[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 241 (Friday, December 16, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 77043-77044]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-27252]



[[Page 77043]]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2022-1448; Airspace Docket No. 21-AWP-58]
RIN 2120-AA66


Proposed Amendment of Class E Airspace; Hanford Municipal 
Airport, CA

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

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This action proposes to modify the Class E airspace extending 
upward from 700 feet above the surface at Hanford Municipal Airport, 
CA. These actions will support the safety and management of instrument 
flight rule (IFR) operations at the airport.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before January 30, 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-2022-1448; Airspace Docket 
No. 21-AWP-58,'' 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 (U.S.C.). 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 Hanford Municipal 
Airport, 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-2022-1448; 
Airspace Docket No. 21-AWP-58.'' 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 extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
at Hanford Municipal Airport, CA. A 2.8-mile circular radius of the 
airport should be added to properly contain circling maneuvers. The 
airspace extension east of the airport should be removed. The Visalia 
very high frequency omnidirectional range/distance measuring equipment 
(VOR/DME) navigational aid was decommissioned and the airspace is no 
longer necessary to contain its associated instrument approach 
procedure. The airspace extensions to the north and southeast of the 
airport should be modified. These modifications would more adequately 
contain arriving IFR operations below 1,500 feet above the surface on 
the Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) Runway (RWY) 
32 and RNAV (GPS)-B RWY 32 approaches, and departing IFR operations 
until they reach 1,200 feet above the surface at the airport.
    The Class E5 airspace designation is published in paragraph 6005 of 
FAA Order JO 7400.11G, dated August 19, 2022, and effective September 
19, 2022, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Class 
E airspace designation listed in this document will be published 
subsequently in FAA Order JO 7400.11, which is published yearly and 
becomes effective on September 15.
    FAA Order JO 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points is 
published yearly and 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

[[Page 77044]]

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

* * * * *

AWP CA E5 Hanford, CA [Amended]

Hanford Municipal Airport, CA
    (Lat. 36[deg]19'00'' N, long. 119[deg]37'40'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface 
within a 2.8-mile radius of the airport, and within 2.4 miles each 
side of the 142[deg] bearing from the airport extending from the 
2.8-mile radius to 7 miles southeast of the airport, and within 2.4 
miles each side of the 345[deg] bearing from the airport extending 
from the 2.8-mile radius to 7 miles north of the airport.
* * * * *

    Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on December 8, 2022.
B.G. Chew,
Group Manager, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center.
[FR Doc. 2022-27252 Filed 12-15-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


