Overview
Title
Amendment of Class E Airspace; El Dorado, AR
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The FAA has made some changes to the airspace rules near an airport in El Dorado, Arkansas, to keep everyone safe when planes are flying. They updated some names and map info to match their database, and they say these changes won't cost a lot of money and aren't harmful to the environment.
Summary AI
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a final rule amending the Class E airspace at South Arkansas Regional Airport at Goodwin Field in El Dorado, Arkansas. This update involves changes to the geographic coordinates and name of the airport and the El Dorado VOR/DME to match the FAA's aeronautical database. The amendment is meant to support IFR operations and ensure safety and efficiency. The FAA determined that the changes do not have significant economic impacts and qualify for a categorical exclusion from an environmental review.
Abstract
This action amends the Class E airspace at El Dorado, AR. This action is the result of an airspace review conducted due to the development of new instrument procedures. The geographic coordinates and name of the airport and the name of the El Dorado VOR/DME are also being updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database. This action brings the airspace into compliance with FAA orders and support instrument flight rule (IFR) procedures and operations.
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
The document in question announces a final rule from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) concerning changes to the Class E airspace at the South Arkansas Regional Airport, Goodwin Field, in El Dorado, Arkansas. This rule arises from an airspace review and aims to accommodate new instrument procedures for airplanes. It also updates the airport's and VOR/DME's names and geographic coordinates to align with the FAA's official aeronautical database, which serves to support safe and efficient Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) operations.
Summary of the Document
The FAA's new rule updates the airspace designation around El Dorado, Arkansas. It clarifies the bounds of this airspace by altering specific legal descriptions and geographic references. The purpose of these revisions is to improve navigational precision and safety for IFR operations, which are essential for flight in poor weather conditions when pilots rely on instruments rather than visual cues. Essentially, the changes are routine adjustments to keep aeronautical information current and accurate.
Significant Issues and Concerns
The document contains specialized language that may be inaccessible to those without a background in aviation. Terms like "bearing" and "radial" are specific to aviation navigation and might perplex a broader audience. Additionally, references to FAA orders and regulations could seem opaque as they assume familiarity with these regulatory documents. This can be a barrier for members of the public trying to understand how these changes might affect them or aviation operations.
Another concern is the lack of financial insight. While the document states that the rule changes are not anticipated to have significant economic impacts, there is no detailed analysis provided to substantiate this claim. Transparency in potential costs or savings would be beneficial for public understanding.
Broad Public Impact
For the general public, the rule changes are unlikely to have any direct, noticeable impact on daily life. However, they play a vital role in maintaining the safety and reliability of aviation operations over the long term. By ensuring that airspace regulations are precise and contemporary, the FAA helps protect both people on the ground and those in the air.
Specific Stakeholder Impact
Pilots and aviation personnel operating within or near El Dorado, Arkansas, will see the practical effects of these updates. For them, clearer navigation instructions and updated procedures can enhance safety and operational efficiency. Airlines or companies involved in aviation operations in this region may find that the updated air routes and procedures reflect best practices, potentially reducing the likelihood of delays or misunderstandings in airspace management.
On the downside, small airports or aviation businesses in the El Dorado area might incur costs related to updating their infrastructure or training materials to reflect the new procedures. However, the FAA indicates that these changes are routine and not expected to impose new significant burdens.
Overall, while these technical adjustments may seem minor, they are crucial for ensuring that air travel remains safe and orderly within the national airspace system.
Issues
• The document contains highly technical language and references to specific FAA orders and regulations, which might be difficult for the general public to understand without specialized knowledge in aviation and regulatory procedures.
• The use of terms like 'bearing' and 'radial' may be confusing for readers not familiar with aviation terminology, even though they are corrected from the NPRM to align with current FAA definitions.
• No clear mention of the financial implications or costs associated with the amendments to Class E airspace is provided, which might be useful to understand if there is any taxpayer impact or cost-benefit consideration.
• The document references FAA orders and documents by their codes (e.g., JO 7400.11J) without providing further explanation or context, assuming a certain level of prior knowledge about these documents.
• The document states that the change will not have a significant impact on small entities, but it does not provide detailed data or analysis supporting this claim, which could be helpful for better transparency.
• The document includes reference to specific geographic coordinates, which are precise but could be challenging to interpret without access to relevant maps or digital tools.