Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 164 / Tuesday, August 25, 2015 / Proposed Rules 51495 

or inspection program without obtaining 

approval of an AMOC, provided the RC steps, 

including substeps and identified figures, can 

still be done as specified, and the airplane 

can be put back in an airworthy condition. 

(o) Related Information 

(1) For more information about this AD, 

contact Eric Lin, Aerospace Engineer, 

Airframe Branch, ANM–120S, FAA, Seattle 

Aircraft Certification Office, 1601 Lind 

Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057–3356; 

telephone: 425–917–6412; fax: 425–917– 

6590; email: Eric.Lin@faa.gov. 

(2) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact Boeing Commercial 

Airplanes, Attention: Data & Services 

Management, P.O. Box 3707, MC 2H–65, 

Seattle, WA 98124–2207; telephone 206– 

544–5000, extension 1; fax 206–766–5680; 

Internet https://www.myboeingfleet.com. You 

may view this referenced service information 

at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA. For 

information on the availability of this 

material at the FAA, call 425–227–1221. 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on August 

17, 2015. 

Kevin Hull, 

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2015–20835 Filed 8–24–15; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2015–3607; Directorate 

Identifier 2015–CE–010–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; M7 

Aerospace LLC Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for all M7 

Aerospace LLC Models SA26–AT, 

SA226–T, SA226–AT, SA226–T(B), 

SA226–TC, SA227–AT, SA227–TT, 

SA227–AC (C–26A), SA227–BC (C– 

26A), SA227–CC, and SA227–DC (C– 

26B) airplanes. This proposed AD was 

prompted by information that the 

airplane flight manual (AFM) does not 

provide adequate guidance in the 

handling of engine failures, which may 

lead to reliance on the negative torque 

system (NTS) for reducing drag. This 

condition could lead the pilot to not 

fully feather the propeller with 

consequent loss of control. This 

proposed AD would require inserting 

updates into the airplane flight manual 

(AFM) and/or the pilot operating 

handbook (POH) that will clearly 

establish that the NTS is not designed 

to automatically feather the propeller 

but only to provide drag protection. We 

are proposing this AD to correct the 

unsafe condition on these products. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by October 9, 2015. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, 

using the procedures found in 14 CFR 

11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following 

methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments. 

• Fax: 202–493–2251. 

• Mail: U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, M– 

30, West Building Ground Floor, Room 

W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 

Washington, DC 20590. 

• Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail 

address above between 9 a.m. and 5 

p.m., Monday through Friday, except 

Federal holidays. 

For service information identified in 

this proposed AD, contact M7 

Aerospace LLC, 10823 NE Entrance 

Road, San Antonio, Texas 78216; phone: 

(210) 824–9421; fax: (210) 804–7766; 

Internet: http://www.elbitsystemsus.com; email: MetroTech@

M7Aerospace.com. You may view this 

referenced service information at the 

FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 

Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. 

For information on the availability of 

this material at the FAA, call 816–329– 

4148. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket on 

the Internet at http://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2015– 

3607; or in person at the Docket 

Management Facility between 9 a.m. 

and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 

except Federal holidays. The AD docket 

contains this proposed AD, the 

regulatory evaluation, any comments 

received, and other information. The 

street address for the Docket Office 

(phone: 800–647–5527) is in the 

ADDRESSES section. Comments will be 

available in the AD docket shortly after 

receipt. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Michael Heusser, Aerospace Engineer, 

FAA, Fort Worth Aircraft Certification 

Office, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort 

Worth, Texas 76137; telephone: (817) 

222–5038; fax: (817) 222–5960; email: 

Michael.A.Heusser@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

We invite you to send any written 

relevant data, views, or arguments about 

this proposal. Send your comments to 

an address listed under the ADDRESSES

section. Include ‘‘Docket No. FAA– 

2015–3607; Directorate Identifier 2015– 

CE–010–AD’’ at the beginning of your 

comments. We specifically invite 

comments on the overall regulatory, 

economic, environmental, and energy 

aspects of this proposed AD. We will 

consider all comments received by the 

closing date and may amend this 

proposed AD because of those 

comments. 

We will post all comments we 

receive, without change, to http://

www.regulations.gov, including any 

personal information you provide. We 

will also post a report summarizing each 

substantive verbal contact we receive 

about this proposed AD. 

