[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 34 (Tuesday, February 23, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 10886-10888]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-02480]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2020-1188; Airspace Docket No. 20-ANE-10]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Amendment of Class D and Class E Airspace, and Proposed 
Establishment of Class E Airspace; Worcester, MA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to amend Class D airspace, Class E 
surface airspace, and Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet 
above the surface for Worcester Regional Airport, Worcester, MA, as an 
airspace evaluation of the area determined additional airspace is 
necessary. Also, this action proposes to establish Class E airspace 
extending upward from 700 feet above the surface for UMass Memorial 
Medical Center-University Campus Heliport, to accommodate new area 
navigation (RNAV) global positioning system (GPS) standard instrument 
approach procedures (SIAPs) serving this heliport. Controlled airspace 
is necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules 
(IFR) operations in the area.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 9, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on this proposal to: The U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Operations, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West 
Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001; 
Telephone: (800) 647-5527, or (202) 366-9826. You must identify the 
Docket No. FAA-2020-1188; Airspace Docket No. 20-ANE-10, at the 
beginning of your comments. You may also submit comments through the 
internet at https://www.regulations.gov.
    FAA Order 7400.11E Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, and 
subsequent amendments can be viewed online at https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/. For further information, you can contact the 
Airspace Policy Group, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; Telephone: (202) 267-
8783. The Order is also available for inspection at the National 
Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the 
availability of FAA

[[Page 10887]]

Order 7400.11E at NARA, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5f393a3b2d3a3871333a383e331f313e2d3e71383029"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="85e3e0e1f7e0e2abe9e0e2e4e9c5ebe4f7e4abe2eaf3">[email protected]</span></a> or go to https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Fornito, Operations Support 
Group, Eastern Service Center, Federal Aviation Administration, 1701 
Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337; Telephone (404) 305-6364.

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 amend Class D and Class E airspace, and establish Class E 
airspace in Worcester, MA, to support IFR operations in the area.

Comments Invited

    Interested persons are invited to comment on this proposed 
rulemaking by submitting such written data, views, or arguments, as 
they may desire. Comments that provide the factual basis supporting the 
views and suggestions presented are particularly helpful in developing 
reasoned regulatory decisions on the proposal. Comments are 
specifically invited on the overall regulatory, aeronautical, economic, 
environmental, and energy-related aspects of the proposal.
    Communications should identify both docket numbers (Docket No. FAA-
2020-1188 and Airspace Docket No. 20-ANE-10) and be submitted in 
triplicate to DOT Docket Operations (see ADDRESSES section for the 
address and phone number). You may also submit comments through the 
internet at https://www.regulations.gov.
    Persons wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments on 
this action must submit with those comments a self-addressed stamped 
postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments to FAA 
Docket No. FAA-2020-1188; Airspace Docket No. 20-ANE-10.'' The postcard 
will be date/time stamped and returned to the commenter.
    All communications received before the specified closing date for 
comments will be considered before taking action on the proposed rule. 
The proposal contained in this document may be changed in light of the 
comments received. All comments submitted will be available for 
examination in the public docket both before and after the comment 
closing date. A report summarizing each substantive public contact with 
FAA personnel concerned with this rulemaking will be filed in the 
docket.

Availability of NPRMs

    An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded through the 
internet at https://www.regulations.gov. Recently published rulemaking 
documents can also be accessed through the FAA's web page at https://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 address and phone number) between 
9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except federal 
holidays. An informal docket may also be examined between 8:00 a.m. and 
4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except federal holidays at the office 
of the Eastern Service Center, Federal Aviation Administration, Room 
350, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337.

Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference

    This document proposes to amend FAA Order 7400.11E, Airspace 
Designations and Reporting Points, dated July 21, 2020, and effective 
September 15, 2020. FAA Order 7400.11E is publicly available as listed 
in the ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order 7400.11E lists 
Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and 
reporting points.

The Proposal

    The FAA proposes an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 to amend Class D 
and Class E surface airspace, for Worcester Regional Airport (formerly 
Worcester Municipal Airport), Worcester, MA. An airspace evaluation of 
the area determined the Class D and Class E surface area radii required 
an increase to 5.1 miles (from 4.2 miles). Also, the airport's Class E 
airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface would be 
increased to a 7.6-mile radius (from 6.7 miles). This action would also 
update the airport's name. In addition, the FAA proposes to establish 
Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface for 
UMass Memorial Medical Center-University Campus Heliport, Worcester, 
MA, providing the controlled airspace required to support the new RNAV 
(GPS) standard instrument approach procedures for IFR operations at the 
heliport. This action would also replace the outdated term Airport/
Facility Directory with the term Chart Supplement in the legal 
description of associated Class D and Class E airspace.
    Class D and E airspace designations are published in Paragraphs 
5000, 6002, and 6005, respectively of FAA Order 7400.11E, dated July 
21, 2020, and effective September 15, 2020, which is incorporated by 
reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Class E airspace designations listed in 
this document will be published subsequently in the Order.
    FAA Order 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, is 
published yearly and effective on September 15.

Regulatory Notices and Analyses

    The FAA has determined that this proposed 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 
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.

Lists 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

[[Page 10888]]

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

0
1. The authority citation for 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.


Sec.  71.1   [Amended]

0
2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of Federal Aviation 
Administration Order 7400.11E, Airspace Designations and Reporting 
Points, dated July 21, 2020, and effective September 15, 2020, is 
amended as follows:

Paragraph 5000 Class D Airspace.

* * * * *

ANE MA D Worcester, MA [Amended]

Worcester Regional Airport, MA
    (Lat. 42[deg]16'02'' N, long. 71[deg]52'32'' W)
Spencer Airport, MA
    (Lat. 42[deg]17'26'' N, long. 71[deg]57'53'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including 
3,500 feet MSL within a 5.1-mile radius of Worcester Regional 
Airport, excluding that airspace from the surface up to but not 
including 1,900 feet MSL within a 1-mile radius of the Spencer 
Airport. This Class D airspace area is effective during the specific 
dates and times established in advance by a Notice to Airmen. The 
effective date and time will thereafter be continuously published in 
the Chart Supplement.

Paragraph 6002 Class E Surface Airspace.

* * * * *

ANE MA E2 Worcester, MA [Amended]

Worcester Regional Airport, MA
    (Lat. 42[deg]16'02'' N, long. 71[deg]52'32'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface within a 5.1-
mile radius of Worcester Regional Airport. This Class E airspace 
area is effective during the specific dates and times established in 
advance by a Notice to Airmen. The effective date and time will 
thereafter be continuously published in the Chart Supplement.

Paragraph 6005 Class E Airspace Areas Extending Upward From 700 
Feet or More Above the Surface of the Earth.

* * * * *

ANE MA E5 Worcester, MA [Amended]

Worcester Regional Airport, MA
    (Lat. 42[deg]16'02'' N, long. 71[deg]52'32'' W)
UMass Memorial Medical Center-University Campus Heliport
    (Lat. 42[deg]16'30'' N, long. 71[deg]45'36'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 7.6-mile radius of Worcester Regional Airport, and within a 
6-mile radius of UMass Memorial Medical Center-University Campus 
Heliport.

    Issued in College Park, Georgia, on February 2, 2021.
Andreese C. Davis,
Manager, Airspace & Procedures Team South, Eastern Service Center, Air 
Traffic Organization.
[FR Doc. 2021-02480 Filed 2-22-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


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