83 FR 31853 - Amendment of Class D Airspace and Class E Airspace; Aberdeen, MD

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 132 (July 10, 2018)

This amends Class D 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 Phillips Army Air Field (AAF), Aberdeen, MD. This action accommodates airspace reconfiguration due to the decommissioning of Aberdeen non-directional radio beacon (NDB), and cancellation of the NDB approaches. Controlled airspace is necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at this airport. This action also updates the geographic coordinates of the airport, and replaces the outdated term Airport/Facility Directory with the term Chart Supplement in the legal descriptions of associated Class D and E airspace.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 132 (Tuesday, July 10, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 31853-31854]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-14664]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0128; Airspace Docket No. 18-AEA-3]
RIN 2120-AA66


Amendment of Class D Airspace and Class E Airspace; Aberdeen, MD

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This amends Class D 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 Phillips 
Army Air Field (AAF), Aberdeen, MD. This action accommodates airspace 
reconfiguration due to the decommissioning of Aberdeen non-directional 
radio beacon (NDB), and cancellation of the NDB approaches. Controlled 
airspace is necessary for the safety and management of instrument 
flight rules (IFR) operations at this airport. This action also updates 
the geographic coordinates of the airport, and replaces the outdated 
term Airport/Facility Directory with the term Chart Supplement in the 
legal descriptions of associated Class D and E airspace.

DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, September 13, 2018. 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 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, 1701 
Columbia Ave., 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 amends Class D and Class E airspace at Phillips AAF, Aberdeen, 
MD, to support IFR operations at the airport.

History

    The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal 
Register (83 FR 16259, April 16, 2018) for Docket No. FAA-2018-0128 to 
amend Class D 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 Phillips Army Air Field, 
Aberdeen, MD.
    Interested parties were invited to participate in this rulemaking 
effort by submitting written comments on the proposal to the FAA. No 
comments were received.
    Subsequent to publication, the FAA found the geographic coordinates 
for Phillips AAF were incorrect. This action corrects that error.
    Class D and E airspace designations are published in paragraph 
5000, 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 part 71.1. The Class D and 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) 
amends part 71 by:
    Amending Class D airspace at Phillips AAF, Aberdeen, MD, by 
updating the geographic coordinates of the airfield; and
    Amending Class E airspace designated as an extension to a Class D 
surface area to within a 4.4-mile radius of Phillips AAF, and within 2 
miles each side of the 028[deg] bearing from Phillips AAF, extending 
from the 4.4-mile radius to 9 miles northeast of the airport. The 
northeast extension from the Aberdeen NDB is removed due to the

[[Page 31854]]

decommissioning of the navigation aid and cancelation of the NDB 
approach.
    The geographic coordinates of Phillips AAF are adjusted in the 
associated airspace areas to be in concert with the FAA's aeronautical 
database. These changes enhance the safety and management of IFR 
operations at the airport.
    An editorial change is made removing the city from the airport name 
to comply with a change to FAA Order 7400.2L, Procedures for Handling 
Airspace Matters, in the Class E airspace areas.
    Also, an editorial change is made replacing the outdated term 
Airport/Facility Directory with the term Chart Supplement in the 
associated Class D and E airspace legal descriptions.

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 
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 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 MD D Aberdeen, MD [Amended]

Phillips AAF, MD
    (Lat. 39[deg]27'56'' N, long. 76[deg]10'06'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including 
2,600 feet MSL within a 4.4-mile radius of Phillips AAF; excluding 
that airspace in Restricted Area R-4001A when it is in effect. This 
Class D airspace area is effective during the specific dates and 
times established in advance by a Notice to Airmen. The specific 
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 MD E4 Aberdeen, MD [Amended]

Phillips AAF, MD
    (Lat. 39[deg]27'56'' N, long. 76[deg]10'06'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface within 2 miles 
each side of the 028[deg] bearing from Phillips AAF, extending from 
the 4.4-mile radius of the airport to 9 miles northeast of the 
airport; excluding that airspace in Restricted Area R-4001A when it 
is in effect. This Class E airspace area is effective during the 
specific dates and times established in advance by a Notice to 
Airmen. The specific 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.

* * * * *

AEA MD E5 Aberdeen, MD

Phillips AAF, MD
    (Lat. 39[deg]27'56'' N, long. 76[deg]10'06'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.7-mile radius of Phillips AAF and within an 8.3-mile 
radius of Phillips AAF extending clockwise from the 260[deg] bearing 
to the 030[deg] bearing from the airport, excluding the airspace in 
Restricted Areas R-4001A and R-4001B when they are in effect.

    Issued in College Park, Georgia, on July 2, 2018.
Ryan W. Almasy,
Manager, Operations Support Group, Eastern Service Center, Air Traffic 
Organization.
[FR Doc. 2018-14664 Filed 7-9-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P