Discussion 

The FAA received a report of an 

accident where an M7 Aerospace LLC 

Model SA227–AC airplane experienced 

left engine power loss and consequent 

loss of control. Training manuals 

provide descriptions of the negative 

torque system (NTS), which provides 

partial anti-drag protection if a negative 

torque condition is sensed. This feature 

might cause pilots to assume the system 

automatically provides full anti-drag 

protection in the event of an engine 

failure or power loss. The pilot must 

also take prompt action to fully feather 

the propeller on the failed engine to 

reduce drag. A pilot’s sole reliance on 

the NTS for reducing drag in the event 

of engine power loss may result in the 

pilot’s failure to initiate the Engine 

Failure Inflight checklist and feather the 

propellers in time. 

This condition, if not corrected, could 

result in loss of control of the aircraft 

due to excessive asymmetric drag. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

We reviewed the following M7 

Aerospace LLC AFM revisions: 

• AFM revision dated May 14, 2015, 

section III, SA26–AT Dash One; 

• AFM revision dated May 14, 2015, 

section III, SA26–AT Dash Two; 

• AFM revision B–33, sections i and 

III, SA226–AT, dated November 14, 

2014; 

• AFM revision A–29, sections i and 

III, SA226–T, dated November 14, 2014; 

• AFM revision B–29, sections i and 

3, SA226–T(B), dated November 14, 

2014; 

• AFM revision A–43, sections i and 

III, SA226–TC, dated November 14, 

2014; 


asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
51496 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 164 / Tuesday, August 25, 2015 / Proposed Rules 

• AFM (4AC) revision B–11, sections 

0 and 3, SA227–AC, dated November 

14, 2014; 

• AFM (4MC) revision A–12, sections 

0 and 3, SA227–AC, dated November 

14, 2014; 

• AFM (6AC) revision A–16, sections 

0 and 3, SA227–AC, dated November 

14, 2014; 

• AFM (7AC) revision B–19, sections 

0 and 3, SA227–AC, dated November 

14, 2014; 

• AFM (7MC) revision A–13, sections 

0 and 3, SA227–AC, dated November 

14, 2014; 

• AFM (8AC) revision A–15, sections 

0 and 3, SA227–AC, dated November 

14, 2014; 

• Pilot operating handbook (POH)/

AFM (4AT) revision A–12, sections 0 

and 3, SA227–AT, dated November 14, 

2014; 

• POH/AFM (6AT) revision 13, 

sections 0 and 3, SA227–AT, dated 

November 14, 2014; 

• POH/AFM (6AT), section 7, 

revision 7, SA227–AT, dated November 

14, 2014; 

• POH/AFM (7AT) revision B–12, 

sections 0 and 3, SA227–AT, dated 

November 14, 2014; 

• POH/AFM (8AT) revision 13, 

sections 0 and 3, SA227–AT, dated 

November 14, 2014; 

• AFM (6BC) revision 21, sections 0 

and 3, SA227–BC, dated November 14, 

2014; 

• AFM (6CC) revision 17, sections 0 

and 3, SA227–CC, dated November 14, 

2014; 

• AFM (6DC) revision 34, sections 0 

and 3, SA227–DC, dated November 14, 

2014; 

• AFM (8DC) revision 8, sections 0 

and 3, SA227–DC, dated November 14, 

2014; 

• POH/AFM revision 15, sections 0 

and 3, SA227–TT Fairchild 300, dated 

November 14, 2014; 

• POH/AFM revision 13, sections 0 

and 3, SA227–TT Fairchild 312, dated 

November 14, 2014; 

• POH/AFM revision 29, sections 0 

and 3, SA227–TT, dated November 14, 

2014. 

The M7 Aerospace LP service 

information describes procedures for 

inflight engine shutdown procedures. 

This service information is reasonably 

available because the interested parties 

have access to it through their normal 

course of business or by the means 

identified in the ADDRESSES section of 

this NPRM. 

FAA’s Determination 

We are proposing this AD because we 

evaluated all the relevant information 

and determined the unsafe condition 

described previously is likely to exist or 

develop in other products of the same 

type design. 

In addition, minimum controllable 

airspeed for single engine landing is 

being investigated for possible future 

action. 

Proposed AD Requirements 

This proposed AD would require 

updates be inserted into the AFM that 

will clearly establish that the NTS is not 

designed to automatically feather the 

propeller but only to provide drag 

protection. 

The proposed requirements do not 

address anything on the abovereferenced minimum controllable 

airspeed for single engine landing. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this proposed AD 

affects 360 airplanes of U.S. registry. 

We estimate the following costs to 

comply with this proposed AD: 

ESTIMATED COSTS

Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per 

product 

Cost on U.S. 

operators 

Insert revision into the appropriate AFM describing 

action to take when feathering propellers in the 

event of engine failure.

.5 work-hour × $85 per 

hour = $42.50.

Not applicable .................. $42.50 $15,300. 

Authority for This Rulemaking 

Title 49 of the United States Code 

specifies the FAA’s authority to issue 

rules on aviation safety. 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. 

We are issuing this rulemaking under 

the authority described in Subtitle VII, 

Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701: 

‘‘General requirements.’’ Under that 

section, Congress charges the FAA with 

promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in 

air commerce by prescribing regulations 

for practices, methods, and procedures 

the Administrator finds necessary for 

safety in air commerce. This regulation 

is within the scope of that authority 

because it addresses an unsafe condition 

that is likely to exist or develop on 

products identified in this rulemaking 

action. 

Regulatory Findings 

We determined that this proposed AD 

would not have federalism implications 

under Executive Order 13132. This 

proposed AD would not have a 

substantial direct effect on the States, on 

the relationship between the national 

Government and the States, or on the 

distribution of power and 

responsibilities among the various 

levels of government. 

For the reasons discussed above, I 

certify this proposed regulation: 

(1) Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory 

action’’ under Executive Order 12866, 

(2) Is not a ‘‘significant rule’’ under 

the DOT Regulatory Policies and 

Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 

1979), 

(3) Will not affect intrastate aviation 

in Alaska, and 

(4) Will not have a significant 

economic impact, positive or negative, 

on a substantial number of small entities 

under the criteria of the Regulatory 

Flexibility Act. 

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39 

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation 

safety, Incorporation by reference, 

Safety. 

The Proposed Amendment 

Accordingly, under the authority 

delegated to me by the Administrator, 

the FAA proposes to amend 14 CFR part 

39 as follows: 

PART 39—AIRWORTHINESS 

DIRECTIVES 

■ 1. The authority citation for part 39 

continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701. 

§ 39.13 [Amended] 

■ 2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding 

the following new airworthiness 

directive. 

(AD): M7 Aerospace LP: Docket No. FAA– 

2015–3607; Directorate Identifier 2015– 

CE–010–AD. 


asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 164 / Tuesday, August 25, 2015 / Proposed Rules 51497 

(a) Comments Due Date 

We must receive comments by October 9, 

2015. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to M7 Aerospace LLC 

Models SA26–AT, SA226–T, SA226–AT, 

SA226–T(B), SA226–TC, SA227–AT, SA227– 

TT, SA227–AC (C–26A), SA227–BC (C–26A), 

SA227–CC, and SA227–DC (C–26B) 

airplanes, all serial numbers, certificated in 

any category. 

(d) Subject 

Air Transport Association of America 

(ATA) Code 01, Operations Information. 

(e) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by information that 

a pilot’s sole reliance on the NTS for 

reducing drag in the event of engine power 

loss may result in the pilot’s failure to initiate 

the Engine Failure Inflight checklist and 

feather the propellers in time. This could 

lead the pilot to not fully feather the 

propeller with consequent loss of control. We 

are issuing this AD to add information to the 

AFM and/or POH that reliance on the NTS 

to reduce drag during an engine failure could 

lead the pilot to not fully feather the 

propeller with consequent loss of control. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within 30 days after 

the effective date of this AD, unless already 

done. 

(g) Actions 

Incorporate the applicable M7 Aerospace 

LLC AFM revisions as listed in paragraphs 

(g)(1) through (g)(12) of this AD: 

(1) For Model SA26–AT Dash One 

airplanes: Insert pages III–1 through III–6, 

revised May 14, 2015; and pages III–7 

through III–8, FAA Approved May 14, 2015; 

into the Merlin Model SA–26AT Dash One 

AFM. 

(2) For Model SA26–AT Dash Two 

airplanes: Insert pages III–1 through III–6, 

revised May 14, 2015; and pages III–7 

through III–8, FAA Approved May 14, 2015; 

into the Merlin Model SA–26AT Dash Two 

AFM. 

(3) For Model SA226–T airplanes: Insert 

pages III–2 though III–26, revised November 

14, 2014, into the Swearingen Merlin SA226– 

T AFM, Reissue A, dated June 28, 1976. 

