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 Groton, CT, and Class E airspace in Fishers Island, NY.

History

The FAA published an NPRM for Docket No. FAA-2026-5644 in the Federal Register (91 FR 31648; May 28, 2026), proposing to amend Class D and Class E airspace in Groton, CT, and Class E airspace in Fishers Island, NY. Interested parties were invited to participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting written comments on the proposal to the FAA. No comments were received. ( printed page 48253)

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 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 Groton, CT and Fishers Island, NY. A review of the Groton, CT Class D airspace revealed a need for a reduction in the lateral dimensions of the airspace to properly contain Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the Groton-New London Airport. This action reduces the lateral dimensions of the Groton, CT Class D airspace from a 5-mile radius of the Groton-New London Airport, excluding that airspace within a 1-mile radius of Elizabeth Field to a 4.2-mile radius of the airport, excluding that airspace within a 1-mile radius of Elizabeth Field. This action also updates the geographic coordinates of the Groton-New London Airport in the Groton, CT Class D and Class E airspace legal descriptions from (lat. 41°19′48″ N, long. 72°02′42″ W) to (lat. 41°19′48″ N, long. 72°02′43″ W), which is one second of longitude.

This action also updates the geographic coordinates of the Elizabeth Field Airport, Fishers Island, NY, in the Groton, CT Class D airspace legal description from (lat. 41°15′07″ N, long. 72°01′54″ W) to (lat. 41°15′08″ N, long. 72°01′54″ W), which is one second of latitude. This action also updates the airport name for the Elizabeth Field Airport in the Groton, CT Class D airspace legal description. This action also updates the verbiage in the Groton, CT Class D airspace legal description from “Airport/Facility Directory” to “Chart Supplement” to comply with current FAA guidance. This action also removes the exclusion for the adjacent Class E airspace area of Westerly, RI from the Groton, CT Class E airspace legal description in order to comply with current FAA guidance.

This action also updates the geographic coordinates of the Elizabeth Field Airport, Fishers Island, NY, in the Fishers Island, NY Class E airspace legal description from (lat. 41°15′05″ N, long. 72°01′54″ W) to (lat. 41°15′08″ N, long. 72°01′54″ W), which is three seconds of latitude. This action also removes the exclusions for the adjacent Class E airspace areas of Montauk, NY; Westerly, RI; and Groton, CT, from the Fishers Island, NY 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: