2025-13863

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-2023-2371; Airspace Docket No. 22-ANM-42] • RIN 2120-AA66 ( printed page 34593) AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: This action establishes restricted area R-4601 in the vicinity of Townsend, MT. The new restricted area will provide the Montana Army National Guard (MTARNG) and the 40th Helicopter Squadron with the ability to conduct aerial gunnery training in the Limestone Hills Training Area (LHTA). DATES: Effective date 0901 UTC, October 2, 2025. ADDRESSES: A copy of the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), all comments received, this final rule, and all background material may be viewed online at www.regulations.gov using the FAA Docket number. Electronic retrieval help and guidelines are available on the website. It is available 24 hours each day, 365 days each year. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steven Roff, Rules and Regulations Group, Policy Directorate, Federal Aviation Administration, 600 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20597; 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 as it increases the safety of aircraft by segregating non-participants from hazardous activities. History The FAA published a NPRM for Docket No. FAA 2023-2371 in the Federal Register (88 FR 88288; December 21, 2023), proposing to establish special use airspace (SUA) near Townsend, MT. The FAA received 18 comments that addressed several areas of concern. Multiple commenters expressed concern that the restricted area would impose a significant adverse impact on local flying especially during periods of inclement weather. Additionally, they contend that there is other airspace within the state of Montana that can be used in lieu of establishing new restricted airspace. They specifically mentioned the Powder and Hays Military Operations Areas (MOA) in the state of Montana. As reported by a local pilot and airport manager, the majority of the visual flight rules (VFR) traffic moving through the Townsend area fly down the middle of the valley (over the river and/or over U.S. Route 287 and the railroad tracks). The proposed R-4601 does not overlie the river, highway, or railroad tracks. The Limestone Hills Training Area is easily identifiable west of U.S. Route 287, leaving adequate space to navigate through the valley. The use of R-4601 during inclement weather would be highly unlikely as the type of training to be conducted requires visual meteorological conditions (VMC). Flight crews will not risk flying and training during marginal weather. Also, flight crews are precluded from conducting training in instrument meteorologi…

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