(4) For Model SA226–AT airplanes: Insert 

pages III–2 through III–30, revised November 

14, 2014, into the Merlin SA226–AT AFM, 

Reissue B, dated May 6, 1977. 

(5) For Model SA226–T(B) airplanes: Insert 

pages 3–2, Emergency Procedures, through 

page 3–20, Emergency Procedures, revised 

November 14, 2014; and pages 3–21 through 

3–24, Emergency Procedures, issued 

November 14, 2014; into the Merlin SA226– 

T(B) AFM, Reissue B, dated November 2, 

1979. 

(6) For Model SA226–TC airplanes: Insert 

pages III–2 through page III–24, revised 

November 24, 2014; and pages III–25 through 

III–32, FAA Approved November 14, 2014; 

into the Metro SA226–TC AFM, Reissue A, 

dated December 1, 1976. 

(7) For Model SA227–AT airplanes: 

(i) Model 4AT: Insert pages 3–4 through 3– 

30, Emergency Procedures, revised November 

14, 2014; and pages 3–31 through 3–34, 

Emergency Procedures, FAA Approved 

November 14, 2014; into the SA227–AT 

(4AT) pilot operating handbook (POH)/AFM, 

Reissue A, dated November 30, 1988; 

(ii) Model 6AT: Insert pages 3–4 through 3– 

36, FAA Approved, Emergency Procedures, 

revised November 14, 2014, into the SA227– 

AT (6AT) POH/AFM, dated May 13, 1987. 

(iii) Model 7AT: Insert pages 3–4 through 

3–30, Emergency Procedures, revised 

December 9, 2014, and pages 3–31 through 

3–34, FAA Approved December 9, 2014, into 

the SA227–AT (7AT) POH/AFM, Reissue B, 

dated November 30, 1988. 

(iv) Model 8AT: Insert pages 3–4 through 

3–30, Emergency Procedures, revised 

December 9, 2014; and pages 3–31 through 

3–34, FAA Approved December 9, 2014; into 

the SA227–AT (8AT) POH/AFM, dated May 

13, 1987. 

(8) For Model SA227–TT Fairchild 300 

airplanes: Insert page 3–3 through 3–30, 

Emergency Procedures, revised December 9, 

2014; and pages 3–31 through 3–34, 

Emergency Procedures, FAA Approved 

December 9, 2014; into the SA227–TT 

Fairchild 300 POH/AFM, Reissue A, dated 

August 7, 1981. 

(9) For Model SA227–TT Fairchild 312 

airplanes: Insert page 3–3, Emergency 

Procedures, revised December 9, 2014; pages 

3–5 through 3–30, Emergency Procedures, 

revised December 9, 2014; and pages 3–31 

through 3–32, Emergency Procedures, FAA 

Approved December 9, 2014; into the Model 

SA227–TT Fairchild 300 (312) 12,500 LBS 

POH/AFM, dated October 4, 1981. 

(10) For Model SA227–TT Fairchild Merlin 

IIIC airplanes: Insert pages 3–3 through 3–24, 

revised December 9, 2014, and pages 3–25 

through 3–32, issued December 9, 2014; into 

the SA227–TT Merlin IIIC POH/AFM, 

Reissue A, dated August 7, 1981. 

(11) For Model SA227–AC (4AC) airplanes: 

Insert pages 3–3 through 3–30, Emergency 

Procedures, revised November 14, 2014; into 

the SA227–AC AFM, Reissue B, dated 

November 7, 1990. 

(12) For Model SA227–AC (4MC) airplanes: 

Insert pages 3–3 through 3–30, Emergency 

Procedures, revised November 14, 2014; and 

pages 3–31 through 3–36, Emergency 

Procedures, FAA Approved November 14, 

2014, into the SA227–AC AFM, Reissue A, 

dated May 22, 1989. 

(13) For Model SA227–AC (7AC) airplanes: 

Insert pages 3–3 through 3–30, Emergency 

Procedures, revised December 9, 2014; and 

pages 3–31 through 3–34, Emergency 

Procedures, FAA Approved December 9, 

2014, into the SA227–AC AFM, Reissue B, 

dated April 2, 1986. 

(14) For Model SA227–AC (7MC) airplanes: 

Insert pages 3–3 through 3–30, Emergency 

Procedures, revised December 9, 2014; and 

pages 3–31 through 3–34, Emergency 

Procedures, FAA Approved December 9, 

2014, into the SA227–AC AFM, Reissue A, 

dated May 22, 1989. 

