Document ID: FAA-2023-2052-0002
Agency: faa
Document Type: Rule
Title: Airspace Designations and Reporting Points: Thomasville, GA
Posted Date: 2023-12-27T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 247 (Wednesday, December 27, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 89293-89294]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-28406]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2023-2052; Airspace Docket No. 23-ASO-39]
RIN 2120-AA66

Amendment of Class E Airspace; Thomasville, GA

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 above the surface for Thomasville Regional Airport, Thomasville, 
GA. This action increases the existing radius, adds an extension to the 
northeast, and updates the airport's name.

DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, March 21, 2024. The Director of the Federal 
Register approves this incorporation by reference action under 1 CFR 
part 51, subject to the annual revision of FAA Order JO 7400.11 and 
publication of conforming amendments.

ADDRESSES: A copy of the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), all 
comments received, this final rule, and all background material may be 
viewed online at www.regulations.gov using the FAA Docket number. 
Electronic retrieval help and guidelines are available on the website. 
It is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
    FAA Order JO 7400.11H 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: 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 in Thomasville, GA.

History

    The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking for Docket No. 
FAA 2023-2052 in the Federal Register on October 18, 2023 (88 FR 
71786), proposing to amend Class E airspace extending upward from 700 
feet above the surface for Thomasville Regional Airport, Thomasville, 
GA. Interested parties were invited to participate in this rulemaking 
effort by submitting written comments on the proposal to the FAA. No 
comments were received.

Incorporation by Reference

    Class E airspace designations are published in Paragraph 6005 of 
FAA Order JO 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, 
incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 annually. This document amends 
the current version of that order, FAA Order JO 7400.11H, dated August 
11, 2023, and effective September 15, 2023. FAA Order JO 7400.11H is 
publicly available as listed in the ADDRESSES section of this document. 
These amendments will be published in the next FAA Order JO 7400.11 
update.
    FAA Order JO 7400.11H lists Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, 
air traffic service routes, and reporting points.

The Rule

    This action amends 14 CFR part 71 by amending Class E airspace 
extending upward from 700 feet above the surface

[[Page 89294]]

for Thomasville Regional Airport, Thomasville, GA, by updating the 
airport name (formerly Thomasville Municipal Airport). Also, the radius 
is increased to 7 miles (previously 6.5 miles), and an extension to the 
northeast is added. Controlled airspace is necessary for the area's 
safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations.

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 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 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 
warrant the 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 JO 
7400.11H, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 11, 
2023, and effective September 15, 2023, is amended as follows:

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

* * * * *

ASO GA E5 Thomasville, GA [Amended]

Thomasville Regional Airport, GA
    (Lat. 30[deg]54'05'' N, long. 83[deg]52'53'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 7-mile radius of Thomasville Regional Airport and within 
3.5 miles on each side of the 040[deg] bearing of the airport, 
extending from the 7-mile radius to 9.7 miles northeast of the 
airport.
* * * * *

    Issued in College Park, Georgia, on December 20, 2023.
Andreese C. Davis,
Manager, Airspace & Procedures Team South, Eastern Service Center, Air 
Traffic Organization.
[FR Doc. 2023-28406 Filed 12-26-23; 8:45 am]
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