Establishment of Class D Airspace; Griffiss Airpark, Rome, NY

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION:

Notice of proposed rulemaking.

SUMMARY:

This action proposes to establish Class D airspace at Griffiss Airfield (RME), Rome, NY. The commissioning of an Airport Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) to serve flights operating at Griffiss Airpark and to accommodate flights operating under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) makes this action necessary. Controlled airspace extending upward from the surface is needed to contain aircraft operations at the airport. The area would be depicted on aeronautical charts for pilot reference.

DATES:

Comments must be received on or before October 28, 2002.

ADDRESSES:

Send comments on the proposal in triplicate to: Manager, Airspace Branch, AEA-520, Docket No. 02-AEA-13, FAA Eastern Region, 1 Aviation Plaza, Jamaica, NY, 11434-4809.

The official docket may be examined in the Office of the Regional Counsel, AEA-7, FAA Eastern Region, 1 Aviation Plaza, Jamaica, NY, 11434-4809.

An informal docket may also be examined during normal business hours in the Airspace Branch, AEA-520, FAA Eastern Region, 1 Aviation Plaza, Jamaica, NY, 11434-4809.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mr. Francis T. Jordan, Jr., Airspace Specialist, Airspace Branch, AEA-520 FAA Eastern Region, 1 Aviation Plaza, Jamaica, NY, 11434-4809: telephone: (718) 553-4521.

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, economic, environmental, and energy-related aspects of the proposal. Communications should identify the airspace docket number and be submitted in triplicate to the address listed above. Commenters 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 Airspace Docket No. 02-AEA-13”. The postcard will be date/time stamped and returned to the commenter. All communications received on or before the 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 comments received. All comments submitted will be available for examination in the Rules Docket closing both before and after the closing date for comments. A report summarizing each substantive public contact with the FAA personnel concerned with this rulemaking will be filed in the docket.

Availability of NPRMs

Any person may obtain a copy of this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) by submitting a request to the Office of the Regional Counsel, AEA-7, FAA Eastern Region, 1 Aviation Plaza, Jamaica, NY, 11434-4809. Communications must identify the docket number of this NPRM. Persons interested in being placed on a mailing list for future NPRMs should also request a copy of Advisory Circular No. 11-2A, which describes the application procedure.

The Proposal

The FAA is considering an amendment to Part 71 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR Part 71) to establish Class D airspace area at Griffiss Airpark, Rome, NY. The commissioning of an Airport Traffic Control Tower to serve the airport and control flights operating IFR to and from the airport makes this action necessary. Controlled airspace extending upward from the surface is needed to accommodate the airport traffic and IFR operations. Class D airspace designations for airspace areas extending upward from the surface of the earth are published in Paragraph 5000 of FAA Order 7400.9J, dated August 31, 2001, and effective September 16, 2001, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1. The Class D airspace designation listed in this document would be published subsequently in the Order.

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. Therefore, this proposed regulation—(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 would only affect air traffic procedures and air navigation, it is certified that this proposed rule would not have significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

List 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—[AMENDED]

1. The authority citation for 14 CFR Part 71 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40103, 40113, 40120; EO 10854, 24 FR 9565, 3 CFR, 1959-1963 Comp., p. 389.