88 FR 245 pgs. 88548-88550 - Establishment of Class D Airspace and Modification of Class E Airspace; McClellan Airfield, Sacramento, CA

Type: PRORULEVolume: 88Number: 245Pages: 88548 - 88550
Docket number: [Docket No. FAA-2023-1660; Airspace Docket No. 23-AWP-37]
FR document: [FR Doc. 2023-28226 Filed 12-21-23; 8:45 am]
Agency: Transportation Department
Sub Agency: Federal Aviation Administration
Official PDF Version:  PDF Version
Pages: 88548, 88549, 88550

[top] page 88548

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2023-1660; Airspace Docket No. 23-AWP-37]

RIN 2120-AA66

Establishment of Class D Airspace and Modification of Class E Airspace; McClellan Airfield, Sacramento, CA

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION:

Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

SUMMARY:

This action proposes to establish Class D airspace extending upward from the surface up to and including 2,600 feet at McClellan Airfield, Sacramento, CA. Additionally, this action proposes administrative modifications to update the airport's Class E airspace legal description. These actions would support the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) and visual flight rules (VFR) operations at the airport.

DATES:

Comments must be received on or before February 5, 2024.

ADDRESSES:

Send comments identified by FAA Docket No. FAA-2023-1660 and Airspace Docket No. 23-AWP-37 using any of the following methods:

* Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov and follow the online instructions for sending your comments electronically.

* Mail: Send comments to Docket Operations, M-30; U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Room W12-140, West Building Ground Floor, Washington, DC 20590-0001.

* Hand Delivery or Courier: Take comments to Docket Operations in Room W12-140 of the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

* Fax: Fax comments to Docket Operations at (202) 493-2251.

Docket: Background documents or comments received may be read at www.regulations.gov at any time. Follow the online instructions for accessing the docket or go to the Docket Operations in Room W12-140 of the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.


[top] FAA Order JO 7400.11H, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, and subsequent amendments can be viewed page 88549 online at www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/. You may also contact the Rules and Regulations Group, Office of Policy, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267-8783.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Nathan A. Chaffman, Federal Aviation Administration, Western Service Center, Operations Support Group, 2200 S 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone (206) 231-3460.

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 would establish Class D airspace and modify Class E airspace at McClellan Airfield, Sacramento, CA, to support IFR and VFR operations at the airport.

Comments Invited

The FAA invites interested persons to participate in this rulemaking by submitting written comments, data, or views. Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory, aeronautical, economic, environmental, and energy-related aspects of the proposal. The most helpful comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. To ensure the docket does not contain duplicate comments, commenters should submit only one time if comments are filed electronically, or commenters should send only one copy of written comments if comments are filed in writing.

The FAA will file in the docket all comments it receives, as well as a report summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA personnel concerning this proposed rulemaking. Before acting on this proposal, the FAA will consider all comments it receives on or before the closing date for comments. The FAA will consider comments filed after the comment period has closed if it is possible to do so without incurring expense or delay. The FAA may change this proposal in light of the comments it receives.

Privacy: In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits comments from the public to better inform its rulemaking process. DOT posts these comments, without edit, including any personal information the commenter provides, to www.regulations.gov, as described in the system of records notice (DOT/ALL-14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at www.dot.gov/privacy.

Availability of Rulemaking Documents

An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded through the internet at www.regulations.gov. Recently published rulemaking documents can also be accessed through the FAA's web page at www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/airspace_amendments/.

You may review the public docket containing the proposal, any comments received, and any final disposition in person in the Dockets Office (see the ADDRESSES section for the address, phone number, and hours of operations). An informal docket may also be examined during normal business hours at the Northwest Mountain Regional Office of the Federal Aviation Administration, Air Traffic Organization, Western Service Center, Operations Support Group, 2200 S 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198.