(15) For Model SA227–AC (8AC) airplanes: 

Insert pages 3–3 through 3–30, Emergency 

Procedures, revised December 9, 2014; and 

pages 3–31 through 3–34, Emergency 

Procedures, FAA Approved December 9, 

2014, into the SA227–AC AFM, Reissue A, 

dated May 22, 1989 

(16) For Model SA227–AC (6AC) airplanes: 

Insert pages 3–3 through 3–20, Emergency 

Procedures, revised November 14, 2014; into 

the SA227–AC AFM, Reissue A, dated May 

22, 1989. 

(17) For Model SA227–AC (6BC) airplanes: 

Insert pages 3–3 through 3–30, Emergency 

Procedures, revised November 14, 2014; and 

pages 3–31 through 3–36, Emergency 

Procedures, FAA Approved November 14, 

2014, into the SA227–BC AFM, dated 

September 25, 1989. 

(18) For Model SA227–DC (6DC) airplanes: 

Insert pages 3–3 through 3–26, Emergency 

Procedures, revised December 9, 2014; and 

pages 3–27 through 3–32, Emergency 

Procedures, FAA Approved December 9, 

2014, into the SA227–DC AFM, dated August 

23, 1991. 

(19) For Model SA227–BC (C–26A) 

airplanes: Insert pages 3–4 through 3–30, 

Emergency Procedures, revised December 9, 

2014; and pages 3–31 through 3–36, 

Emergency Procedures, FAA Approved 

December 9, 2014; into the SA227–BC AFM, 

dated September 25, 1989. 

(20) For Model SA227–CC (6CC) airplanes: 

Insert pages 3–3 through 3–24, Emergency 

Procedures, revised December 9, 2014; and 

pages 3–25 through 3–30, Emergency 

Procedures, FAA Approved December 9, 

2014; into the SA227–CC AFM, dated 

December 11, 1992. 

(21) For Model SA227–DC (8DC) airplanes: 

Insert pages 3–3 through 3–26, Emergency 

Procedures, revised December 9, 2014; and 

pages 3–27 through 3–32, Emergency 

Procedures, FAA Approved December 9, 

2014; into the SA227–DC AFM. 

(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, Fort Worth Aircraft 

Certification Office, FAA, has the authority to 

approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested 

using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. 

In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your 

request to your principal inspector or local 

Flight Standards District Office, as 

appropriate. If sending information directly 

to the manager of the ACO, send it to the 

attention of the person identified in 

paragraph (i)(1) of this AD. 

(2) Before using any approved AMOC, 

notify your appropriate principal inspector, 

or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 

of the local flight standards district office/

certificate holding district office. 

(i) Related Information 

(1) For more information about this AD, 

contact Michael Heusser, Aerospace 

Engineer, FAA, Fort Worth Aircraft 

Certification Office, 2601 Meacham Blvd., 

Fort Worth, Texas 76137; telephone: (817) 

222–5038; fax: (817) 222–5960; email: 

Michael.A.Heusser@faa.gov. 

(2) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact M7 Aerospace LLC, 10823 

NE Entrance Road, San Antonio, Texas 

78216; phone: (210) 824–9421; fax: (210) 


asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
51498 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 164 / Tuesday, August 25, 2015 / Proposed Rules 

804–7766; Internet: http://www.elbitsystemsus.com; email: MetroTech@

M7Aerospace.com. You may view this 

referenced service information at the FAA, 

Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, 

Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For information 

on the availability of this material at the 

FAA, call 816–329–4148. 

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on August 

19, 2015. 

Earl Lawrence, 

Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft 

Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2015–20977 Filed 8–24–15; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 73 

[Docket No. FAA–2015–0739; Airspace 

Docket No. 14–AWP–11] 

RIN 2120–AA66 

Proposed Modification of Restricted 

Area R–7201; Farallon De Medinilla 

Island; Mariana Islands, GU 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: This action proposes to 

expand the lateral boundary of 

restricted area R–7201, Farallon De 

Medinilla Island, Mariana Islands, GU. 

The expanded restricted airspace would 

be used to support strategic and attack 

bombing, close air support bombing, 

naval gunfire, and strafing and special 

operations training. This action also 

proposes to rename the restricted area 

from R–7201 to R–7201A. 

DATES: Comments must be received on 

or before October 9, 2015. 

