[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 217 (Monday, November 10, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 60463-60464]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-29579]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 73

[Airspace Docket No. 96-ASW-40]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Amendments to Restricted Areas 5601D and 5601E; Fort 
Sill, OK

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: This notice proposes to raise the upper limit of Restricted 
Area 5601D (R-5601D) from the current 16,500 feet mean sea level (MSL) 
to flight level (FL) 400. Additionally, this notice proposes to amend 
the times of designation for R-5601D and R-5601E by expanding the time 
frame during which these areas may be activated without a prior 
issuance of a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM). The FAA is proposing these 
changes to accomodate high altitude/high angle bomb delivery training 
and to support weekday and night flying requirements.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 26, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on the proposal in triplicate to: Manager, Air 
Traffic Division, ASW-500, Docket No. 96-ASW-40, Federal Aviation 
Administration, 2601 Meacham Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX 76193-0500.
    The official docket may be examined in the Rules Docket, Office of 
the Chief Counsel, Room 916, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, 
DC, weekdays, except Federal holidays, between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
    An informal docket may also be examined during normal business 
hours at the Office of the Regional Air Traffic Division, 2601 Meacham 
Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX 76193-0500.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Brown, Airspace and Rules 
Division, ATA-400, Office of Air Traffic Airspace Management, Federal 
Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 
20591; telephone: (202) 267-8783.

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 the airspace docket number 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 Airspace Docket No. 96-
ASW-40.'' The postcard will be date/time stamped and returned to the 
commenter. Send comments on environmental and land use aspects to: 
Commander, USAFACFS, ATTN:

[[Page 60464]]

ATZR-B (Mr. Barnett), Fort Sill, OK 73503-5100, Telephone (405) 442-
2715.
    All communications received on or 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 
comments received. All comments submitted will be available for 
examination in the Rules Docket both before and after the closing date 
for comments. A report summarizing each substantive public contact with 
FAA personnel concerned with this rulemaking will be filed in the 
docket.

Availability of NPRM's

    Any person may obtain a copy of this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 
(NPRM) by submitting a request to the Federal Aviation Administration, 
Office of Public Affairs, Attention: Public Inquiry Center, APA-200; 
800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591, or by calling (202) 
267-3485. Communications must identify the notice number of this NPRM. 
Persons interested in being placed on a mailing list for future NPRM's 
should also request a copy of Advisory Circular No. 11-2A, which 
describes the application procedure.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 73 to raise the 
upper limit of R-5601D from the current 16,500 feet MSL to FL 400. The 
horizontal boundaries of the restricted area would not be changed by 
this proposal. The United States Air Force (USAF) requested this change 
to R-5601D in order to contain high-altitude jet aircraft bombing 
patterns into the Falcon Range target area located in R-5601C.
    Although R-5601C airspace extends to FL 400, there is not enough 
maneuvering airspace to allow jet aircraft to climb to the required 
delivery altitudes before final approach into the target area. Raising 
the upper limit of R-5601D to FL 400 would alleviate this airspace 
problem and allow for quality high altitude/high angle bomb delivery 
training, a USAF pilot requirement for ``mission ready'' status.
    Additionally, this notice proposes to expand the times of 
designation for R-5601D and R-5601E from the current ``Sunrise to 
sunset, Tuesday through Saturday; other times by NOTAM'' to ``Sunrise 
to 2200, Monday-Friday; other times by NOTAM.'' This proposed expansion 
in the times of designation is necessary to accommodate a change in 
flying requirements by both the 301st Fighter Wing, Carswell Field, TX, 
and the 88th Training Wing at Sheppard AFB, TX. Although there will 
still be occasional weekend flying, most activity will occur during 
weekdays. The extension of flying times beyond sunset is necessary due 
to a new USAF training requirement to fly sorties at night.
    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. 
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.

Environmental Review

    This proposal will be subjected to an environmental analysis by the 
proponent and the FAA prior to any FAA final regulatory action.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 73

    Airspace, Navigation (air).

The Proposed Amendment

    In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation 
Administration proposes to amend 14 CFR part 73 as follows:

PART 73--SPECIAL USE AIRSPACE

    1. The authority citation for part 73 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. 73.56  [Amended]

    2. Sec. 73.56 is amended as follows:
* * * * *

R-5601D Fort Sill, OK  [Amended]

    By removing the current ``Designated altitudes. 500 feet AGL to 
16,500 feet MSL'' and substituting ``Designated altitudes. 500 feet AGL 
to FL 400'' and also by removing ``Time of designation. Sunrise to 
sunset, Tuesday through Saturday; other times by NOTAM'' and 
substituting ``Time of designation. Sunrise to 2200, Monday through 
Friday; other times by NOTAM.''

R-5601E Fort Sill, OK  [Amended]

    By removing the current ``Time of designation. Sunrise to sunset, 
Tuesday through Saturday; other times by NOTAM'' and substituting 
``Time of designation. Sunrise to 2200, Monday through Friday; other 
times by NOTAM.''
* * * * *
    Issued in Washington, DC, on October 29, 1997.
Reginald C. Matthews,
Acting Program Director for Air Traffic Airspace Management.
[FR Doc. 97-29579 Filed 11-7-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P