Incorporation by Reference

The Class D and Class E2 airspace designations are published in paragraphs 5000 and 6002, respectively, 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 proposes to amend the current version of that order, FAA Order JO 7400.11H, dated August 11, 2023, and effective September 15, 2023. These updates would be published in the next update to FAA Order JO 7400.11. That order is publicly available as listed in the ADDRESSES section of this document.

FAA Order JO 7400.11H lists Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and reporting points.

Background

An FAA Contract Tower is being established at the airport and the FAA is proposing to establish Class D airspace and modify Class E airspace to support and coincide with the tower's activation.

The Proposal

The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 to establish Class D airspace and modify the Class E airspace designated as a surface area at McClellan Airfield, Sacramento, CA.

The proposed Class D airspace extending from the surface up to and including 2,500 feet above the surface at McClellan Airfield would contain IFR arrival operations while between the surface and 1,000 feet above the surface, and IFR departure operations while between the surface and the base of adjacent controlled airspace. The proposed airspace is centered on the McClellan Airfield reference point and is within a 4.5-nautical mile radius of the airport.

Finally, the FAA proposes administrative modifications to the airport's Class E legal description. The Class E legal description should be modified to correct the Sacramento Class C airspace exclusionary language and add exclusionary language for the Mather Airport Class D surface area. As such, the text header, line 3, should include reference to Sacramento International Airport and Sacramento Mather Airport, and their associated geographic coordinates.

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, is non-controversial, and unlikely to result in adverse or negative comments. It therefore: (1) is not a "significant regulatory action" under Executive Order 12866; (2) is not a "significant rule" under DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034; February 26, 1979); and (3) does not warrant preparation of a regulatory evaluation as the anticipated impact is so minimal. Since this is a routine matter that will only affect air traffic procedures and air navigation, it is certified that this proposed rule, when promulgated, will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

Environmental Review

This proposal will be subject to an environmental analysis in accordance with FAA Order 1050.1F, "Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures," prior to any FAA final regulatory action.


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List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71

Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).

The Proposed Amendment

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

PART 71-DESIGNATION OF CLASS A, B, C, D, AND E AIRSPACE AREAS; AIR TRAFFIC SERVICE ROUTES; AND REPORTING POINTS

1. The authority citation for 14 CFR part 71 continues to read as follows:

Authority:

49 U.S.C. 106(f), 106(g); 40103, 40113, 40120; E.O. 10854, 24 FR 9565, 3 CFR, 1959-1963 Comp., p. 389.

§?71.1 [Amended]

2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of FAA Order JO 7400.11H, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 11, 2023, and effective September 15, 2023, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 5000 Class D Airspace.

AWP CA D Sacramento, CA

McClellan Airfield, CA

(Lat. 38°40'04? N, long. 121°24'02? W)

Sacramento International Airport

(Lat. 38°41'44? N, long. 121°35'27? W)

Sacramento Mather Airport

(Lat. 38°33'19? N, long. 121°17'50? W)

That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including 2,600 feet MSL within a 4.5-mile radius of McClellan Airfield, excluding that airspace within the Sacramento International Airport Class C Airspace Area and that airspace within the Sacramento Mather Airport Class D Surface Area. This Class D airspace area is effective during the specific dates and times established in advance by a Notice to Air Missions. The effective date and time will thereafter be continuously published in the Chart Supplement.

Paragraph 6002 Class E Airspace Designated as a Surface Areas.

AWP CA E2 Sacramento, CA

McClellan Airfield, CA

(Lat. 38°40'04? N, long. 121°24'02? W)

Sacramento International Airport

(Lat. 38°41'44? N, long. 121°35'27? W)

Sacramento Mather Airport

(Lat. 38°33'19? N, long. 121°17'50? W)

That airspace extending upward from the surface within a 4.5-mile radius of McClellan Airfield excluding that airspace within the Sacramento International Airport Class C Airspace Area and that airspace within the Sacramento Mather Airport Class D Surface Area.

Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on December 18, 2023.

B.G. Chew,

Group Manager, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center.

[FR Doc. 2023-28226 Filed 12-21-23; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-13-P