Document ID: FAA-2017-0233-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Rule
Title: Amendment of Class C Airspace: Little Rock, AR
Posted Date: 2017-04-11T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 68 (Tuesday, April 11, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 17379-17380]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-07116]

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 Rules and Regulations
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  Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 68 / Tuesday, April 11, 2017 / Rules 
and Regulations  

[[Page 17379]]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0233; Airspace Docket No. 17-AWA-1]

Amendment of Class C Airspace; Little Rock, AR

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule, technical amendment.

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SUMMARY: This action modifies the Little Rock, AR, Class C airspace 
area by amending the legal description to update the current airport 
name and updated airport reference point (ARP) information to match the 
FAA's aeronautical database and charted information. Additionally, 
exclusion language is added to the legal description to ensure flight 
safety and address any potential for confusion where the Class C and 
restricted area R-2403B airspace areas overlap. This action does not 
change the boundaries, altitudes, or operating requirements of the 
Class C airspace area.

DATES: Effective date 0901 UTC, June 22, 2017. 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 7400.11A, 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 7400.11A at NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go 
to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal-regulations/ibr_locations.html.
    FAA Order 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, is 
published yearly and effective on September 15.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Colby Abbott, Airspace Policy Group, 
Office of Airspace Services, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 
Independence Avenue SW., Washington DC, 20591; telephone: (202) 267-
8783.

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 updates the airport name and ARP coordinates for the Bill and 
Hillary Clinton National/Adams Field airport that is contained in the 
Little Rock, AR, Class C airspace description and adds language 
excluding a restricted area that overlaps the Class C airspace area.

History

    Class C airspace areas are designed to improve air safety by 
reducing the risk of midair collisions in high volume airport terminal 
areas and to enhance the management of air traffic operations in that 
area. During a recent review of the Little Rock, AR, Class C airspace 
area description, the FAA identified that the airport's name and ARP 
geographic coordinates were incorrect. Additionally, the FAA identified 
that neither the Little Rock Class C airspace nor the restricted area 
R-2403B description addressed an overlap of the two airspace areas.
    This action updates the airport name and ARP geographic coordinates 
in the Little Rock, AR, Class C description to coincide with the FAA's 
aeronautical database and charted information. And, this action adds 
exclusion language to the Little Rock Class C description for R-2403B, 
when active, to ensure flight safety and avoid potential confusion 
where the Little Rock Class C and R-2403B airspace areas overlap. This 
change clarifies the Class C airspace when the restricted area is 
active. There are no changes to the boundaries, altitudes, or air 
traffic control procedures resulting from this action.
    Class C airspace designations are published in paragraph 4000 of 
FAA Order 7400.11A, dated August 3, 2016, and effective September 15, 
2016, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR part 71.1. The Class 
C airspace designation 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 7400.11A, Airspace Designations and 
Reporting Points, dated August 3, 2016, and effective September 15, 
2016. FAA Order 7400.11A is publicly available as listed in the 
ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order 7400.11A lists Class A, 
B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and 
reporting points.

The Rule

    This action amends Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 
part 71 by amending the Little Rock, AR, Class C airspace area 
description. The airport formerly known as ``Little Rock/Adams Field'' 
is renamed ``Bill and Hillary Clinton National/Adams Field'' and the 
ARP geographic position for the airport is changed from ``lat. 34 
[deg]43'44'' N., long. 92 [deg]13'29'' W.'' to ``lat. 34[deg]43'46'' 
N., long. 92[deg]13'29'' W.'' These amendments to the airport name and 
ARP geographic coordinates reflect the current information in the FAA's 
aeronautical database and on associated charts. Additionally, exclusion 
language for R-2403B was added to read ``excluding that airspace within 
R-2403B when active.'' This amendment was made to ensure flight safety 
and reduce the potential for confusion where the class C and restricted 
area airspace areas overlap.
    This action is an administrative change and does not affect the

[[Page 17380]]

boundaries, altitudes, or operating requirements of the airspace, 
therefore, notice and public procedure under 5 U.S.C. 553(b) is 
unnecessary.

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 
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 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.

Environmental Review

    The FAA has determined that this action of modifying the Little 
Rock, AR, Class C airspace area by amending the legal description to 
contain the current airport name and updating airport reference point 
(ARP) information to match the FAA's aeronautical database and charted 
information qualifies for categorical exclusion under the National 
Environmental Policy Act, and its agency implementing regulations in 
FAA Order 1050.1F, ``Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures'' 
regarding categorical exclusions for procedural actions at paragraph 5-
6.5a, which categorically excludes from full environmental impact 
review rulemaking actions that designate or modify classes of airspace 
areas, airways, routes, and reporting points. Since this action does 
not change the boundaries, altitudes, or operating requirements of the 
Class C airspace area, this airspace action is not expected to result 
in any significant environmental impacts. In accordance with FAAO 
1050.1F, paragraph 5-2 regarding Extraordinary Circumstances, this 
action has been reviewed for factors and circumstances in which a 
normally categorically excluded action may have a significant 
environmental impact requiring further analysis, and it is determined 
that 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).

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 FAA Order 
7400.911A, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 3, 
2016, effective September 15, 2016, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 4000 Class C Airspace.

* * * * *

ASW AR C Little Rock, AR

Bill and Hillary Clinton National/Adams Field, AR
    (Lat. 34[deg]43'46'' N., long. 92[deg]13'29'' W.)

That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including 
4,300 feet MSL within a 5-mile radius of the Bill and Hillary 
Clinton National/Adams Field; and that airspace extending upward 
from 1,500 feet MSL to and including 4,300 feet MSL within a 10-mile 
radius of the Bill and Hillary Clinton National/Adams Field from the 
030[deg] bearing from the airport clockwise to the 210[deg] bearing 
from the airport and that airspace extending upward from 1,800 feet 
MSL to and including 4,300 feet MSL within a 10-mile radius of the 
airport from the 210[deg] bearing from the airport clockwise to the 
310[deg] bearing from the airport and that airspace extending upward 
from 2,100 feet MSL to and including 4,300 feet MSL from the 
310[deg] bearing from the airport clockwise to the 030[deg] bearing 
from the airport, excluding that airspace within R-2403B when 
active.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on April 4, 2017.
Gemechu Gelgelu,
Acting Manager, Airspace Policy Group.
[FR Doc. 2017-07116 Filed 4-10-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P