[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 233 (Thursday, December 4, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 64148-64150]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-31704]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. 97-ACE-22]


Amendment to Class E Airspace; St. Louis, MO

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Direct final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This action amends the Class E airspace area at Lambert-St. 
Louis International Airport, St. Louis, MO. The FAA has developed an 
Instrument Landing System (ILS) Runway (RWY) 6 Standard Instrument 
Approach Procedure (SIAP) and a VHF Omnidirectional Range/Distance 
Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) RWY 17 SIAP to serve the Lambert-St. 
Louis International Airport. Additional controlled airspace extending 
upward from 700 feet Above Ground Level (AGL) is needed to accommodate 
these SIAPs. The Class E airspace for St. Louis Regional, St. Charles 
County Smartt, and Spirit of St. Louis Airports are enlarged to conform 
to requirements of FAA Order 7400.2D. The intended effect of this rule 
is to provide Class E airspace for aircraft executing ILS RWY 6 and 
VOR/DME RWY 17 SIAPs, and to conform with the requirements of FAA Order 
7400.2D.

DATES: Effective date: 0901 UTC April 23, 1998.
    Comment date: Comments must be received on or before January 15, 
1998.

ADDRESSES: Send comments regarding the rule in triplicate to: Manager, 
Airspace Branch, Air Traffic Division, ACE-520, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Docket Number 97-ACE-22, 601 East 12th St., Kansas 
City, MO 64106.
    The official docket may be examined in the Office of the Regional 
Counsel for the Central Region at the same address between 9:00 a.m. 
and 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    An informal docket may also be examined during normal business 
hours in the Air Traffic Division at the same address listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kathy Randolph, Air Traffic Division, Airspace Branch, ACE-520C, 
Federal Aviation Administration, 601 East 12th Street, Kansas City, 
Missouri 64106; telephone (816) 426-3408.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA has developed ILS RWY 6 and VOR/

[[Page 64149]]

 DME RWY 17 SIAPs at St. Louis, MO. Additional controlled Class E 
airspace extending upward from 700 feet AGL is needed at Lambert-St. 
Louis International Airport, MO, in order to contain the new SIAPs 
within controlled airspace. A review of airspace for St. Louis 
Regional, St. Charles County Smartt, and Spirit of St. Louis Airports 
indicates they do not meet the criteria for 700 feet AGL Class E 
airspace as specified in FAA Order 7400.2D. The criteria in FAA Order 
7400.2D for an aircraft to reach 1200 feet AGL is based on a standard 
climb gradient of 200 feet per mile, plus the distance from the ARP to 
the end of the outermost runway. Any fractional part of a mile is 
converted to the next higher tenth of a mile increment. The areas for 
St. Louis Regional, St. Charles County Smartt, and Spirit of St. Louis 
are enlarged and included in the description of the amended Class E 
airspace for Lambert-St. Louis International Airport. The amended Class 
E airspace for Lambert-St. Louis International Airport will contain the 
new SIAPs in controlled airspace, comply with the requirements of FAA 
Order 7400.2D, and thereby facilitate separation of aircraft under 
Instrument Flight Rules. The area will be depicted on appropriate 
aeronautical charts. Class E airspace areas extending from 700 feet or 
more above the surface of the earth are published in paragraph 6005 of 
FAA Order 7400.9E, dated September 10, 1997, and effective September 
16, 1997, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Class 
E airspace designation listed in this document will be published 
subsequently in the Order.

The Direct Final Rule Procedure

    The FAA anticipates that this regulation will not result in adverse 
or negative comment and, therefore, is issuing it as a direct final 
rule. Previous actions of this nature have not been controversial and 
have not resulted in adverse comments or objections. The amendment will 
enhance safety for all flight operations by designating an area where 
VFR pilots may anticipate the presence of IFR aircraft at lower 
altitudes, especially during inclement weather conditions. A greater 
degree of safety is achieved by depicting the area on aeronautical 
charts. Unless a written adverse or negative comment, or a written 
notice of intent to submit an adverse or negative comment is received 
within the comment period, the regulation will become effective on the 
date specified above. After the close of the comment period, the FAA 
will publish a document in the Federal Register indicating that no 
adverse or negative comments were received and confirming the date on 
which the final rule will become effective. If the FAA does receive, 
within the comment period, an adverse or negative comment, or written 
notice of intent to submit such a comment, a document withdrawing the 
direct final rule will be published in the Federal Register, and a 
notice of proposed rulemaking may be published with a new comment 
period.

