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 and removes Class E airspace at the affected airports to support IFR operations.

History

The FAA published an NPRM for Docket No. FAA-2026-6967 in the Federal Register (91 FR 35912; June 15, 2026) proposing to amend the Class D and Class E airspace at Muncie, IN, and revoke Class E airspace at Muncie, IN, and Alexandria, IN. Interested parties were invited to participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting written comments on the proposal to the FAA. No comments were received.

Incorporation by Reference

Class D and E airspace designations are published in paragraphs 5000, 6004, 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 current 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 the Class D airspace and the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 ft. above the surface and removes the Class E airspace area designated as an extension to Class D airspace at Muncie, Indiana due to an airspace review conducted as part of the decommissioning of the Muncie VOR as part of the VOR MON Program. This action also removes the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 ft. above the surface at Alexandria, Indiana due to the cancellation of the instrument procedures and the airspace no longer being required.

For the Delaware County Regional Airport, Muncie, IN, Class D airspace, this action: (1) increases the radius from 4.4 to 4.7 miles; (2) removes the city associated with the airport in the header of the airspace legal description to comply with changes to FAA Order JO 7400.2R, Procedures for Handling Airspace Matters; (3) updates the geographic coordinates and name of Delaware County Regional Airport (previously Delaware County-Johnson Field) to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database; and (4) updates the outdated term “Airport/Facility Directory” to “Chart Supplement.”

This action removes the Class E airspace designated as an extension to Class D airspace at Delaware County Regional Airport as it is no longer required.

This action removes Class E airspace extending upward from 700 ft. above the surface at Alexandria Airport, Alexandria, IN, as the instrument procedures have been cancelled and the airspace is no longer required.

And for the Delaware County Regional Airport Class E airspace extending upward from 700 ft. above the surface, this action: (1) increases the radius from 7 to 7.2 miles; and (2) removes the city associated with the airports from the header of the airspace legal description to comply with changes to FAA Order JO 7400.2R.

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, “Policies and Procedures for Rulemakings” (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 preparation of an environmental assessment.

The Amendment

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