[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 238 (Tuesday, December 13, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 76169-76170]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-27003]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2022-1445; Airspace Docket No. 21-AWP-55]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Modification of Class E Airspace; Visalia Municipal 
Airport, Visalia, CA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to modify the Class E airspace designated 
as a surface area and modify the Class E airspace extending upward from 
700 feet above the surface at Visalia Municipal Airport, Visalia, CA. 
This proposal would add and remove extensions of the Class E airspace 
extending from 700 feet above the surface at the airport. Additionally, 
this action proposes several administrative amendments to update the 
airport's existing Class E airspace legal descriptions. These actions 
will support the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) 
operations at the airport.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before January 27, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on this proposal to the U.S. DOT, Docket 
Operations, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building Ground Floor, Room 
W12-140, Washington, DC 20590; telephone: (800) 647-5527, or (202) 366-
9826. You must identify ``FAA Docket No. FAA-2022-1445; Airspace Docket 
No. 21-AWP-55,'' at the beginning of your comments. You may also submit 
comments through the internet at www.regulations.gov.
    FAA Order JO 7400.11G, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, 
and subsequent amendments can be viewed online at 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: Raphell P. Taylor, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Western Service Center, Operations Support Group, 2200 
S 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone (405) 666-1176.

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 E airspace at Visalia Municipal Airport, 
Visalia, CA, 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-2022-1445; 
Airspace Docket No. 21-AWP-55.'' 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 www.regulations.gov. Recently published rulemaking 
documents can also be accessed through the FAA's web page at 
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 7400.11G, dated August 
19, 2022, and effective September 15, 2022. FAA Order JO 7400.11G is 
publicly available as listed in the ADDRESSES section of this document. 
FAA Order JO 7400.11G 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 E airspace designated as a surface area and modifying the 
Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above

[[Page 76170]]

the surface at Visalia Municipal Airport, CA.
    The Class E airspace designated as a surface area should be 
expanded from 3.5 nautical miles (NM) to 4 (NM), to properly contain 
aircraft conducting circling maneuvers. Additionally, the Class E2 
extension northwest of the airport is not required and should be 
removed.
    The Class E airspace encircling the airport within a 5-mile radius 
is excessive and should be reduced. Class E airspace beginning at 700 
feet above the surface is designed to contain departing IFR operations 
until they reach 1,200 feet above the surface, and a 4.5-mile radius 
encircling the airport is more appropriate. The two existing Class E5 
extensions are currently described in relation to the now 
decommissioned Visalia very high frequency omnidirectional range (VOR) 
and require modifications. The first extension is within 2.1 miles each 
side of the 138[deg] bearing from the airport extending from the 4.5-
mile radius to 6.6 miles southeast of the airport. The second extension 
is within 1.8 miles each side of the 314[deg] bearing, from the 4.5-
mile radius to 6.6 miles northwest of the airport.
    Finally, this action proposes administrative modifications to the 
airport's legal descriptions. The current Class E5 airspace description 
includes airspace for Mefford Field Airport, Tulare, CA. The FAA is 
establishing independent airspace for Mefford Field Airport and the 
additional airspace should be removed from Visalia Municipal Airport's 
airspace description. The Visalia VOR/distance measuring equipment 
(DME) navigational aid should be removed from the Class E2 text header 
and airspace description. It was decommissioned on March 25th, 2022 and 
is not needed to describe airspace. The Class E2 legal description 
should also be updated to replace the outdated use of the phrases 
``Notice to Airmen'' and ``Airport/Facility Directory.'' These phrases 
should be amended to read ``Notice to Air Missions'' and ``Chart 
Supplement,'' respectively, to match the FAA's current nomenclature. 
Finally, Swanson Ranch NR1 Airport should be removed from the Class E5 
text header and airspace description, as the airport no longer exists.
    Class E2 and E5 airspace designations are published in paragraphs 
6002 and 6005, respectively, of FAA Order 7400.11G, dated August 19, 
2022, and effective September 15, 2022, 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, 
which is published annually and becomes 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 
7400.11G, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 19, 
2022, and effective September 15, 2022, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6002 Class E Airspace Areas Designated as a Surface Area.

* * * * *

AWP CA E2 Visalia, CA [Amended]

Visalia Municipal Airport, CA
    (Lat. 36[deg]19' 07'' N, long. 119[deg]23' 34'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface within a 4-mile 
radius 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 6005 Class E Airspace Areas Extending Upward From 700 
Feet or More Above the Surface of the Earth.

* * * * *

AWP CA E5 Visalia, CA [Amended]

Visalia Municipal Airport, CA
    (Lat. 36[deg]19' 07'' N, long. 119[deg]23' 34'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 4.5-mile radius of the airport, and within 2.1 miles each 
side of the 138[deg] bearing from the airport extending from the 
4.5-mile radius to 6.6 miles southeast of the airport, and within 
1.8 miles each side of the 314[deg] bearing from the 4.5-mile radius 
to 6.6 miles northwest of the airport.

    Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on December 7, 2022.
B.G. Chew,
Group Manager, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2022-27003 Filed 12-12-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


