83 FR 7363 - Amendment of Class E Airspace; Hanford, CA

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 35 (February 21, 2018)

This action amends Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Hanford Municipal Airport, Hanford, CA, by enlarging the airspace to accommodate area navigation (RNAV) procedures at the airport, removing the Visalia VHF omnidirectional range/distance measuring equipment (VOR/DME) from the airspace description, and amending the geographic coordinates of the airport. This action also removes Blair Airport from the airport description as the airport no longer exists. This action is necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 35 (Wednesday, February 21, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 7363-7365]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-03409]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0856; Airspace Docket No. 17-AWP-10]


Amendment of Class E Airspace; Hanford, CA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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[[Page 7364]]

SUMMARY: This action amends Class E airspace extending upward from 700 
feet above the surface at Hanford Municipal Airport, Hanford, CA, by 
enlarging the airspace to accommodate area navigation (RNAV) procedures 
at the airport, removing the Visalia VHF omnidirectional range/distance 
measuring equipment (VOR/DME) from the airspace description, and 
amending the geographic coordinates of the airport. This action also 
removes Blair Airport from the airport description as the airport no 
longer exists. This action is necessary for the safety and management 
of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, May 24, 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 this material 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: 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 amends Class E airspace at Hanford Municipal Airport, Hanford, 
CA, to support instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

History

    The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) in the 
Federal Register for Docket No. FAA-2017-0856 (82 FR 50594; November 1, 
2017) proposing to amend Class E airspace extending upward from 700 
feet above the surface at Hanford Municipal Airport, Hanford, CA. 
Interested parties were invited to participate in this rulemaking 
effort by submitting written comments on the proposal to the FAA. No 
comments were received.
    The FAA inadvertently omitted in the NPRM that the geographic 
coordinates of the airport are adjusted and makes the notation in the 
rule. Except for this notation, this rule is the same as published in 
the NPRM.
    Class E airspace designations are published in paragraph 6005 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.

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

    The FAA is amending title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 
part 71 by amending Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet 
above the surface at Hanford Municipal Airport, Hanford, CA, to 
accommodate area navigation (RNAV) procedures at the airport. The Class 
E airspace area is modified to within 1.8 miles southwest and 3.2 miles 
northeast of the 332[deg] bearing from the airport extending to 6.2 
miles northwest of the airport (from within a 2.6-mile radius), and 
within 1.8 miles southwest and 3.2 miles northeast (from within 1.5 
miles each side) of the 152[deg] bearing from the airport extending to 
6.2 miles southeast of the airport (from 5 miles southeast), and within 
1.3 miles each side of the 067[deg] bearing from the airport (from 1.8 
miles north and 2.3 miles south of the Visalia VOR/DME) extending to 
7.7 miles northeast of the airport.
    Also, this action amends the geographic coordinates for the 
airport, removes the reference to the Visalia VOR/DME in the legal 
description as the FAA transitions from ground-based to satellite-based 
navigation; and removes Blair Airport from the legal description as the 
airport no longer exists.

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, will 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:

[[Page 7365]]

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

* * * * *

AWP CA E5 Hanford, CA [Amended]

Hanford Municipal Airport, CA
    (Lat. 36[deg]19'00'' N, long. 119[deg]37'40'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within 1.8 miles southwest and 3.2 miles northeast of a 332[deg] 
bearing from Hanford Municipal Airport extending to 6.2 miles 
northwest of the airport, and within 1.8 miles southwest and 3.2 
miles northeast of a 152[deg] bearing from the airport extending to 
6.2 miles southeast of the airport, and within 1.3 miles each side 
of a 067[deg] bearing from the airport extending to 7.7 miles 
northeast of the airport.

    Issued in Seattle, Washington, on February 7, 2018.
B.G. Chew,
Acting Manager, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2018-03409 Filed 2-20-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P