[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 218 (Monday, November 13, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 66144-66145]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-9179]



[[Page 66144]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA 2006-25671; Airspace Docket No. 06-AWP-15]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Establishment of Class D Airspace; Castle Airport, 
Atwater, CA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: This notice proposes to establish Class D airspace at Castle 
Airport, Atwater, CA. A contract Airport Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) 
is being established at Castle Airport, Atwater, CA, which will meet 
criteria for Class D airspace. Class D airspace is required when the 
ATCT is open, and to contain and protect Standard Instrument Approach 
Procedures (SIAPs) and other Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations 
at the airport. This action would establish Class D airspace extending 
upward from the surface to 2,500 feet Mean Sea Level (MSL) within a 4.5 
nautical mile radius of the airport.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 13, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on this proposal to the Docket Management 
System, U.S. Department of Transportation, Room Plaza 401, 400 Seventh 
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001. You must identify the docket 
number FAA-2006-25671/Airspace Docket No. 06-AWP-15, at the beginning 
of your comments. You may also submit comments on the Internet at 
http://dms.dot.gov. You may review the public docket containing the 
proposal, any comments received, and any final disposition in person in 
the Dockets Office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. The Docket Office (telephone 1-800-647-5527) 
is on the plaza level of the Department of Transportation NASSIF 
Building at the above address.
    An informal docket may also be examined during normal business 
hours at the office of the Regional Air Traffic Division, Federal 
Aviation Administration, Room 2010, 15000 Aviation Boulevard, Lawndale, 
California 90261.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Larry Tonish, Airspace Specialist, 
Airspace Branch, Air Traffic Division, Federal Aviation Administration, 
15000 Aviation Boulevard, Lawndale, California; telephone (310) 725-
6539.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    Interested parties are invited to participate in 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 and be submitted in 
triplicate to the address listed above. Commenters wishing the FAA to 
acknowledge receipt of their comments on this notice must submit with 
those comments a self-addressed, stamped postcard on which the 
following statement is made: ``Comments to Docket No. FAA-2006-25671/
Airspace Docket No. 06-AWP-15.'' 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 through the 
Internet at http://dms.dot.gov. Recently published rulemaking documents 
can also be accessed through the FAA's Web page at http://www.faa.gov 
or the Superintendent of Document's Web page at http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara. Additionally, any person may obtain a copy of 
this notice by submitting a request to the Federal Aviation 
Administration, Office of Air Traffic Airspace Management, ATA-400, 800 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591, or by calling (202) 
267-8783. Communications must identify both docket numbers for this 
notice. Persons interested in being placed on a mailing list for future 
NPRM's 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 part 71 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 71) to establish Class D airspace at 
Castle Airport, Atwater, CA. An ATCT is being contracted at Castle 
Airport, and Class D airspace is required during the hours the ATCT is 
open. Class D controlled airspace is necessary for the safety of 
aircraft executing SIAPs and other IFR operations at Castle Airport. 
Class D airspace will be effective during specified dates and times 
established in advance by a Notice to Airmen. The effective date and 
time will, thereafter, be published in the Airport/Facility Directory.
    Class D airspace designations for airspace areas extending upward 
from the surface of the earth are published in Paragraph 5000 of FAA 
Order 7400.9P, dated September 1, 2006, and effective September 15, 
2006, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Class D 
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 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.

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, CLASS B, CLASS C, CLASS D, AND 
CLASS E AIRSPACE AREAS; AIRWAYS; 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., 389.

[[Page 66145]]

Sec.  71.1  [Amended]

    2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of Federal 
Aviation Administration Order 7400.9P, Airspace Designations and 
Reporting Points, dated September 1, 2006, and effective September 15, 
2006, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 5000 Class D Airspace.

* * * * *

AWP CA D Castle Airport, Atwater, CA [NEW]

Castle Airport, Atwater, CA
    (Lat. 37[deg]22'50'' N, long. 120[deg]34'05'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface to 2,500 feet 
MSL beginning at lat. 37[deg]18'34'' N., long. 120[deg]35'54'' W, 
and extending clockwise around the 4.5 nautical mile radius of the 
Castle Airport to lat. 37[deg]21'06'' N., long. 120[deg]28'53'' W, 
thence to the point of beginning. This Class D airspace area is 
effective during the specific days and times established in advance 
by a Notice to Airmen. The effective days and times will thereafter 
be continuously published in the Airport/Facility Directory.
* * * * *

Leonard Mobley,
Acting Area Director, Western Terminal Operations, Western Terminal 
Area Office.
[FR Doc. 06-9179 Filed 11-9-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M