[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 38 (Monday, February 26, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 8210-8212]
[FR Doc No: 2018-03655]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2017-1195; Airspace Docket No. 17-AEA-24]

Proposed Amendment of Class D Airspace and Class E Airspace;
Erie, PA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to amend Class D airspace, Class E
surface airspace, and Class E airspace designated as an extension to a
Class D surface area, by updating the name to Erie International
Airport/Tom Ridge Field, Erie, PA. This action also proposes to amend
Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface in
Erie, PA, by updating the name to St. Vincent Health Center Heliport.
This action also would update the geographic coordinates of the airport
and heliport, and would replace the outdated term ``Airport/Facility
Directory'' with the term ``Chart Supplement'' in the legal
descriptions of associated Class D and E airspace to match the FAA's
aeronautical database.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 12, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on this proposal to: U.S. Department of
Transportation, Docket Operations, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West
Building, Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590; telephone
(800) 647-5527 or<PHONE_NUMBER>. You must identify the Docket No. FAA-
2017-1195; Airspace Docket No. 17-AEA-24, at the beginning of your
comments. You may also submit comments through the internet at http://www.regulations.gov.
    FAA Order 7400.11B, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, and
subsequent amendments can be viewed on line 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<PHONE_NUMBER>.
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<PHONE_NUMBER> 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, Atlanta, Georgia 30337; telephone<PHONE_NUMBER>.

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 amend Class D and Class E airspace at Erie International
Airport/Tom Ridge Field and St Vincent Health Center Heliport, Erie,
PA, to support IFR operations at the airport.

Comments Invited

    Interested persons are invited to comment on 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 (Docket No. FAA-
2017-1195 and Airspace Docket No. 17-AEA-24) and be submitted in
triplicate to DOT Docket Operations (see ADDRESSES section for the
address and phone number.) You may also submit comments through the
internet at http://www.regulations.gov.
    Persons wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments on
this action must submit with those comments a self-addressed stamped
postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments to FAA
Docket No. FAA-2017-1195; Airspace Docket No. 17-AEA-24.'' 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 document may be changed in light of the
comments received. All comments submitted will be available for
examination in the public docket both before and after the comment
closing date. 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 http://www.regulations.gov. Recently published rulemaking
documents can also be accessed through the FAA's web page at http://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 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 between 8:00 a.m. and
4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except federal holidays at the office
of the Eastern Service Center, Federal Aviation Administration, Room
350, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337.

Availability and Summary of Documents for Incorporation by Reference

    This document proposes to amend 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 Proposal

    The FAA is considering an amendment to Title 14, Code of Federal
Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 to amend Class D airspace, Class E surface
airspace, and Class E airspace designated as an extension to a Class D
surface area, by updating the airport name to Erie International
Airport/Tom Ridge Field (formerly Erie International Airport). The
geographic coordinates also would be amended to be in concert with the
FAA's aeronautical database. Additionally, this action would make an
editorial change to the airspace legal description replacing ``Airport/
Facility Directory'' with ``Chart Supplement''.
    This action also would amend Class E airspace extending upward from
700 feet above the surface by updating the heliport name to St. Vincent
Health Center Heliport (formerly Life Star Base Heliport), Erie, PA.
These changes would enhance the safety and management of IFR operations
at the airport and heliport. In addition, this action would remove
extension information from the Class E surface airspace description of
the airport, as it duplicates the Class E airspace designated as an
extension to a Class D surface area description, which is now
continuous.
    Class D and Class E airspace designations are published in
Paragraphs 5000, 6002, 6004, and 6005, respectively 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 Class D and E airspace
designations listed in this document will be published subsequently in
the Order.

Regulatory Notices and Analyses

    The FAA has determined that this proposed 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
will only affect air traffic procedures and air navigation, it is
certified that this proposed rule, when promulgated, will 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.

Lists of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71

    Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).

The Proposed Amendment

    In consideration of the foregoing, 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 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 5000 Class D Airspace.

* * * * *

AEA PA D Erie, PA [Amended]

Erie International Airport/Tom Ridge Field, PA
    (Lat. 42[deg]04'59'' N, long. 80[deg]10'26'' W)

Erie VORTAC
    (Lat. 42[deg]01'03'' N, long. 80[deg]17'34'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including
3,200 feet MSL within a 4.2-mile radius of Erie International
Airport/Tom Ridge Field. This Class D airspace area is effective
during the specific days and times established in advance by a
Notice to Airmen. The effective days and times will thereafter be
continuously published in the Chart Supplement.

Paragraph 6002 Class E Surface Area Airspace.

* * * * *

AEA PA E2 Erie, PA [Amended]

Erie International Airport/Tom Ridge Field, PA
    (Lat. 42[deg]04'59'' N, long. 80[deg]10'26'' W)
Erie VORTAC
    (Lat. 42[deg]01'03'' N, long. 80[deg]17'34'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface within a 4.2-
mile radius of Erie International Airport/Tom Ridge Field. This
Class E airspace area is effective during the specific days and
times established in advance by a Notice to Airmen. The effective
days and times will thereafter be continuously published in the
Chart Supplement.

Paragraph 6004 Class E Airspace Designated as an Extension to a
Class D Surface Area.

* * * * *

AEA PA E4 Erie, PA [Amended]

Erie International Airport/Tom Ridge Field, PA
    (Lat. 42[deg]04'59'' N, long. 80[deg]10'26'' W)
Erie VORTAC
    (Lat. 42[deg]01'03'' N, long. 80[deg]17'34'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from the surface extending
northeast of the Erie International Airport/Tom Ridge Field 4.2-mile
radius from within 4 miles northwest of the Erie VORTAC 054[deg]
radial to 3.5 miles southeast of the Erie ILS localizer northeast
course then extending southwest from a point located along the Erie
localizer northeast course 9.2 miles NE of lat. 42[deg]07'30'' N,
long. 80[deg]05'36'' W, to the 4.2-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 Airmen.

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

* * * * *

AEA PA E5 Erie, PA [Amended]

Erie International Airport/Tom Ridge Field, PA
    (Lat. 42[deg]04'59'' N, long. 80[deg]10'26'' W)
St. Vincent Health Center Heliport, PA
    (Lat. 42[deg]06'43'' N, long. 80[deg]04'51'' W)

    That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface
within a 6.7-mile radius of Erie International Airport/Tom Ridge
Field, and within 4.4 miles each side of the 054[deg] bearing from
the airport extending from the 6.7-mile radius to 14 miles northeast
of the airport and within a 6-mile radius of St. Vincent Health
Center Heliport.

    Issued in College Park, Georgia, on February 14, 2018.
Ryan W. Almasy,
Manager, Operations Support Group, Eastern Service Center, Air Traffic
Organization.
[FR Doc. 2018-03655 Filed 2-23-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P