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[Federal Register: May 18, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 95)]
[Proposed Rules]               
[Page 27670-27672]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr18my10-15]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2010-0386; Airspace Docket No. 10-AWA-1]
RIN 2120-AA66

 
Proposed Revocation of Class C Airspace, Proposed Establishment 
of Class D Airspace, and Proposed Modification of Class E Airspace; 
Columbus, GA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to revoke the Columbus, GA, Class C 
airspace area; establish Class D airspace area to replace the Class C 
airspace area; and amend the existing Class E surface area and 700-foot 
Class E airspace at Columbus, GA. The FAA is proposing this action 
because Columbus Metropolitan Airport no longer meets the criteria 
required to qualify for a Class C airspace designation. Reconfiguring 
the area would enhance safety and facilitate more efficient use of 
airspace within the National Airspace System.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 19, 2010.

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-2010-
0386 and Airspace Docket No. 10-AWA-1, at the beginning of your 
comments. You may also submit comments through the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Gallant, Airspace and Rules 
Group, Office of System Operations Airspace and AIM, 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 both docket numbers (FAA Docket No. 
FAA-2010-0386 and Airspace Docket No. 10-AWA-1) and be submitted in 
triplicate to the Docket Management Facility (see ADDRESSES section for 
address and phone number). You may also submit comments through the 
Internet at http://www.regulations.gov
    Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments 
on this action must submit with those comments a self-addressed, 
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments 
to Docket Nos. FAA-2010-0386 and Airspace Docket No. 10-AWA-1.'' The 
postcard will be date/time stamped and returned to the commenter.
    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 action may be changed in light of 
comments received. All comments submitted will be available for 
examination in the public 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 NPRMs

    An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded through the 
Internet at http://www.regulations.gov. Recently published rulemaking 
documents can also be accessed through the FAA's web page at http://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/rulemaking/recently_published/.
    You may review the public docket containing the proposal, any 
comments received and any final disposition in person in the Dockets 
Office (see ADDRESSES section for address and phone number) between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. An 
informal docket may also be examined during normal business hours at 
the office of the Eastern Service Center, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Room 210, 1701 Columbia Ave., College Park, GA 30337.
    Persons interested in being placed on a mailing list for future 
NPRMs should contact the FAA's Office of Rulemaking, (202) 267-9677, 
for a copy of Advisory Circular No. 11-2A, Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking Distribution System, which describes the application 
procedure.

[[Page 27671]]

Background

    Class C airspace areas are designed to improve air safety by 
reducing the risk of midair collisions in high volume airport terminal 
areas and enhance the management of air traffic operations in that 
area. In order for an airport to be considered for designation of Class 
C airspace, it must meet the following criteria:
    1. The airport must be served by an operational airport traffic 
control tower (ATCT) and a radar approach control; and
    2. One of the following applies:
    (a) An annual instrument operations count of 75,000 at the primary 
airport; or
    (b) An annual count of 250,000 enplaned passengers at the primary 
airport.
    Both instrument operations and passenger enplanements at Columbus 
Metropolitan Airport have declined significantly in recent years. 
Passenger enplanement figures for calendar year 2008 (the most recent 
validated figures available) totaled 51,288. Instrument operations for 
calendar year 2008 were 22,795. These totals are significantly below 
the above stated thresholds for Class C airspace designation.
    On February 3, 2010, an informal airspace meeting was held at the 
Columbus Metropolitan Airport to describe the proposed airspace changes 
and to seek facts and information regarding the proposal. Approximately 
24 persons attended the meeting. No objections to the proposal were 
expressed at the meeting.

