83 FR 25967 - Proposed Amendment of Class D Airspace and Class E Airspace; Williamsport, PA

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 108 (June 5, 2018)

This action proposes to amend Class D airspace, Class E surface airspace, Class E airspace designated as an extension to a Class D surface area, and Class E airspace area extending upward from 700 feet or more above the surface at Williamsport Regional Airport (formerly Williamsport-Lycoming County Airport), Williamsport, PA. Airspace reconfiguration is necessary due to the decommissioning of Picture Rocks non-directional radio beacon (NDB), and cancellation of the NDB approaches. This action also removes the Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) part-time language from the legal description of the Class E airspace area designated as an extension at this airport. Controlled airspace is necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at this airport. This action also would recognize the airport's name change and update the geographic coordinates of the airport and Williamsport Hospital, and would replace the outdated term Airport/Facility Directory with the term Chart Supplement in the legal descriptions of associated Class D and E airspace.

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 108 (Tuesday, June 5, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 25967-25969]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-11862]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0322; Airspace Docket No. 18-AEA-12]
 RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Amendment of Class D Airspace and Class E Airspace; 
Williamsport, PA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to amend Class D airspace, Class E 
surface airspace, Class E airspace designated as an extension to a 
Class D surface area, and Class E airspace area extending upward from 
700 feet or more above the surface at Williamsport Regional Airport 
(formerly Williamsport-Lycoming County Airport), Williamsport, PA. 
Airspace reconfiguration is necessary due to the decommissioning of 
Picture Rocks non-directional radio beacon (NDB), and cancellation of 
the NDB approaches. This action also removes the Notice to Airmen 
(NOTAM) part-time language from the legal description of the Class E 
airspace area designated as an extension at this airport. Controlled 
airspace is necessary for the safety and management of instrument 
flight rules (IFR) operations at this airport. This action also would 
recognize the airport's name change and update the geographic 
coordinates of the airport and Williamsport Hospital, and would replace 
the outdated term Airport/Facility Directory with the term Chart 
Supplement in the legal descriptions of associated Class D and E 
airspace.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 20, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on this proposal to: U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Operations, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West 
Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590; Telephone: 
(800) 647-5527, or (202) 366-9826. You must identify the Docket No. 
FAA-2018-0322; Airspace Docket No. 18-AEA-12, at the beginning of your 
comments. You may also submit comments through the internet at http://www.regulations.gov.
    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.

[[Page 25968]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Fornito, Operations Support 
Group, Eastern Service Center, Federal Aviation Administration, 1701 
Columbia Av, College Park, GA 30337; 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. 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 D and Class E airspace at Williamsport Regional 
Airport, Williamsport, PA, to support standard instrument approach 
procedures for IFR operations at this airport.

Comments Invited

    Interested persons are invited to comment on this proposed 
rulemaking 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 (Docket No. FAA-
2018-0322 and Airspace Docket No. 18-AEA-12) and be submitted in 
triplicate to DOT Docket Operations (see ADDRESSES section for the 
address and phone number.) 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 FAA 
Docket No. FAA-2018-0322; Airspace Docket No. 18-AEA-12.'' The postcard 
will be date/time stamped and returned to the commenter.
    All communications received before the specified closing date for 
comments will be considered before taking action on the proposed rule. 
The proposal contained in this document may be changed in light of the 
comments received. All comments submitted will be available for 
examination in the public docket both before and after the comment 
closing date. 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 through the 
internet at 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, GA 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 by:
    Amending Class D airspace and Class E surface area airspace at 
Williamsport, PA, by recognizing the airport name change from 
Williamsport-Lycoming County Airport to Williamsport Regional Airport, 
and adjusting the geographic coordinates of the airport to be in 
concert with the FAA's aeronautical database. Also, this action would 
make an editorial change to the legal descriptions of the airspace 
areas above replacing ``Airport/Facility Directory'' with ``Chart 
Supplement'';
    Amending Class E airspace extending upward from the surface at 
Williamsport Regional Airport by removing the NOTAM part-time language 
from the legal description, and adjusting the geographic coordinates 
and noting the airport name change;
    Amending Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet or more 
above the surface at Williamsport Regional Airport to within a 12.6-
mile radius of the airport, due to the decommissioning of the Picture 
Rocks NDB, and cancellation of the NDB approach. Also, the geographic 
coordinates of the airport (as well as the airport name change) and the 
Williamsport Hospital point in space coordinates would be adjusted to 
be in concert with the FAA's aeronautical database.
    Class D and Class E airspace designations are published in 
Paragraphs 5000, 6002, 6004, 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 D and E airspace 
designations 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 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 will 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).

[[Page 25969]]

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, and effective September 15, 2017, is 
amended as follows:

Paragraph 5000. Class D Airspace.

* * * * *

AEA PA D Williamsport, PA [Amended]

Williamsport Regional Airport, PA
    (Lat. 41[deg]14'30'' N, long. 76[deg]55'19'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including 
3,000 feet MSL within a 4.2-mile radius of Williamsport Regional 
Airport. This Class D airspace area is effective during the specific 
dates and times established in advance by a Notice to Airmen. The 
effective date and time will thereafter be continuously published in 
the Chart Supplement.

Paragraph 6002. Class E Surface Area Airspace.

* * * * *

AEA PA E2 Williamsport, PA [Amended]

Williamsport Regional Airport, PA
    (Lat. 41[deg]14'30'' N, long. 76[deg]55'19'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface within a 4.2-
mile radius of Williamsport Regional Airport. This Class E airspace 
area is effective during the specific dates and times established in 
advance by a Notice to Airmen. The effective date and time will 
thereafter be continuously published in the Chart Supplement.

Paragraph 6004. Class E Airspace Designated as an Extension to a 
Class D Surface Area.

* * * * *

AEA PA E4 Williamsport, PA [Amended]

Williamsport Regional Airport, PA
    (Lat. 41[deg]14'30'' N, long. 76[deg]55'19'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface from the 4.2-
mile radius of Williamsport Regional Airport to a 7-mile radius of 
the airport extending clockwise from the 270[deg] bearing to the 
312[deg] bearing from the airport and within an 11.3-mile radius of 
the airport, extending clockwise from the 312[deg] bearing to the 
350[deg] bearing from the airport and within an 11.3-mile radius of 
the airport extending clockwise from the 004[deg] bearing to the 
099[deg] bearing from the airport and within 3.5 miles south of the 
airport east localizer course extending from the 4.2-mile radius of 
the airport east to the 099[deg] bearing from the airport.

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

* * * * *

AEA PA E5 Williamsport, PA [Amended]

Williamsport Regional Airport, PA
    (Lat. 41[deg]14'30'' N, long. 76[deg]55'19'' W)
Williamsport Hospital, Point In Space Coordinates
    (Lat. 41[deg]14'51'' N, long. 77[deg]00'55'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 12.6-mile radius of Williamsport Regional Airport, and that 
airspace within a 6-mile radius of the point in space (Lat. 
41[deg]14'51'' N, long. 77[deg]00'55'' W) serving Williamsport 
Hospital.

    Issued in College Park, Georgia, on May 24, 2018.
Ryan W. Almasy,
Manager, Operations Support Group, Eastern Service Center, Air Traffic 
Organization.
[FR Doc. 2018-11862 Filed 6-4-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P