[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 36 (Wednesday, February 24, 2010)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 8285-8286]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-3737]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2010-0054; Airspace Docket No. 10-ASO-11]


Establishment of Class D Airspace, Modification of Class E 
Airspace; Columbus, GA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to establish Class D airspace and modify 
existing Class E airspace at Columbus Metropolitan Airport, Columbus, 
GA. A decrease in air traffic volume at the airport has made it 
necessary to downgrade controlled airspace for the safety and 
management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) and Visual Flight Rules 
(VFR) operations.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 12, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on this proposal to: U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Operations, West Building Ground Floor, Room 
W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001; 
Telephone: 1-800-647-5527; Fax: 202-493-2251. You must identify the 
Docket Number FAA-2010-0054; Airspace Docket No. 10-ASO-11, at the 
beginning of your comments. You may also submit and review received 
comments through the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Melinda Giddens, Airspace Specialist, 
Operations Support Group, Eastern Service Center, Air Traffic 
Organization, Federal Aviation Administration, P.O. Box 20636, Atlanta, 
Georgia 30320; telephone (404) 305-5610.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    Interested persons are invited to comment on this rule 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 (FAA Docket No. 
FAA 2010-0054; Airspace Docket No. 10-ASO-11) and be submitted in 
triplicate to the Docket Management System (see ADDRESSES section for 
address and phone number). You may also submit comments through the 
Internet at  http://www.regulations.gov.
    Commenters 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 Docket 
No. FAA-2010-0054; Airspace Docket No. 10-ASO-11.'' 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 notice may be changed in light of the 
comments received. 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 from and 
comments submitted through http://www.regulations.gov. Recently 
published rulemaking documents can also be accessed through the FAA's 
Web page at http://www.faa.gov/airports_airtraffic/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 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays. An 
informal docket may also be examined during normal business hours at 
the office of the Eastern Service Center, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Room 210, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, Georgia 
30337.
    Persons interested in being placed on a mailing list for future 
NPRMs should contact the FAA's Office of Rulemaking, (202) 267-9677, to 
request a copy of Advisory Circular No. 11-2A, Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking Distribution System, which describes the application 
procedure.

The Proposal

    The FAA is considering an amendment to Title 14, Code of Federal 
Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 to establish Class D airspace and modify 
existing Class E airspace at Columbus, GA. Due to a decrease in air 
traffic volume at Columbus Metropolitan Airport a less restrictive 
Class D airspace would be established with specific dates and times 
established in advance by a Notice to Airmen. The existing Class E 
surface area would be modified to be coincident with the newly 
established Class D airspace. The existing Class E airspace extending 
upward from 700 feet above the surface would be modified for the safety 
and management of IFR operations. Lawson Army Airfield, Columbus, GA, 
would be removed from the Class E2 and E5 airspace description, and 
would be re-established under separate rulemaking.
    Class D airspace designations, Class E2 surface airspace 
designations and Class E5 designations are published in Paragraphs 
5000, 6002 and 6005, respectively, of FAA Order 7400.9T, signed August 
27, 2009, and effective September 15, 2009, which is incorporated by 
reference in 14 CFR

[[Page 8286]]

71.1. The Class D and E airspace designations listed in this document 
would be published subsequently in the Order.
    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, would not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities 
under the criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
    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 proposed 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 proposed regulation is within the scope 
of that authority as it would establish Class D airspace and modify 
existing Class E airspace at Columbus Metropolitan Airport, Columbus, 
GA.

Lists of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71

    Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me, 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 Part 71 continues to read as follows:

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


Sec.  71.1  [Amended]

    2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of Federal 
Aviation Administration Order 7400.9T, Airspace Designations and 
Reporting Points, signed August 27, 2009, and effective September 15, 
2009, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 5000 Class D Airspace

* * * * *

ASO GA D Columbus, GA [NEW]

Columbus Metropolitan Airport, GA
    (Lat. 32[deg]30[min]59[sec] N., long. 84[deg]56[min]20[sec] W.)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including 
2,500 feet MSL within a 4.4-mile radius of the Columbus Metropolitan 
Airport and that airspace within 1 mile each side of the 234[deg] 
bearing from the airport, extending from the 4.4-mile radius to 5 
miles southwest of the airport. This Class D airspace 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 Airport/Facility Directory.
* * * * *

Paragraph 6002 Class E Airspace Designated as Surface Areas.

* * * * *

ASO GA E2 Columbus, GA [Amended]

Columbus Metropolitan Airport, GA
    (Lat. 32[deg]30[min]59[sec] N., long. 84[deg]56[min]20[sec] W.)

    Within a 4.4-mile radius of the Columbus Metropolitan Airport 
and that airspace within 1 mile each side of the 234[deg] bearing 
from the airport, extending from the 4.4-mile radius to 5 miles 
southwest of the 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 Airport/Facility Directory.
* * * * *

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

* * * * *

ASO GA E5 Columbus, GA [Amended]

Columbus Metropolitan Airport, GA
    (Lat. 32[deg]30[min]59[sec] N., long. 84[deg]56[min]20[sec] W.)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.8-mile radius of the Columbus Metropolitan Airport and 
that airspace within 1 mile each side each side of the 234[deg] 
bearing from the airport, extending from the 6.8-mile radius to 7.3-
miles southwest of the airport.

    Issued in College Park, Georgia, on February 5, 2010.
Barry A. Knight,
Acting Manager, Operations Support Group, Eastern Service Center, Air 
Traffic Organization.
[FR Doc. 2010-3737 Filed 2-23-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P