Proposed Amendment and Establishment of Class D and Class E Airspace; Columbus, GA

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION:

Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

SUMMARY:

This action proposes to amend Class D airspace, Class E surface area, and Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface for Columbus Airport and Lawson Army Air Field (AAF), Fort Benning, Columbus, GA. This action would merge Columbus Airport and Lawson AAF (Fort Benning) Class D airspace and Class E surface area airspace into one header under FAA Order JO 7400.11 and removes the header Columbus Lawson AAF under FAA Order JO 7400.11. The Columbus Airport's Class D airspace would be amended by updating the name of Columbus Airport, formerly Columbus Metropolitan Airport, and updating the name of Lawson Army Airfield (Fort Benning), formerly Columbus Lawson AAF; the Lawson AAF (Fort Benning) Class D would be amended by establishing an extension to the southeast. This action would establish Class E airspace designated as an extension to a Class D surface area for Columbus Airport, Columbus, GA. The Columbus Airport Class E surface area extension would be eliminated, and Lawson AAF (Fort Benning) Class E surface area would be amended by establishing an extension to the southeast. Columbus Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface and Lawson AAF (Fort Benning) Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface would be amended by increasing the radii and removing the Lawson Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range with Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) and Lawson Localizer (LOC) from the description. This action would also make an editorial change replacing the term Airport/Facility Directory with the term Chart Supplement in the legal descriptions of associated Class D and Class E surface area. In addition, this action would also update the geographic coordinates of the Lawson AAF (Fort Benning) to coincide with the FAA's database. Controlled airspace is necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations in the area.

DATES:

Comments must be received on or before December 9, 2021.

ADDRESSES:

Send comments on this proposal to: The U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001; Telephone: (800) 647-5527, or (202) 366-9826. You must identify the Docket No. FAA-2021-0589; Airspace Docket No. 21-ASO-23, at the beginning of your comments. You may also submit comments through the internet at https://www.regulations.gov.

FAA Order JO 7400.11F Airspace Designations and Reporting Points and subsequent amendments can be viewed online at https://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 JO 7400.11F at NARA, email fr.inspection@nara.gov or go to https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

John Goodson, Operations Support Group, Eastern Service Center, Federal Aviation Administration, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337; Telephone (404) 305-5966.

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 airspace, Class E airspace, and establish Class E airspace in Columbus, GA, to support IFR operations in the area.

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-2021-0589 and Airspace Docket No. 21-ASO-23) 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 https://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-2021-0589; Airspace Docket No. 21-ASO-23.” 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 https://www.regulations.gov. Recently published rulemaking documents can also be accessed through the FAA's web page at https://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 JO 7400.11F, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 10, 2021, and effective September 15, 2021. FAA Order JO 7400.11F is publicly available as listed in the ADDRESSES section of this document. FAA Order JO 7400.11F lists Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and reporting points.

The Proposal

The FAA proposes an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 to amend Class D, Class E surface area, and Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Columbus Airport, Columbus, GA and Lawson AAF (Fort Benning), Columbus, GA. This action would merge Columbus Airport and Lawson AAF (Fort Benning) Class D airspace and Class E surface area airspace into one header under FAA Order JO 7400.11, and removes the header Columbus Lawson AAF under FAA Order JO 7400.11. This action would also establish Class E airspace designated as an extension to a Class D surface area at Columbus Airport, Columbus, GA. The Columbus Airport Class D would be amended by eliminating the extension to the southwest and updating the name to Columbus Airport (previously Columbus Metropolitan Airport). This action would also make the editorial change replacing the term Airport/Facility Directory with the term Chart Supplement in the legal description.

The Lawson AAF (Fort Benning) Class D would be amended by establishing an extension within 1.0 mile each side of the 145° bearing from the AAF extending from the 5.2-mile radius to 6.8 miles southeast of the AAF, and updating the name to Lawson AAF (Fort Benning), previously Columbus Lawson AAF. This action would also make the editorial change replacing the term Airport/Facility Directory with the term Chart Supplement in the legal description. In addition, this action would also update the geographic coordinates to coincide with the FAA's database.

The Columbus Airport Class E surface area would be amended by eliminating the extension to the southwest. This action would also make the editorial change replacing the term Airport/Facility Directory with the term Chart Supplement in the legal description.

