Document ID: FAA-2018-0322-0002
Agency: faa
Document Type: Rule
Title: Class E Airspace; Amendments: Williamsport, PA
Posted Date: 2018-09-11T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 176 (Tuesday, September 11, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 45818-45819]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-19487]

[[Page 45818]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0322; Airspace Docket No. 18-AEA-12]
RIN 2120-AA66

Amendment of Class E Airspace; Williamsport, PA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action amends Class E airspace extending upward from 700 
feet or more above the surface at Williamsport Regional Airport, 
Williamsport, PA. Airspace reconfiguration is necessary due to the 
decommissioning of Picture Rocks non-directional radio beacon (NDB), 
and cancellation of the NDB approaches. Controlled airspace is 
necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules 
(IFR) operations at this airport. This action also recognizes the name 
change to Williamsport Hospital Medical Center Heliport (formerly 
Williamsport Hospital). The title of this rule is changed to only show 
that we are amending Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet 
above the surface with this rule. The Class D and remaining Class E 
airspace areas have been amended in a separate rulemaking.

DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, November 8, 2018. The Director of the 
Federal Register approves this incorporation by reference action under 
title 1, Code of Federal Regulations, part 51, subject to the annual 
revision of FAA Order 7400.11 and publication of conforming amendments.

ADDRESSES: FAA Order 7400.11B, Airspace Designations and Reporting 
Points, and subsequent amendments can be viewed online at http://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. The Order is also available for inspection at the National 
Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the 
availability of FAA Order 7400.11B at NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go 
to https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.
    FAA Order 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, is 
published yearly and effective on September 15.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Fornito, Operations Support 
Group, Eastern Service Center, Federal Aviation Administration, 1701 
Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337; telephone (404) 305-6364.

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 amends Class E airspace at Williamsport Regional Airport, 
Williamsport, PA, and Williamsport Hospital Medical Center Heliport, to 
support standard instrument approach procedures for IFR operations in 
the area.

History

    The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) in the 
Federal Register (83 FR 25967, June 5, 2018) for Docket No. FAA-2018-
0322 to amend Class D airspace, Class E surface airspace, Class E 
airspace designated as an extension to a Class D surface area, and 
Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet or more above the 
surface at Williamsport Regional Airport, Williamsport, PA.
    Subsequent to publication, the FAA found that the name of 
Williamsport Hospital has changed to Williamsport Hospital Medical 
Center Heliport, and is corrected in this rule.
    Also, we are not retaining the proposal as stated, and only going 
forward with amending Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet 
above the surface at Williamsport Regional Airport. The previous 
amendments proposed in the NPRM have been executed in a final rule 
published August 3, 2018 (83 FR 38016).
    Interested parties were invited to participate in this rulemaking 
effort by submitting written comments on the proposal to the FAA. No 
comments were received.
    Class E airspace designations are published in Paragraph 6005, of 
FAA Order 7400.11B, dated August 3, 2017, and effective September 15, 
2017, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The E airspace 
designations listed in this document will be published subsequently in 
the Order.

Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference

    This document amends FAA Order 7400.11B, Airspace Designations and 
Reporting Points, dated August 3, 2017, and effective September 15, 
2017. FAA Order 7400.11B is publicly available as listed in the 
ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order 7400.11B lists Class A, 
B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and 
reporting points.

The Rule

    This amendment to Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 
amends part 71 by amending Class E airspace extending upward from 700 
feet or more above the surface at Williamsport Regional Airport to 
within a 12.6-mile radius of the airport due to the decommissioning of 
the Picture Rocks NDB, and cancellation of the NDB approach. The 
Williamsport Regional Airport ILS localizer is removed as it is no 
longer needed to define the boundary. Also, the name of Williamsport 
Hospital is changed to Williamsport Hospital Medical Center Heliport.
    We have removed the amendments that were made for Williamsport 
Regional Airport noted in Class D airspace, Class E surface airspace, 
and Class E airspace designated as an extension to a Class D surface 
area, as they were addressed in a separate rulemaking (FR 83 38016).

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. 
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 
only affects air traffic procedures and air navigation, it is certified 
that this rule, when promulgated, does not have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria of 
the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

[[Page 45819]]

Environmental Review

    The FAA has determined that this action qualifies for categorical 
exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act in accordance 
with FAA Order 1050.1F, ``Environmental Impacts: Policies and 
Procedures,'' paragraph 5-6.5a. This airspace action is not expected to 
cause any potentially significant environmental impacts, and no 
extraordinary circumstances exist that warrant preparation of an 
environmental assessment.

Lists of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71

    Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).

Adoption of the Amendment

    In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation 
Administration amends 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 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 Federal Aviation 
Administration Order 7400.11B, Airspace Designations and Reporting 
Points, dated August 3, 2017, and effective September 15, 2017, is 
amended as follows:

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

* * * * *

AEA PA E5 Williamsport, PA [Amended]

Williamsport Regional Airport, PA
    (Lat. 41[deg]14'30'' N, long. 76[deg]55'19'' W)
Williamsport Hospital Medical Center Heliport, Point In Space 
Coordinates
    (Lat. 41[deg]14'51'' N, long. 77[deg]00'55'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 12.6-mile radius of Williamsport Regional Airport, and that 
airspace within a 6-mile radius of the point in space (lat. 
41[deg]14'51'' N, long. 77[deg]00'55'' W) serving Williamsport 
Hospital Medical Center Heliport.

    Is Issued in College Park, Georgia, on August 28, 2018.
Ryan W. Almasy,
Manager, Operations Support Group, Eastern Service Center, Air Traffic 
Organization.
[FR Doc. 2018-19487 Filed 9-10-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P