# [Amended]
**AGENCY:**
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
**ACTION:**
Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
**SUMMARY:**
This action proposes to modify the Class D and Class E airspace designated as a surface area at McClellan-Palomar Airport, Carlsbad, CA. Additionally, this action proposes administrative amendments to update the airport's existing Class D and Class E airspace legal descriptions. These actions would support the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) and visual flight rules (VFR) operations at the airport.
**DATES:**
Comments must be received on or before April 15, 2024.
**ADDRESSES:**
Send comments identified by FAA Docket No. FAA-2023-0786 and Airspace Docket No. 22-AWP-77 using any of the following methods:
* *Federal eRulemaking Portal:* Go to *www.regulations.gov* and follow the online instructions for sending your comments electronically.
* *Mail:* Send comments to Docket Operations, M-30; U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Room W12-140, West Building Ground Floor, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
* *Hand Delivery or Courier:* Take comments to Docket Operations in Room W12-140 of the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
* *Fax:* Fax comments to Docket Operations at (202) 493-2251.
*Docket:* Background documents or comments received may be read at *www.regulations.gov* at any time. Follow the online instructions for accessing the docket or go to the Docket Operations in Room W12-140 of the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
FAA Order JO 7400.11H, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, and subsequent amendments can be viewed online at *www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/.* You may also contact the Rules and Regulations Group, Office of Policy, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW, Washington DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267-8783.
**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:**
Jeffery Drasin, Federal Aviation Administration, Western Service Center, Operations Support Group, 2200 S 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone (206) 231-2248.
**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 would modify Class D and Class E airspace to support both IFR and VFR operations at McClellan-Palomar Airport, Carlsbad, CA.
**Comments Invited**
The FAA invites interested persons to participate in this rulemaking by submitting written comments, data, or views. Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory, aeronautical, economic, environmental, and energy-related aspects of the proposal. The most helpful comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. To ensure the docket does not contain duplicate comments, commenters should submit only one time if comments are filed electronically, or commenters should send only one copy of written comments if comments are filed in writing.
The FAA will file in the docket all comments it receives, as well as a report summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA personnel concerning this proposed rulemaking. Before acting on this proposal, the FAA will consider all comments it receives on or before the closing date for comments. The FAA will consider comments filed after the comment period has closed if it is possible to do so without incurring expense or delay. The FAA may change this proposal in light of the comments it receives.
*Privacy:* In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits comments from the public to better inform its rulemaking process. DOT posts these comments, without edit, including any personal information the commenter provides, to *www.regulations.gov,* as described in the system of records notice (DOT/ALL-14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at *www.dot.gov/privacy.*
**Availability of Rulemaking Documents**
An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded through the internet at *www.regulations.gov.* Recently published rulemaking documents can also be accessed through the FAA's web page at *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 Operations office (see *ADDRESSES* section for address, phone number, and hours of operations). An informal docket may also be examined during normal business hours at the Northwest Mountain Regional Office of the Federal Aviation Administration, Air Traffic Organization, Western Service Center, Operations Support Group, 2200 S 216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198.
**Incorporation by Reference**
Class D and Class E4 airspace designations are published in paragraphs 5000 and 6004, respectively, of FAA Order JO 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 on an annual basis. This document proposes to amend the current version of that order, FAA Order JO 7400.11H, dated August 11, 2023, and effective September 15, 2023. These updates would be published in the next update to FAA Order JO 7400.11. That order is publicly available as listed in the *ADDRESSES* section of this document.
FAA Order JO 7400.11H lists Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and reporting points.
**The Proposal**
The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 that would modify the Class D and Class E airspace designated as a surface area at McClellan-Palomar Airport, Carlsbad, CA.
The existing Class D surface area is comprised of a 3-mile radius around the airport. This area should be modified to include a small extension centered on the airport's 259° bearing extending .3 miles beyond the existing radius to better contain arriving IFR operations below 1,000 feet above the surface on the Area Navigation (RNAV) (Global Positioning System [GPS]) Y Runway (RWY) 6 and RNAV (Required Navigation Performance [RNP]) Z RWY 6 approach procedures.
The existing Class E surface area extension east of the airport should be realigned from the Palomar RWY 24 localizer east course to the 079° bearing from the airport and lengthened .2 miles to better contain arriving IFR operations below 1,000 feet above the surface on the RNAV (GPS) Y RWY 24 approach. The existing Class E surface area extension to the northwest is excessive and should be realigned from the Oceanside (OCN) 134° radial to the 313° bearing from the airport and reduced in size from a width of 3.6 miles to 2.6 miles and from a length of 5.8 miles to 4.5 miles, as it only needs to contain the VOR-A procedure while between the surface and 1,000 feet above the surface.
Finally, the FAA proposes administrative modifications to the airport's legal descriptions. The airport name on line 2 of the text headers in both legal descriptions should be updated from “Carlsbad, McClellan-Palomar Airport, CA” to “McClellan-Palomar Airport, CA” to comply with FAA Order 7400.2. The geographic coordinates located on line 3 of the text headers should be updated to match the FAA's database, and both legal descriptions should be updated to replace the outdated use of the phrases “Notice to Airmen” and “Airport/Facility Directory.” These phrases should read “Notice to Air Missions” and “Chart Supplement,” respectively, to align with the FAA's current nomenclature.
**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.
**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—DESIGNATION OF CLASS A, B, C, D, AND E AIRSPACE AREAS; AIR TRAFFIC SERVICE ROUTES; AND REPORTING POINTS**
1. The authority citation for 14 CFR 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.
§ 71.1
2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of FAA Order JO 7400.11H, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 11, 2023, and effective September 15, 2023, is amended as follows:
**Paragraph 5000 Class D Airspace.**
**AWP CA D Carlsbad, CA [Amended]**
McClellan-Palomar Airport, CA
(Lat. 33°07′42″ N, long. 117°16′48″ W)
That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including 2,800 feet MSL within a 3-mile radius of McClellan-Palomar Airport and 1 mile each side of a 259° bearing from the airport extending from the 3-mile radius of the airport to 3.3 miles west of the airport. This Class D airspace area is effective during the specific dates and times established in advance by a Notice to Air Missions. The effective date and time will thereafter be continuously published in the Chart Supplement.
**Paragraph 6004 Class E Airspace Areas Designated as an Extension to a Class D or Class E Surface Area.**
**AWP CA E4 Carlsbad, CA [Amended]**
McClellan-Palomar Airport, CA
(Lat. 33°07′42″ N, long. 117°16′48″ W)
That airspace extending upward from the surface within 1.8 miles each side of the airport's 079° bearing extending from the 3-mile radius of the airport to 6.7 miles east of the airport and within 1.3 miles each side of the airport's 313° bearing extending from the 3-mile radius of the airport to 4.5 miles northwest of the airport. This Class E airspace area is effective during the specific dates and times established in advance by a Notice to Air Missions. The effective date and time will thereafter be continuously published in the Chart Supplement.
Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on February 23, 2023.
B.G. Chew,
Group Manager, Operations Support Group, Western Service Center