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 in Westfield, MA.

History

The FAA published an NPRM for Docket No. FAA-2026-5248 in the Federal Register (91 FR 27223; May 14, 2026), proposing to amend Class D and Class E airspace in Westfield, MA. Interested parties were invited to participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting written comments on the proposal to the FAA. One comment was received in support of the proposal. The commenter cited practicality and perceived increases in both safety and efficiency as the reasons for their support of the proposal.

Incorporation by Reference

Class D and Class E airspace designations are published in paragraphs 5000 and 6005 of FAA Order JO 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 on an annual basis. This document amends the latest version of that order, FAA Order JO 7400.11K, dated August 4, 2025, and effective September 15, 2025. These amendments will be published in the next update to FAA Order JO 7400.11. FAA Order JO 7400.11K, which lists Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and reporting points, is publicly ( printed page 46713) available as listed in the ADDRESSES section of this document.

The Rule

This action amends 14 CFR part 71 by modifying Class D and Class E airspace over Westfield, MA. This action updates the airport name in both the Westfield Class D and Class E airspace legal descriptions from “Westfield, Barnes Municipal Airport” to “Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport.” This action also updates the geographic coordinates of the Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport in both the Class D and Class E airspace legal descriptions, specifically, from (lat. 42°09′28″ N, long. 72°42′56″ W) to (lat. 42°09′29″ N, long. 72°42′57″ W), which is one second of latitude and one second of longitude. This action also updates the verbiage in the Class D airspace legal description from “Airport/Facility Directory” to “Chart Supplement” to comply with current FAA guidance. This action also removes the exclusions for the adjacent Class E airspace areas of Northampton, MA, Palmer, MA and Windsor Locks, CT from the Westfield, MA Class E5 airspace legal description in order to comply with current FAA guidance.

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 Order 2100.6B, “Rulemaking and Guidance Procedure” (March 10, 2025); and (3) is expected to result in, at most, de minimis costs from compliance with applicable operating requirements or minor flight rerouting for operators choosing to navigate around the controlled airspace. Since these amendments are routine and the expected impact to operators is de minimis, the FAA certifies 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 1050.1G, “FAA National Environmental Policy Act Implementing Procedures” paragraph B-2.5(a). This airspace action is not expected to cause any potentially significant environmental impacts, and no extraordinary circumstances exist that warrant the preparation of an environmental assessment.

The Amendment

In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation Administration amends 14 CFR part 71 as follows: