Transportation Department, Federal Aviation Administration
The FAA, in cooperation with the United States Air Force, is announcing the commencement of the ATAAPS EA for the proposed Anchorage terminal airspace redesign. ATAAPS involves changes to the airspace, aircraft flight paths, and aircraft altitudes in the Anchorage basin and surrounding areas. The EA will evaluate the potential environmental impacts of the proposed airspace redesign (Proposed Action) and alternatives, including the No Action alternative. The FAA has not made a final decision on any airspace/procedure amendments related to the Proposed Action. The FAA is currently establishing a timeline for the EA. Project updates will be posted to the FAA ATAAPS web page at: https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ara/ alaskan_region/ataaps. This project would increase safety and improve efficiency of the National Airspace System (NAS) and homeland defense capabilities, by optimizing aircraft arrival and departure procedures that serve multiple airports--specifically in the Anchorage basin and surrounding areas--including: Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC), Elmendorf Air Force Base Airport (EDF), Bryant Army Airfield Airport (FRN), Lake Hood Airport (LHD), and Merrill Field Airport (MRI). As a critical strategic gateway for homeland defense, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER) is currently restricted to operating below the facility's intended capacity and fleet mix until surrounding airspace is officially modified. The Instrument Landing System (ILS) for Runway 17 is integral to improving JBER operations and cannot become operational under the current airspace design. (JBER runway designations are currently 16/34 and 06/24, but will be updated due to Magnetic Variation changes to Runways 17/35 and 07/25 before completion of the EA.) The FAA is initiating this EA and will engage the public, government agencies, and tribes as appropriate.
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 [FAA-2026-7459] AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of Transportation. ( printed page 43724) ACTION: Notice of Intent (NOI) for the Commencement of the Anchorage Terminal Area Airspace and Procedures Study (ATAAPS) Environmental Assessment (EA) UIN EAXX-021-12-WSC-1768398367. SUMMARY: The FAA, in cooperation with the United States Air Force, is announcing the commencement of the ATAAPS EA for the proposed Anchorage terminal airspace redesign. ATAAPS involves changes to the airspace, aircraft flight paths, and aircraft altitudes in the Anchorage basin and surrounding areas. The EA will evaluate the potential environmental impacts of the proposed airspace redesign (Proposed Action) and alternatives, including the No Action alternative. The FAA has not made a final decision on any airspace/procedure amendments related to the Proposed Action. The FAA is currently establishing a timeline for the EA. Project updates will be posted to the FAA ATAAPS web page at: https://www.faa.gov/​about/​office_​org/​headquarters_​offices/​ara/​alaskan_​region/​ataaps . This project would increase safety and improve efficiency of the National Airspace System (NAS) and homeland defense capabilities, by optimizing aircraft arrival and departure procedures that serve multiple airports—specifically in the Anchorage basin and surrounding areas—including: T…
Citation: 91 FR 43723