The Lawson AAF (Fort Benning) Class E surface area would be amended by establishing an extension within 1.0 mile each side of the 145° bearing from the AAF extending from the 5.2-mile radius to 6.8 miles southeast of the AAF. This action would also make an editorial change replacing the term Airport/Facility Directory with the term Chart Supplement in the legal description. In addition, this action would also update the geographic coordinates to coincide with the FAA's database.

The Columbus, GA Class E airspace designated as an extension to a Class D surface area at for Columbus Airport would be established by adding that airspace extending upward from the surface within 1 mile each side of the 234° bearing from the airport extending from the 4.4-mile radius to 7.1 miles southwest of the airport.

The Columbus, GA Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface would be amended by increasing the radius of Columbus Airport to 9.6 miles, previously 6.8 miles, and eliminating the extension to the southeast.

The Lawson AAF (Fort Benning) Class E airspace radius would increase to 9.3 miles, (previously 7.6 miles), eliminating the Lawson VOR/DME and Lawson LOC from the description, adding the airspace within 3.8 miles each side of Lawson AAF (Fort Benning) 341° bearing from the AAF extending from the 9.3-mile radius to 15.2 miles northwest of the AAF, and 4.1 miles each side of the Lawson AAF (Fort Benning) 145° bearing from the AAF extending from the 9.3-mile radius to 10.6 miles southeast of the AAF.

Class D and E airspace designations are published in Paragraphs 5000, 6002, 6004, and 6005, respectively, of FAA Order JO 7400.11F, dated August 10, 2021, and effective September 15, 2021, 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.

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 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

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.

2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of Federal Aviation Administration Order 7400.11F, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 10, 2021, and effective September 15, 2021, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 5000 Class D Airspace.

ASO GA D Columbus, GA [Amended]

Columbus Airport

(Lat 32°30′59″ N, long. 84°56′20″ W)

Lawson AAF (Fort Benning), GA

(Lat. 32°19′54″ N, long. 84°59′14″ W)

That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including 2,900 feet MSL within a 4.4-mile radius of the Columbus Airport; and that airspace extending upward from the surface to and including 2,700 feet MSL within a 5.2-mile radius of Lawson Army Airfield (AAF) and that airspace within 1 mile each side of the 145° bearing from the AAF extending from the 5.2-mile radius to 6.8 miles southeast of the AAF. This Class D airspace is effective during the specific dates and times established in advance by a Notice to Airmen. The effective date and time will thereafter be continuously published in the Chart Supplement.

Paragraph 6002 Class E Surface Airspace.

ASO GA E2 Columbus, GA [Amended]

Columbus Airport

(Lat 32°30′59″ N, long. 84°56′20″ W)

Lawson AAF (Fort Benning), GA

(Lat. 32°19′54″ N, long. 84°59′14″ W)

That airspace extending upward from the surface within a 4.4-mile radius of Columbus Airport; and that airspace within a 5.2-mile radius of Lawson AAF (Fort Benning) and that airspace within 1 mile each side of the 145° bearing from the AAF extending from the 5.2-mile radius to 6.8 miles southeast of the AAF. This Class E airspace area is effective during the specific dates and times established in advance by a Notice to Airmen.The effective date and time will thereafter be continuously published in the Chart Supplement.

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

ASO GA E4 Columbus, GA [New]

Columbus Airport, GA

(Lat 32°30′59″ N, long. 84°56′20″ W)

That airspace extending upward from the surface within 1 mile each side of the 234° bearing from the airport extending from the 4.4-mile radius to 7.1 miles southwest of the airport.

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

ASO GA E5 Columbus, GA [Amended]

Columbus Airport, GA

(Lat 32°30′59″ N, long. 84°56′20″ W)

Lawson AAF (Fort Benning), GA

(Lat. 32°19′54″ N, long. 84°59′14″ W)

That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface within a 9.6-mile radius of Columbus Airport; and within a 9.3-mile radius of Lawson AAF (Fort Benning), and within 3.8 miles each side of Lawson AAF (Fort Benning) 341° bearing from the AAF extending from the 9.3-mile radius to 15.2 miles northwest of the AAF, and 4.1 miles each side of the Lawson AAF (Fort Benning) 145° bearing from the AAF extending from the 9.3-mile radius to 10.6 miles southeast of the AAF.