2022-20577

Document Headings Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following: • the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document • the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to • the agency docket number / agency internal file number • the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration • 14 CFR Part 73 • [Docket No. FAA-2022-1116; Airspace Docket No. 22-ANE-5] • RIN 2120-AA66 AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: This action modifies restricted areas R-6501A and R-6501B, Underhill, VT, by amending the upper altitude limit of R-6501A and the lower altitude limit of R-6501B. Certain military activities near Underhill, VT, require restricted airspace that exceeds the current 4,000-foot mean sea level (MSL) upper altitude limit of R-6501A. As a result, R-6501B must be activated, along with R-6501A, to ensure containment of the hazardous activity. Raising the upper altitude limit of R-6501A from 4,000 feet MSL to but not including 4,900 feet MSL and the lower altitude limit of R-6501B from 4,000 feet MSL to 4,900 feet MSL, will result in more efficient use of airspace by reducing the need to activate R-6501B. This modification is fully contained within the existing lateral and vertical limits of R-6501A and B. The activities conducted in these restricted airspace areas are unchanged. DATES: Effective date 0901 UTC, December 29, 2022. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Gallant, Rules and Regulations Group, Office of Policy, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267-8783. 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 the airspace necessary to ensure the safety of aircraft and the efficient use of airspace. This regulation is within the scope of that authority since it adjusts the upper altitude limit of R-6501A, and the lower altitude limit of R-6501B, to enable more efficient use of airspace. Background Restricted area R-6501A, Underhill, VT, extends from the surface to 4,000 feet MSL. The time of designation for the area is: “From 0700 to 2300 local time, Monday-Friday; 0000 Saturday to 2359 Sunday; and other times by NOTAM issued 24 hours in advance.” Restricted area R-6501B directly overlies R-6501A and shares the same lateral boundaries. R-6501B extends from 4,000 feet MSL to 13,600 feet MSL. The time of designation is: “Intermittent by NOTAM 24 hours in advance.” Currently, the altitude that separates the two areas is 4,000 feet MSL. The issue is that the 4,000 feet MSL ceiling of R-6501A is not sufficient to safely contain most activities being conducted. This requires that R-6501B also be activated along with R-6501A. However, the activation of R-6501B restricts the airspace all the way up to 13,600 feet MSL, even though the majority of R-6501B is not needed for certain operations. Raising the upper altitude limit of R-6501A from 4,000 feet MSL to “to but not including 4,900 feet MSL”; and the lower altitude limit of R-6501B from 4,000 feet MSL to “4,900 feet MSL” will eliminate the need to frequently activate R-6501B. This will make more airspace available for Air Traffic Control (ATC) and general aviation use. To provide for more efficient use of airspace, the FAA and the using agency agr…

Fonte: Federal Register (federalregister.gov). Texto original em inglês. Conteúdo sanitizado por segurança.