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 the affected airports to support IFR operations.

History

The FAA published an NPRM for Docket No. FAA-2026-6970 in the Federal Register (91 FR 35909; June 15, 2026) proposing to amend the Class E airspace at Bedford, 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.

Differences From the NRPM

Subsequent to publication of the NPRM, the FAA discovered that it had accidentally included a proposed revocation of Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Alexandria, IN. This action was proposed in a separate NPRM under Docket No. FAA-2026-6967 (91 FR 35912; June 15, 2026) and is not related to this airspace action. This was a typographical error that does not have any substantive impact on the remainder of this airspace action. Moreover, the proposed revocation of the Alexandria Class E airspace is proceeding in the separate docket. Accordingly, the FAA finds good cause that recirculating this action for public comment is unnecessary, and the reference has been removed.

Incorporation by Reference

Class E airspace designations are published in paragraph 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 ( printed page 51574) 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 E airspace extending upward from 700 ft. above the surface at Bedford, Indiana due to an airspace review conducted as part of the decommissioning of the Hoosier VOR as part of the VOR MON Program.

For the Virgil I. Grissom Municipal Airport, Bedford, IN, Class E airspace extending upward from 700 ft. above the surface, this action: (1) increases the radius from 6.5 to 7 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, Procedures for Handling Airspace Matters.

And for the IU Health Bedford Hospital Heliport, Bedford, IN, Class E airspace extending upward from 700 ft. above the surface, this action: (1) updates the name of the heliport (previously Bedford Medical Center Heliport) to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database; 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:

91 FR 51573