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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 227 (Monday, November 25, 2024)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 92871-92873]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-27378]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2024-2443; Airspace Docket No. 24-AWP-87]
RIN 2120-AA66

Modification of Class D Airspace; Torrance Airport, Torrance, CA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to modify the Class D airspace at 
Torrance Airport, Torrance, CA. This action would more appropriately 
contain instrument flight rules (IFR) and visual flight rules (VFR) 
operations at the airport. Additionally, the airport's name and legal 
description should be amended to match the FAA's database.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before January 9, 2025.

ADDRESSES: Send comments identified by FAA Docket No. FAA-2024-2443 and 
Airspace Docket No. 24-AWP-87 using any of the following methods:
    * Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov and follow 
the online instructions for sending your comments electronically.
    * Mail: Send comments to Docket Operations, M-30; U.S. Department 
of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Room W12-140, West 
Building Ground Floor, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
    * Hand Delivery or Courier: Take comments to Docket Operations in 
Room W12-140 of the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey 
Avenue SE, Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays.
    * Fax: Fax comments to Docket Operations at (202) 493-2251.
    Docket: Background documents or comments received may be read at 
www.regulations.gov at any time. Follow the online instructions for 
accessing the docket or go to the Docket Operations in Room W12-140 of 
the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, 
Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays.
    FAA Order JO 7400.11J, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, 
and subsequent amendments can be viewed online at www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/. You may also contact the Rules and 
Regulations Group, Office of Policy, Federal Aviation Administration, 
800 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267-
8783.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Keith T. Adams, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Western Service Center, Operations Support Group, 2200 
S 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone (206) 231-2428.

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 Class D airspace to support IFR and 
VFR operations at Torrance Airport, Torrance, CA.

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites interested persons to participate in this 
rulemaking by submitting written comments, data, or views. Comments are 
specifically invited on the overall regulatory, aeronautical, economic, 
environmental, and energy-related aspects of the proposal. The most 
helpful comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain 
the reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. To 
ensure the docket does not contain duplicate comments, commenters 
should submit only one time if comments are filed electronically, or 
commenters should send only one copy of written

[[Page 92872]]

comments if comments are filed in writing.
    The FAA will file in the docket all comments it receives, as well 
as a report summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA 
personnel concerning this proposed rulemaking. Before acting on this 
proposal, the FAA will consider all comments it receives on or before 
the closing date for comments. The FAA will consider comments filed 
after the comment period has closed if it is possible to do so without 
incurring expense or delay. The FAA may change this proposal in light 
of the comments it receives.
    Privacy: In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits comments 
from the public to better inform its rulemaking process. DOT posts 
these comments, without edit, including any personal information the 
commenter provides, to www.regulations.gov, as described in the system 
of records notice (DOT/ALL-14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at 
www.dot.gov/privacy.

Availability of Rulemaking Documents

    An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded through the 
internet at www.regulations.gov. Recently published rulemaking 
documents can also be accessed through the FAA's web page at 
www.faa.gov/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 
Operations office (see ADDRESSES section for address, phone number, and 
hours of operations). An informal docket may also be examined during 
normal business hours at the office at the Northwest Mountain Regional 
Office of the Federal Aviation Administration, Air Traffic 
Organization, Western Service Center, Operations Support Group, 2200 S 
216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198.

Incorporation by Reference

    Class D airspace designations are published in paragraph 5000 of 
FAA Order JO 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, which 
is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 on an annual basis. This 
document proposes to amend the current version of that order, FAA Order 
JO 7400.11J, dated July 31, 2024, and effective September 15, 2024. 
These updates would be published in the next update to FAA Order JO 
7400.11. That order is publicly available as listed in the ADDRESSES 
section of this document.
    FAA Order JO 7400.11J lists Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, 
air traffic service routes, and reporting points.

Background

    The current Class D airspace is inadequately sized to effectively 
contain IFR operations at the Torrance Airport. Modification is 
necessary to contain all IFR departure procedures until reaching the 
next adjacent controlled airspace while climbing to 700 feet above the 
surface. The Los Angeles Class E airspace area extending upward from 
700 feet above the surface, and the Jack Northrop Field Class D 
airspace are the two adjacent controlled airspaces. The sections of the 
Torrance Airport's Class D that border the Los Angeles Class E airspace 
area does not fully contain IFR departures until reaching 700 feet 
above the surface. The lack of IFR containment is caused by rising 
terrain in the area. Additionally, Torrance Class D airspace does not 
fully contain aircraft conducting an IFR circling maneuver. The maximum 
allowable circling radius at the airport is 2.7 nautical miles, which 
is beyond the current Class D airspace lateral boundary.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 to modify the 
Class D airspace at Torrance Airport, Torrance, CA, to support 
containment of IFR operations.
    The Class D airspace should be modified to within a 3-mile radius 
between the airport's 003[deg] bearing clockwise to the 086[deg] 
bearing, and within 1.9 miles northeast and 2.1 miles southwest of the 
airport's 124[deg] bearing extending 4.2 miles southeast, and within 
2.1 miles southwest and 2.2 miles northeast of the airport's 304[deg] 
bearing extending 4.5 miles northwest, and within 4 miles northwest of 
the airport's 025[deg] bearing extending 2.8 miles northeast. The 
proposed Class D airspace would extend upward from the surface up to 
and including 2,400 feet. This proposed rule-making action would 
accommodate IFR arrival operations descending from 1,000 feet above the 
surface and departing IFR operations until reaching 700 feet above the 
surface or the next adjacent controlled airspace.
    Additionally, administrative amendments are required for Torrance 
Airport's legal descriptions. The airport's name should be amended from 
Torrance Airport to Zamperini Airport. The airport's reference point 
geographic coordinates should be amended from lat. 33[deg]48'12'' N, 
long. 118[deg]20'22'' W to lat. 33[deg]48'12'' N, long. 118[deg]20'23'' 
W. Lastly, the part-time language Class D airspace should be updated to 
replace the outdated terms Notice to Airmen with Notice to Air 
Missions, and Airport/Facility Directory with Chart Supplement. The Los 
Angeles very high frequency omnidirectional range tactical air 
navigation (VORTAC) should be removed from the airport's legal 
description. The Los Angeles VORTAC and Zamperini Field's localizer are 
no longer needed for describing the airport's Class D airspace area 
boundaries. The Class D airspace description will be derived from the 
Zamperini Fields's airport reference point.

Regulatory Notices and Analyses

    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, 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 subject to an environmental analysis in 
accordance with FAA Order 1050.1F, ``Environmental Impacts: Policies 
and Procedures,'' prior to any FAA final regulatory action.

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, B, C, D, AND E AIRSPACE AREAS; AIR 
TRAFFIC SERVICE ROUTES; AND REPORTING POINTS

0
1. The authority citation for 14 CFR part 71 continues to read as 
follows:

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

[[Page 92873]]

Sec.  71.1   [Amended]

0
2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of FAA Order JO 
7400.11J, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated July 31, 
2024, and effective September 15, 2024, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 5000 Class D Airspace.

* * * * *

AWP D Torrance, CA [Amended]

Zamperini Field, CA
    (Lat. 33[deg]48'12'' N, long. 118[deg]20'23'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface up to and 
including 2,400 feet MSL within a 3-mile radius between the 
airport's 003[deg] bearing clockwise to the 086[deg] bearing, and 
within 1.9 miles northeast and 2.1 miles southwest of the airport's 
124[deg] bearing extending 4.2 miles southeast, and within 2.1 miles 
southwest and 2.2 miles northeast of the airport's 304[deg] bearing 
extending 4.5 miles northwest, and within 4 miles northwest of the 
airport's 025[deg] bearing extending 2.8 miles northeast. This Class 
D airspace area is effective during the specific dates and times 
established in advance by a Notice to Air Missions. The effective 
date and time will thereafter be continuously published in the Chart 
Supplement.
* * * * *

    Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on November 15, 2024.
B.G. Chew,
Group Manager, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2024-27378 Filed 11-22-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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