Section 6. Informal Airspace Meeting
2-6-1. PURPOSE
This section prescribes
the procedures to be followed for all notices of informal airspace meetings held
in advance of rulemaking/nonrulemaking airspace actions.
2-6-2. POLICY
a. It is the policy of the
FAA to hold, if at all practicable, informal airspace meetings to inform the
affected users of planned airspace changes. The purpose of these meetings is to
gather facts and information relevant to the planned rulemaking or nonrulemaking
action being studied.
b. Notwithstanding
paragraph 2-6-2.a.
informal airspace meetings must be held for any planned changes to Class B and
Class C airspace areas prior to issuing an NPRM.
2-6-3. CLASS B AND C
AIRSPACE AREAS NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES
a. The
regional/service area office must submit a draft notice of informal airspace
meetings to Airspace Regulations and ATC Procedures Group for processing and
publication in the Federal Register. The notice must describe the proposal in
sufficient detail, including charts, if necessary, to enable interested persons
to prepare comments prior to the meeting. The notice must identify the name and
address of the office where additional information can be obtained.
b. Airspace
Regulations and ATC Procedures Group will process and submit the notice for
publication in the Federal Register. For Class B airspace areas, the notice must
be published a maximum of 90 days, and a minimum of 60 days in advance of the
meeting.
c. For Class C
airspace areas, the notice must be published a maximum of 60 days, and a minimum
of 30 days in advance.
d. In addition to
the above, notices of informal airspace meetings must be sent to all known
licensed pilots, state aviation agencies, airport managers/operators, and
operators of parachute, sailplane, ultralight, and balloon clubs within a
100-mile radius of the primary airport for Class B airspace actions; and within
a 50-mile radius of the primary airport for Class C airspace actions.
e. Distribution of
these notices may be accomplished through the facilities of the Airmen
Certification Branch, AFS-760. The regional office should coordinate this
distribution with the regional Aviation Safety Program Manager. It should be
noted that AFS-760 needs a lead-time of 16 days from the receipt of material
until mailing. Sufficient lead-time must be provided to allow processing and
distribution in time to meet the above minimum advance notice requirements
(e.g., 60/30 days).
f. When known or
anticipated controversy warrants, the above procedures may also be used for
informal airspace meeting notices concerning obstruction evaluation, airport
airspace analysis, special use airspace, and the commissioning/decommissioning
of navigational aids.
2-6-4. OTHER AIRSPACE
ACTIONS
a. Every effort
must be made to notify all aviation organizations and/or persons that may be
affected by, or interested in, the planned action. The meeting notice must
explain that the purpose of the meeting is to solicit aeronautical comments on
the proposal's effect on the planned action.
b. The notice must
describe the planned action in sufficient detail, including charts if necessary,
to enable interested persons to prepare comments prior to the meeting. Notice of
the meeting should be distributed at least 30 days prior to the meeting date.
c. Regional/service
area offices are also encouraged to make use of electronic media, local
newspapers, radio, and television to supplement the dissemination of notices and
information.
2-6-5. LOCATION
Informal airspace
meetings should be held at times and locations that are most conducive for
gathering facts relative to the planned or proposed action under study. The
chairperson must represent the Regional Administrator. Each informal airspace
meeting should be numbered consecutively and dated (e.g., “Meeting No. 50,
February 15, 2000").
2-6-6. AGENDA ITEMS
Agenda items may be
included in the notice of informal airspace meeting or distributed separately.
Agendas may also include airspace matters of a rulemaking and/or nonrulemaking
nature. When not included in the notice of informal airspace meeting, they
should be distributed at least 15 days before the meeting. Agendas involving
Class B airspace proposals, must be distributed at least 30 days prior to the
meeting. Items concerning aeronautical studies not on the agenda should not be
discussed except when the chairperson considers them appropriate.
2-6-7. RECORD OF MEETINGS
a. Official
transcripts or minutes of informal airspace meetings must not be taken or
prepared. However, the chairperson must prepare a memorandum for each of the
discussed aeronautical study files listing attendees and a digest of the
discussions held.
b. Written
statements received from attendees during and after the informal airspace
meeting must also be included in the study files.
c. Forward one
copy of the memorandum to Airspace Regulations and ATC Procedures Group.
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