[Federal Register: October 25, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 206)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 62397-62398]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25oc06-9]
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Proposed Rules
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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[[Page 62397]]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 71
[Docket No. FAA-2006-25822; Airspace Docket No. 06-AWP-16]
RIN 2120-AA66
Proposed Revision of Class D Airspace; Mesa, AZ
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.
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SUMMARY: This action proposes to revise Class D airspace at Mesa, AZ,
Falcon Field Airport. The airspace would be modified to accommodate
general aviation pilots transitioning the Phoenix area as described in
the forthcoming proposed Phoenix Class B airspace redesign. Revising
the Falcon Field airspace will provide a wider corridor for general
aviation pilots to transition north and south beneath the proposed
Phoenix Class B airspace and remain west of the Falcon Field Airport
Class D airspace.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 11, 2006.
ADDRESSES: Send comments on this proposal to the Docket Management
System, U.S. Department of Transportation, Room Plaza 401, 400 Seventh
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001. You must identify the docket
number FAA-2006-25822; Airspace Docket No. 06-AWP-16, at the beginning
of your comments. You may also submit comments on the Internet at
http://dms.dot.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Francie Hope, Airspace Specialist,
Western Terminal Service Area, Federal Aviation Administration, 15000
Aviation Boulevard, Lawndale, California 90261; telephone (310) 725-
6502.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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 (FAA Docket No.
FAA-2006-25822 and Airspace Docket No. 06-AWP-16) and be submitted in
triplicate to the Docket Management System (see ADDRESSES section for
address and phone number). You may also submit comments through the
Internet at http://dms.dot.gov.
Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowlege 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-2006-25822 and Airspace Docket No. 06-AWP-16.''
The postcard will be date/time stamped and returned to the commenter.
All communications received on or before the specified closing date
for comments will be considered before taking action on the proposed
rule. The proposal contained in this action 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 closing date
for comments. 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://dms.dot.gov Recently published rulemaking documents can also be accessed through the FAA's Web page at http://www.faa.gov.
or the Federal Register's Web page at http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html
.
You may review the public docket containing the proposal, any
comments received, and any final disposition in person in the Dockets
Office (see ADDRESSES section for address and phone number) between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. An
informal docket may also be examined during normal business hours at
the office of the Western Terminal Service Area, Federal Aviation
Administration, 15000 Aviation Boulevard, Lawndale, California 90261.
Persons interested in being placed on a mailing list for future
NPRM's should contact the FAA's Office of Rulemaking, (202) 267-9677,
for a copy of Advisory Circular No. 11-2A, Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking Distribution System, which describes the application
procedure.
Background
Phoenix Class B airspace is in the process of being redesigned.
Assuming establishment of the redesign, the eastern boundaries of Class
B will change, resulting in an airspace area designated with a floor of
2,700 feet Mean Sea Level (MSL) between six nautical miles and
approximately 9.19 nautical miles east of Phoenix VORTAC.
Currently, the Mesa Falcon Field Class D airspace is within a 4.3
nautical mile radius of the Mesa Falcon Field Airport ARP (Airport
Reference Point) from the surface to less than 3,400 feet MSL. Class B
airspace with a floor of 3,000 feet MSL is captured between the visual
reference points of Dobson Road and Gilbert Road, excluding the Mesa
Falcon Field Class D airspace. Beneath this airspace area is a
suggested VFR flyway utilized by general aviation pilots to traverse
the Phoenix area at 2,500 feet MSL.
In the proposed Class B airspace redesign, much of the 3,000 feet
MSL airspace floor with change to 2,700 feet MSL. In order to provide
the widest possible corridor of airspace of general aviation use under
2,700 feet MSL, it is proposed that a western boundary of Mesa Falcon
Field Class D airspace be designated at Gilbert Road.
In addition to this available airspace below 2,700 feet MSL, the
proposed suggested VFR flyway utilized by general aviation will be
moved east of Gilbert Road over Mesa Falcon Field Class D airspace at
3,500 feet MSL, which will be below the Class B floor of 4,000 feet
MSL, thus providing a designated suggested VFR flyway as well as more
transition area for general aviation below the 2,700 feet MSL Class B
airspace.
[[Page 62398]]
The Proposal
The FAA is proposing an amendment to Title 14 Code of Federal
Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 to revise the Class D airspace area.
Utilizing a 6-nautical-mile Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) arc from
the Phoenix VORTAC eastward to Gilbert Road, the proposed Class B
airspace, in association with this proposed Class D airspace area
revision, would provide a similar general aviation airspace transition
area between approximately 3.17 and 5 nautical miles wide beneath its
floor of 2,700 feet MSL. This area encompasses a small portion of the
Mesa Falcon Field Airport Class D airspace area.
In order to accommodate general aviation transitioning north and
south below the proposed Class B airspace, and provide an eastern
visual boundary and the widest possible corridor of VFR airspace under
2,700 feet MSL between the 6-nautical-mile DME arc and Gilbert Road, it
is proposed to revise the Class D airspace to extend only as far west
as Gilbert Road; thus allowing aircraft to remain below Class B
airspace and outside and to the west of Class D airspace during its
hours of operation.
Class D airspace areas are published in Paragraph 5000 of FAA Order
7400.9P dated September 1, 2006, and effective September 15, 2006,
which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Class D airspace
designation listed in this document would be published subsequently in
this Order.
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;
AIRWAYS; ROUTES; AND REPORTING POINTS
1. The authority citation for part 71 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g); 40103, 40113, 40120; E.O. 10854, 24
FR 9565, 3 CFR, 1959-1963 Comp., 389.
Sec. 71.1 [Amended]
2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of Federal
Aviation Administration Order 7400.9P, Airspace Designations and
Reporting Points, dated September 1, 2006, and effective September 15,
2006, is amended as follows:
Paragraph 5000 Class D Airspace.
* * * * *
AWP AZ D Mesa, AZ [Revised]
Mesa, Falcon Field, AZ
(Lat. 33[deg]27'39'' N, long. 111[deg]43'42'' W)
That airspace extending upward from the surface to but not
including 3,400 feet MSL beginning at lat. 33[deg]24'38'' N, long.
111[deg]47'23'' W; then north to lat. 33[deg]30'40'' N, long.
111[deg]47'23'' W; then northeast, southeast, and southwest along a
4.3-mile radius of Falcon Field Airport, to lat. 33[deg]24'38'' N,
long. 111[deg]47'23'' W. This Class D 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 Airport/Facility Directory.
* * * * *
Issued in Los Angeles, California, on October 10, 2006.
Leonard A. Mobley,
Acting Director, Western Terminal Operations.
[FR Doc. 06-8848 Filed 10-24-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M