The Proposal

    The FAA is proposing an amendment to Title 14, Code of Federal 
Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 to remove the Columbus Metropolitan 
Airport Class C airspace area. The FAA is further proposing to 
establish a Class D airspace area to replace the Class C airspace area. 
The proposed Class D airspace area would be designated as part-time and 
would be in effect during the Columbus ATCT hours of operation as 
published in the Airport/Facility Directory. During periods when the 
ATCT is closed, the Class D airspace area would revert to a Class E 
surface area as is currently the case at the airport. This action would 
also change the dimensions of the existing Class E surface area by 
reducing the radius of the area from a 5-nautical mile (NM) radius to a 
4.4-NM radius to match the dimensions of the new Class D airspace area. 
In addition, this action would amend part of the description of the 
existing Columbus, GA, Class E airspace that extends upward from 700-
feet above the surface by changing the radius of the area around the 
Columbus Metropolitan Airport from the current 10-NM radius to a 6.8-NM 
radius.
    Class C airspace areas, Class D airspace areas, Class E surface 
areas and Class E airspace, extending upward from 700-feet above the 
surface, are published in paragraphs 4000, 5000, 6002, and 6005, 
respectively, of FAA Order 7400.9T, dated August 27, 2009 and effective 
September 15, 2009, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. 
The Class C, D and E airspace area amendments proposed in this document 
would be published subsequently in the Order.
    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. 
Therefore, this proposed 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) 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.
    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 amends terminal airspace as required to preserve the safe and 
efficient flow of air traffic in the Columbus, GA area.

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

    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 the Federal 
Aviation Administration Order 7400.9T, Airspace Designations and 
Reporting Points, dated August 27, 2009, and effective September 15, 
2009, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 4000 Subpart C--Class C Airspace.

* * * * *

ASO GA C Columbus Metropolitan Airport, GA [Removed]

* * * * *

Paragraph 5000 Class D Airspace.

* * * * *

ASO GA D Columbus, GA [New]

Columbus Metropolitan Airport, GA
    (Lat. 32[deg]30'59'' N., long. 84[deg]56'20'' W.)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including 
2,900 feet MSL within a 4.4-mile radius of the Columbus Metropolitan 
Airport; and that airspace within 1 mile each side of the 234[deg] 
bearing from the airport extending from the 4.4-mile radius to 5 
miles south of the airport. This Class D airspace is effective 
during the specific days and times established in advance by a 
Notice to Airmen. The effective date and time will thereafter be 
continuously published in the Airport/Facility Directory.
* * * * *

Paragraph 6002 Class E Airspace Designated as Surface Areas.

* * * * *

ASO-GA E2 Columbus Metropolitan Airport, GA [Amended]

Columbus Metropolitan Airport
    (Lat. 32[deg]30'59'' N., long. 84[deg]56'20'' W.)

    Within a 4.4-mile radius of Columbus Metropolitan Airport; and 
that airspace within 1 mile each side of the 234[deg] bearing from 
the airport, extending from the 4.4-mile radius to 5 miles south of 
the airport. This Class E airspace area is effective during the 
specific dates and times established in advance by a Notice to 
Airmen. The effective date and time will thereafter be continuously 
published in the Airport/Facility Directory.
* * * * *

[[Page 27672]]

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

* * * * *

ASO GA E5 Columbus, GA [Amended]

Columbus Metropolitan Airport, GA
    (Lat. 32[deg]30'59'' N., long. 84[deg]56'20'' W.)
Lawson AAF, GA
    (Lat. 32[deg]20'14'' N., long. 84[deg]59'29'' W.)
Lawson VOR/DME
    (Lat. 32[deg]19'57'' N., long. 84[deg]59'36'' W.)
Lawson LOC
    (Lat. 32[deg]20'43'' N., long. 84[deg]59'55'' W.)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 6.8-mile radius of Columbus Metropolitan Airport; and 
within 1 mile each side of the 234[deg] bearing from the airport 
extending from the 6.8-mile radius to 7.3-miles south of the 
airport; and within a 7.6-mile radius of Lawson AAF; and within 2.5 
miles each side of Lawson VOR/DME 340[deg] radial extending from the 
7.6-mile radius to 15 miles north of the VOR/DME; and within 4 miles 
each side of the Lawson LOC 145[deg] course extending from the 7.6-
mile radius to 10.6 miles southeast of Lawson AAF.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on May 7, 2010.
Edith V. Parish,
Manager, Airspace and Rules Group.
[FR Doc. 2010-11851 Filed 5-17-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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