsburg, PA, area to support IFR operations.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    Interested persons are invited to comment on this rule by 
submitting such written data, views, or arguments, as they may desire. 
Comments that provide the factual basis supporting the views and 
suggestions presented are particularly helpful in developing reasoned 
regulatory decisions on the proposal. Comments are specifically invited 
on the overall regulatory, aeronautical, economic, environmental, and 
energy-related aspects of the proposal.
    Communications should identify both docket numbers and be submitted 
in triplicate to the address listed above. You may also submit comments 
through the internet at http://www.regulations.gov.
    Persons wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments on 
this action must submit with those comments a self-addressed stamped 
postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments to Docket 
No. FAA-2017-0755; Airspace Docket No. 17-AEA-11.'' The postcard will 
be date/time stamped and returned to the commenter.
    All communications received on or before the specified closing date 
for comments will be considered before taking action on the proposed 
rule. The proposal contained in this notice may be changed in light of 
the comments received. A report summarizing each substantive public 
contact with FAA personnel concerned with this rulemaking will be filed 
in the docket.

Availability of NPRMs

    An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded from and 
comments submitted through http://www.regulations.gov. Recently 
published rulemaking documents can also be accessed through the FAA's 
web page at http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/airspace_amendments/.
    You may review the public docket containing the proposal, any 
comments received, and any final disposition in person in the Dockets 
Office (see the ADDRESSES section for address and phone number) between 
9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except federal 
holidays. An informal docket may also be examined between 8:00 a.m. and 
4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except federal holidays at the office 
of the Eastern Service Center, Federal Aviation Administration, Room 
350, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, Georgia 30337.

Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference

    This document proposes to amend 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 Proposal

    The FAA is considering an amendment to Title 14, Code of Federal 
Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 to remove Class E surface airspace at Mid-
State Airport as the airport no longer qualifies for the airspace. 
Also, the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet or more above 
the surface surrounding Philipsburg Area Hospital Heliport would be 
removed as the hospital has closed. Airspace reconfiguration is 
necessary for continued safety and management of IFR operations in the 
area.
    Class E airspace designations are published in Paragraphs 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 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 
Department of Transportation (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 will only affect air traffic 
procedures and air navigation, it is certified 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 would be subject to an environmental analysis in 
accordance with FAA Order 1050.1F, ``Environmental Impacts: Policies 
and Procedures'' prior to any FAA final regulatory action.

Lists of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71

    Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).

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 Federal Aviation 
Administration Order 7400.11B, Airspace Designations and Reporting 
Points, dated August 3, 2017, effective September 15, 2017, is amended 
as follows:

Paragraph 6002 Class E Surface Area Airspace.

* * * * *

AEA PA E2 Philipsburg, PA [Removed]

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

* * * * *

AEA PA E5 Philipsburg, PA [Amended]

Mid-State Airport, PA
    (Lat. 40[deg]53'04'' N, long. 78[deg]05'14'' W)
Philipsburg VORTAC
    (Lat. 40[deg]54'59'' N, long. 77[deg]59'34'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.6-mile radius of Mid-State Airport extending clockwise 
from the 261[deg] bearing to the 012[deg] bearing from the airport 
and within a 7.4-mile radius of Mid-State Airport extending 
clockwise from the 012[deg] bearing to the 098[deg]

[[Page 1586]]

bearing from the airport and within a 6.6-mile radius of Mid-State 
Airport extending clockwise from the 098[deg] bearing to the 
183[deg] bearing from the airport, and within a 8.3-mile radius of 
Mid-State Airport extending clockwise from the 183[deg] bearing to 
the 261[deg] bearing from the airport and within 3.1 miles each of 
the Philipsburg VORTAC 067[deg] radial extending from the VORTAC to 
10 miles northeast of the VORTAC, and within 3.5 miles each side of 
the 327[deg] bearing from a point at lat. 40[deg]53'09'' N, long. 
78[deg]05'06'' W, extending from said point to a point 7.4 miles 
northwest, and within 2.2 miles each side of the Philipsburg VORTAC 
330[deg] radial extending from the VORTAC to 5.3 miles northwest of 
the VORTAC and within 3.1 miles each side of the Philipsburg VORTAC 
301[deg] radial extending from the VORTAC to 10 miles northwest of 
the VORTAC.

    Issued in College Park, Georgia, on January 4, 2018.
Ryan W. Almasy,
Manager, Operations Support Group, Eastern Service Center, Air Traffic 
Organization.
[FR Doc. 2018-00395 Filed 1-11-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P