ADDRESSES: Send comments on this 

proposal to the U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, M– 

30, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., West 

Building Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 

Washington, DC 20590–0001; telephone: 

(202) 366–9826. You must identify FAA 

Docket No. FAA–2015–0739 and 

Airspace Docket No. 14–AWP–11, at the 

beginning of your comments. You may 

also submit comments through the 

Internet at www.regulations.gov. 

Comments on environmental and land 

use aspects should be directed to: Naval 

Facilities Engineering Command Pacific, 

Attention: MIRC Airspace EA/OEA 

Project Manager, 258 Makalapa Drive, 

Suite 100, Pearl Harbor, HI 96860–3134. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Jason Stahl, Airspace Policy and 

Regulations Group, Office of Airspace 

Services, Federal Aviation 

Administration, 800 Independence 

Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591; 

telephone: (202) 267–8783. 

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 the 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 

modify the restricted area airspace at 

Farallon De Medinilla Island, Mariana 

Islands, GU, to enhance aviation safety 

and accommodate essential U.S. Navy 

training requirements. 

Background 

The Department of the Navy is 

seeking to expand R–7201 out from its 

current 3-nautical mile (NM) radius to a 

12-NM radius. The proposed action is 

needed in order to support training 

activities that involve the use of 

advanced weapons systems which the 

current airspace does not sufficiently 

and safely provide. The Navy and other 

services require fully capable training 

and testing range complexes (land, sea, 

and airspace) that provide realistic and 

controlled environments with sufficient 

surface Danger Zones (DZs) and Special 

Use Airspace vital for safety and 

mission success. 

Farrallon de Medinilla (FDM) consists 

of the island land mass and the 

restricted airspace designated R–7201. 

The land mass is approximately 1.7 

miles long and 0.3 miles wide. It 

contains a live-fire and inert bombing 

range and supports live-fire and inert 

engagements such as surface-to-ground 

and air-to-ground gunnery, bombing and 

missile exercises, fire support, and 

precision weapons. Restricted Area R– 

7201 surrounds FDM and the 

surrounding waters within a 3-NM 

radius from center extending from the 

surface to Flight Level (FL) 600. FDM 

and R–7201 are the Department of 

Defense’s (DOD) only United States 

controlled range in the western Pacific 

available to forward-deployed forces for 

live-fire and inert training. For this 

reason, it plays a unique role in national 

defense. R–7201’s location is ideal for 

access and availability and its relative 

isolation facilitates a variety of attack 

profiles. 

Due to Guam and the Commonwealth 

of the Northern Mariana Islands’ (CNMI) 

strategic location and DOD’s ongoing 

reassessment of the Western Pacific 

military alignment, there has been a 

dramatic increase in the importance of 

the Mariana Islands Range Complex 

(MIRC) as a training venue and its 

capabilities to support required military 

training. Flight training profiles, 

altitudes and speed are severely 

restricted to ensure containment due to 

the small size of the current restricted 

area. In order to fully exploit the 

capabilities of modern weapons systems 

and provide the required training 

scenarios that replicate conditions 

encountered during deployments today, 

it is necessary to expand R–7201 

laterally. This action would enable the 

military to continue to achieve and 

maintain service readiness using the 

MIRC to support and conduct current, 

emerging, and future training activities. 

The proposed R–7201 expansion would 

support naval gun fire training, 

readiness and the utilization of 

advanced lasers with Nominal Ocular 

Hazard Distance that exceed the current 

3 NM constraints of the existing 

airspace. Additionally, the expansion 

would serve to support the U.S. Air 

Force’s Intelligence, Surveillance and 

Reconnaissance (ISR)/Strike program. It 

is anticipated that a 45 percent increase 

in operations and training would occur 

within the expanded airspace and will 

accommodate an increased training 

tempo, newer aircraft and weapon 

systems that are commensurate with the 

ISR/Strike mission that the current 

airspace cannot support. 

The Navy has leased FDM from CNMI 

since 1971 and in 1983 negotiated a 50- 

year lease with an option to renew for 

another 50 years. No maneuver training 

is permitted on FDM and the nearshore 

waters are leased to the U.S. for military 

purposes, specifically for use as a live 

fire naval gunfire and air warfare air 

strike training range. As such, FDM and 

its nearshore area have always been an 

off-limits area to all personnel both 

civilian and military due to unexploded 

ordnance concerns. In addition to the 

proposed R–7201 expansion, the DZ 

around FDM would be expanded to 12 

NM to align with the proposed 

restricted airspace. The DZ would 

restrict all private and commercial 

vessels from entering the area only 

when hazardous activities are 

scheduled. 


asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS