FR 2024-30531

Overview

Title

Modification of Class D and Class E Airspace; Revocation of Class E Airspace; Buckley Space Force Base, Aurora, CO

Agencies

ELI5 AI

The Federal Aviation Administration is changing the rules for the sky around Buckley Space Force Base in Colorado to make flying safer and easier. These changes mean some parts of the sky are getting bigger, some are going away, and all of this will start to happen on February 20, 2025.

Summary AI

The Federal Aviation Administration has updated the airspace around Buckley Space Force Base in Aurora, Colorado, to improve safety and flight management. The changes include expanding the boundaries of Class D and Class E airspace, removing some Class E airspace that is no longer needed, and updating the legal descriptions to match official records. These modifications will help better manage flights landing and taking off under both instrument and visual flight rules. The changes will be effective starting February 20, 2025.

Abstract

This action modifies the Class D airspace and Class E airspace designated as a surface area and revokes the Class E airspace designated as an extension to the Class D or Class E surface area at Buckley Space Force Base, Aurora, CO. Additionally, this action modifies the administrative portions of the airport's legal descriptions to match the FAA's database. These actions will support the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) and visual flight rules (VFR) operations at the airport.

Type: Rule
Citation: 89 FR 104405
Document #: 2024-30531
Date:
Volume: 89
Pages: 104405-104406

AnalysisAI

The document from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) outlines a set of changes to the airspace surrounding Buckley Space Force Base in Aurora, Colorado. This regulatory update aims to enhance both safety and efficiency for flights operating under instrument flight rules (IFR) and visual flight rules (VFR). The modifications involve extending certain boundaries of airspace, removing parts that are no longer deemed necessary, and updating legal descriptions to align with official FAA records. These changes are slated to take effect on February 20, 2025.

Summary

In an effort to improve airspace management, the FAA has decided to adjust the dimensions of Class D and Class E airspace around Buckley Space Force Base. The alterations include expanding airspace boundaries to better accommodate arriving and departing aircraft, particularly when they are operating close to the ground. Unneeded extensions of Class E airspace will be removed, streamlining the management of these zones. Additionally, the legal descriptors of this airspace are being updated to ensure consistency with the FAA’s existing records.

Significant Issues or Concerns

The primary concern with the document is its technical complexity. It relies heavily on specialized aviation terms, such as specific classes of airspace and geographical coordinates, which may be difficult for individuals without an aviation background to understand. The document also incorporates references to external FAA orders and regulatory notices, necessitating further consultation to fully grasp the nuances of the proposed changes. This could pose a barrier to those without easy access to such resources or the technical expertise needed to interpret them.

Public Impact

For the general public, the changes are largely procedural and are unlikely to have a direct impact on daily life. However, they emphasize the ongoing efforts of the FAA to maintain and improve air travel safety, which is indirectly beneficial to all air travelers. Ensuring that airspace is properly managed minimizes the risk of incidents and improves the flow of air traffic.

Impact on Specific Stakeholders

Positive Impacts

For airlines and pilots operating in and out of Buckley Space Force Base, the adjustments could mean more efficient flight operations. By expanding airspace boundaries, aircraft will have more room to ascend and descend, potentially reducing congestion and delays. These changes also improve safety margins, which benefits all parties involved in air traffic management.

Negative Impacts

The document does not suggest any explicit negative impacts. However, for those conducting operations around the affected airspace, there may be an adjustment period as pilots and operators acclimatize to the new airspace configurations and any associated changes in flight procedures.

In conclusion, while this document details technical regulatory adjustments, it is part of the FAA's routine updates to optimize airspace usage and enhance safety at Buckley Space Force Base. The changes are expected to be broadly positive for aviation operations in the area, even though the technical nature of the document might initially present comprehension challenges for the layperson.

Issues

  • • The document does not mention any specific spending, which means there is no immediate indication of wasteful spending or favoritism towards particular organizations or individuals.

  • • The language used is technical and may be difficult to understand for those not familiar with aviation regulations. Terms like 'Class D airspace,' 'Class E airspace,' and specific geographical coordinates may be unclear to the general public.

  • • The document outlines changes to airspace designations and legal descriptions with precise technical details that assume the reader has background knowledge in aviation regulations.

  • • The document assumes familiarity with specific FAA Orders and regulatory procedures without providing extensive explanations or context for those not already knowledgeable about these processes.

  • • The document includes references to documents and notices not contained within the text, requiring external consultation to fully understand the rule changes, which could be inconvenient for those without easy access to these resources.

Statistics

Size

Pages: 2
Words: 2,073
Sentences: 70
Entities: 227

Language

Nouns: 779
Verbs: 122
Adjectives: 70
Adverbs: 50
Numbers: 163

Complexity

Average Token Length:
4.36
Average Sentence Length:
29.61
Token Entropy:
5.40
Readability (ARI):
17.42

Reading Time

about 7 minutes