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 the Class D and Class E airspace and establishes Class E airspace at the affected airport to support IFR operations.

History

The FAA published an NPRM for Docket No. FAA-2026-3238 in the Federal Register (91 FR 14488; March 25, 2026) proposing to amend the Class D and Class E airspace at Clovis, NM, and establish Class E airspace at Clovis, NM, and Portales, NM. 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, 6002, 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, Class E surface airspace, and Class E airspace extending upward from 700 ft. above the surface at Clovis, NM, and establishing Class E airspace extending upward from 700 ft. above the surface at Clovis, NM, and Portales, NM, due to a biennial airspace review and airspace reviews conducted due to updated instrument procedures.

For the Cannon AFB, Clovis, NM, Class D airspace, this action: (1) decreases the radius from 6 miles to 5.4 miles; (2) adds an extension within 1 mile each side of the 039° bearing from the Cannon TACAN extending from the 5.4-mile radius to 5.9 miles northeast of the airport; and (3) updates the outdated term “Airport/Facility Directory” to “Chart Supplement.”

For the Cannon AFB Class E surface area, this action: (1) decreases the radius from 6 miles to 5.4 miles; (2) adds an extension within 1 mile each side of the 039° bearing from the Cannon TACAN extending from the 5.4-mile radius to 5.9 miles northeast of the airport; (3) removes the Cannon ILS Localizer from the airspace legal description as it is not required; (4) updates the geographic coordinates and the name of the Cannon TACAN, previously Cannon TACAN0, ( printed page 57493) to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database; and (5) updates the outdated term “Airport/Facility Directory” to “Chart Supplement.”

For the Cannon AFB Class E airspace extending upward from 700 ft. above the surface, this action: (1) decreases the radius from 20 miles to 7.9 miles; (2) removes the Portales Municipal Airport and associated airspace from the airspace legal description as separate airspace is being established to comply with FAA Order JO 7400.2R, Procedures for Handling Airspace Matters; (3) removes the Texico VORTAC and associated extension as they are no longer required; and (4) removes the city associated with Cannon AFB from the airspace legal description header to comply with changes to FAA Order JO 7400.2R.

This action establishes Class E airspace extending upward from 700 ft. above the surface within a 7.5-mile radius of Clovis Regional Airport, Clovis, NM.

And this action establishes Class E airspace extending upward from 700 ft. above the surface within a 7.4-mile radius of Portales Municipal Airport, Portales, NM.

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: