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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 68 (Friday, April 8, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 20794-20796]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-07481]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2022-0317; Airspace Docket No. 21-AAL-63]
RIN 2120-AA66

Proposed Modification of Class D and E Airspace, and Proposed 
Removal of Class E Airspace; King Salmon Airport, AK

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 and Class E surface 
area airspace, and the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet 
above the surface at King Salmon Airport, King Salmon, AK. 
Additionally, the FAA proposes to remove the Class E airspace 
designated as an extension to Class D or Class E airspace, as it is no 
longer required. Furthermore, this action proposes to remove a 
navigational aid (NAVAID) from the legal description of the Class E5 
text header. Lastly, this action proposes administrative updates to the 
Class D and Class E legal descriptions. These actions will ensure the 
safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) and visual 
flight rules (VFR) operations at the airport.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 23, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on this proposal to the U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Operations, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West 
Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590; telephone: 
1-800-647-5527, or (202) 366-9826. You must identify FAA Docket No. 
FAA-2022-0317; Airspace Docket No. 21-AAL-63, at the beginning of your 
comments. You may also submit comments through the internet at https://www.regulations.gov.
    FAA Order JO 7400.11F, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, 
and subsequent amendments can be viewed online at https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications. For further information, you can contact the 
Airspace Policy Group, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267-
8783.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nathan A. Chaffman, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Western Service Center, Operations Support Group, 2200 
S 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone (206) 231-3460.

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 
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 Class D and Class E airspace at King Salmon Airport, 
AK, to support IFR operations at the airport.

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. Persons 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-2022-0317; 
Airspace Docket No. 21-AAL-63''. 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 https://www.regulations.gov. Recently published rulemaking

[[Page 20795]]

documents can also be accessed through the FAA's web page at https://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 
Office (see the ADDRESSES section for the address and phone number) 
between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except federal 
holidays. An informal docket may also be examined during normal 
business hours 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.

Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference

    This document proposes to amend FAA Order JO 7400.11F, Airspace 
Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 10, 2021, and effective 
September 15, 2021. FAA Order JO 7400.11F is publicly available as 
listed in the ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order JO 7400.11F 
lists Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service 
routes, and reporting points.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 by modifying 
the Class D and Class E surface airspace, modifying the Class E 
airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface, and removing 
the Class E4 airspace designated as a Class D or Class E2 surface area 
extension at King Salmon Airport, King Salmon, AK.
    Both the Class D and Class E surface areas require an increase in 
radius to properly contain departures until reaching 700 feet above the 
surface, contain IFR arrivals descending below 1,000 feet above the 
surface, and to contain circling maneuvers at the airport. In addition, 
an extension to the Class D and Class E surface areas is needed to the 
southeast of the airport due to rising terrain. This proposed extension 
would contain IFR departures until reaching 700 feet above the surface.
    In addition, the FAA proposes a shelf be added to the Class D and 
Class E surface areas. The shelf will allow for floatplane operations 
to and from the Naknek River when weather is below VFR minimums at the 
airport.
    The King Salmon Class E4 airspace, designated as an extension to 
Class D and Class E surface areas, is no longer needed and the FAA 
proposes to remove the airspace.
    The FAA proposes to modify the Class E airspace extending upward 
from 700 feet at King Salmon Airport. The current radius, which 
contains departing aircraft until reaching 1,200 feet above ground 
level (AGL), should be reduced, as the extra coverage is not needed. 
The areas to the southeast and northwest of the airport should be 
reduced to more appropriately contain the points at which an arriving 
aircraft would normally descend below 1,500 AGL.
    The FAA proposes to increase the ceiling of the airspace to 2,600 
feet mean sea level (MSL) to account for the 73 foot airport elevation. 
Class D areas should normally extend upward from the surface up to and 
including 2,500 feet AGL. The altitude must be converted to MSL and 
rounded to the nearest 100 feet.
    Furthermore, this action also proposes to remove the King Salmon 
VORTAC from the Class E5 text header and the airspace description. The 
NAVAID is not required to describe the airspace area, and the removal 
of the NAVAID simplifies the airspace's legal description.
    Finally, the FAA proposes several administrative modifications to 
the King Salmon Airport legal descriptions. The City name should be 
removed from the second line of the Class D, Class E2, and Class E5 
airspace legal descriptions. The second line should read: ``King Salmon 
Airport, AK.'' Additionally, the current Class D and Class E surface 
area legal descriptions require modification to replace the use of the 
phrases ``Notice to Airmen'' and ``Airport/Facility Directive.'' These 
phrases should read ``Notice to Air Missions'' and ``Chart 
Supplement,'' respectively, in both legal descriptions.
    Class D, Class E2, Class E4 and Class E5 airspace designations are 
published in paragraphs 5000, 6002, 6004, and 6005, respectively, of 
FAA Order JO 7400.11F, dated August 10, 2021, and effective September 
15, 2021, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Class 
E airspace designations listed in this document will be published 
subsequently in FAA Order JO 7400.11.
    FAA Order JO 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, 
is published yearly and effective on September 15.

Regulatory Notices and Analyses

    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, is 
non-controversial, and unlikely to result in adverse or negative 
comments. 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, would 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

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me, 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.

Sec.  71.1   [Amended]

0
2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of FAA Order JO 
7400.11F, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 10, 
2021, and effective September 15, 2021, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 5000 Class D Airspace.

* * * * *

AAL AK D King Salmon, AK [Amended]

King Salmon Airport, AK
    (Lat. 58[deg]40'35'' N, long. 156[deg]38'55'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including 
2,600 feet MSL within a 5.3-mile radius of the King Salmon Airport, 
AK, and within 1.1 miles each side of the 132[deg] bearing extending 
from the 5.3-mile radius to 6.2 miles southeast of the airport, 
excluding that airspace 600 feet MSL

[[Page 20796]]

and below within 1.5 miles each side of the 132[deg] bearing 
extending from the 4.4-mile radius to the 5.3-mile radius of the 
airport, and excluding that airspace 600 feet MSL and below within 
1.1 miles each side of the 132[deg] bearing extending from the 5.3-
mile radius to 6.2 miles southeast of the airport. 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.

Paragraph 6002 Class E Airspace Designated as Surface Areas.

* * * * *

AAL AK E2 King Salmon, AK [Amended]

King Salmon Airport, AK
    (Lat. 58[deg]40'35'' N, long. 156[deg]38'55'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface within a 5.3-
mile radius of the King Salmon Airport, AK, and within 1.1 miles 
each side of the 132[deg] bearing extending from the 5.3-mile radius 
to 6.2 miles southeast of the airport, and excluding that airspace 
600 feet MSL and below within 1.5 miles each side of the 132[deg] 
bearing extending from the 4.4-mile radius to the 5.3-mile radius of 
the airport, and excluding that airspace 600 feet MSL and below 
within 1.1 miles each side of the 132[deg] bearing extending from 
the 5.3-mile radius to 6.2 miles southeast of the airport. This 
Class E 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.

Paragraph 6004 Class E Airspace Areas Designated as an Extension to 
a Class D or Class E Surface Area.

* * * * *

AAL AK E4 King Salmon, AK [Removed]

King Salmon Airport, AK
    (Lat. 58[deg]40'35'' N, long. 156[deg]38'55'' W)

Paragraph 6005 Class E Airspace Areas Extending Upward From 700 
Feet or More Above the Surface of the Earth.

* * * * *

AAL AK E5 King Salmon, AK [Amended]

King Salmon Airport, AK
    (Lat. 58[deg]40'35'' N, long. 156[deg]38'55'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.8-mile radius of King Salmon Airport, AK, and within 3.3 
miles northeast and 3.2 miles southwest of the 132[deg] bearing 
extending from the 6.8-mile radius to 9.1 miles southeast of the 
airport, and within 3.9 miles each side of the 312[deg] bearing 
extending from the 6.8-mile radius to 13.8 miles northwest of the 
airport; and that airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet above 
the surface within a 73-mile radius of the King Salmon Airport, AK, 
excluding that airspace extending beyond 12 miles of the shoreline.

    Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on April 4, 2022.
B.G. Chew,
Acting Group Manager, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2022-07481 Filed 4-7-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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