Comments Invited

    Although this action is in the form of a final rule and was not 
preceded by a notice of proposed rulemaking, comments are invited on 
this rule. Interested persons are invited to comment on this rule by 
submitting such written data, views, or arguments as they may desire. 
Communications should identify the Rules Docket number and be submitted 
in triplicate to the address specified under the caption ADDRESSES. All 
communications received on or before the closing date for comments will 
be considered, and this rule may be amended or withdrawn in light of 
the comments received. Factual information that supports the 
commenter's ideas and suggestions is extremely helpful in evaluating 
the effectiveness of this action and determining whether additional 
rulemaking action would be needed.
    Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy-related aspects of the rule that 
might suggest a need to modify the rule. All comments submitted will be 
available, both before and after the closing date for comments, in the 
Rules Docket for examination by interested persons. A report that 
summarizes each FAA-public contact concerned with the substance of this 
action will be filed in the Rules Docket.
    Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments 
submitted in response to this rule must submit a self-addressed, 
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments 
to Docket No. 97-ACE-22.'' The postcard will be date stamped and 
returned to the commenter.

Agency Findings

    The regulations adopted herein will not have substantial direct 
effects 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. Therefore, in 
accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this final 
rule does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the 
preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
    The FAA has determined that this regulation is noncontroversial and 
unlikely to result in adverse or negative comments. For the reasons 
discussed in the preamble, I certify that this regulation (1) is not a 
``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866; (2) is 
not a ``significant rule'' under Department of Transportation (DOT) 
Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); 
and (3) 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 71

    Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, the Federal Aviation Administration amends 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., p. 389.


Sec. 71.1  [Amended]

    2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of Federal 
Aviation Administration Order 7400.9E, Airspace Designations and 
Reporting Points, dated September 10, 1997, and effective September 16, 
1997, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6005  Class E airspace areas extending upward from 700 
feet or more above the surface of the earth.

* * * * *

ACE MO E5  St. Louis, MO [Revised]

Lambert-St. Louis International Airport
    (Lat. 38 deg.44'52''N, long. 90 deg.21'36''W)
Spirit of St. Louis Airport, MO
    (Lat. 38 deg.39'43''N, long. 90 deg.39'00''W)
St. Louis Regional Airport, Alton, IL
    (Lat. 38 deg.53'25''N, long. 90 deg.02'46''W)
St. Charles County Smartt Airport, St. Charles, MO
    (Lat. 38 deg.55'47''N, long. 90 deg.25'48''W)
St. Louis VORTAC
    (Lat. 38 deg.51'39''N, long. 90 deg.28'57''W)
Foristell VORTAC
    (Lat. 38 deg.41'40''N, long. 90 deg.58'17''W)
ZUMAY LOM
    (Lat. 38 deg.47'17''N, long. 90 deg.16'44''W)
OBLIO LOM
    (Lat. 38 deg.48'01''N, long. 90 deg.28'29''W)
Civic Memorial NDB

[[Page 64150]]

    (Lat. 38 deg.53'32''N, long. 90 deg.03'23''W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 7.1-mile radius of the Lambert-St. Louis International 
Airport and within 4 miles southeast and 7 miles northwest of the 
Lambert-St. Louis International Airport Runway 24 ILS localizer 
course extending from the airport to 10.5 miles northeast of the 
ZUMAY LOM and within 4 miles southwest and 7.9 miles northeast of 
the Lambert-St. Louis Airport Runway 12R ILS Localizer course 
extending from the airport to 10.5 miles northwest of the OBLIO LOM 
and within 4 miles southwest and 7.9 miles northeast of the Lambert-
St. Louis Airport Runway 30L ILS localizer southeast course 
extending from the airport to 8.7 miles southeast of the airport and 
within a 6.8-mile radius of Spirit of St. Louis Airport and within 
2.6 miles each side of the 098 deg. radial of the Foristell VORTAC 
extending from the 6.8-mile radius area to 8.3 miles west of the 
airport and within a 6.4-mile radius of St. Charles County Smartt 
Airport, and within a 6.9-mile radius of St. Louis Regional Airport, 
and within 4 miles each side of the 014 deg. bearing from the Civic 
Memorial NDB extending from the 6.9-mile radius to 7 miles north of 
the airport and within 4.4 miles each side of the 190 deg. radial of 
the St. Louis VORTAC extending from 2 miles south of the VORTAC to 
22.1 miles south of the VORTAC.
* * * * *
    Issued in Kansas City, MO, on October 17, 1997.
Herman J. Lyons,
Manager, Air Traffic Division, Central Region.
[FR Doc. 97-31704 Filed 12-3-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M