Michigan Airspace Tweaked for Outdated Beacon Shutdown
Published Date: 12/8/2025
Proposed Rule
Summary
The FAA wants to update the airspace rules around Southwest Michigan Regional Airport in Benton Harbor, MI, because a nearby navigation beacon was turned off. This change will help pilots fly safely using instruments and keep the airport info current. If you have thoughts, speak up by January 22, 2026—no costs or hassles for the public are expected.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Surface Airspace Radius Increase
The FAA proposes to increase the Class E surface airspace around Southwest Michigan Regional Airport from a 4.2-mile radius to a 4.5-mile radius. The change is part of an airspace review after the Keeler VOR was decommissioned and is intended to support instrument flight rule (IFR) procedures and safety.
700-ft Airspace Expansion and Extensions
The FAA proposes to change the Class E airspace that starts at 700 feet above the surface by increasing the radius from 6.5 miles to 7 miles and adding two eastbound extensions: one within 3.7 miles each side of the 090° bearing from the RWY 28 localizer from the 7-mile radius to 9.3 miles east, and another within 2 miles each side of the 090° bearing from the airport from the 7-mile radius to 11.5 miles east. These changes are part of the airspace review following the Keeler VOR decommissioning and support IFR operations.
Airport Name and Chart Updates
The proposal updates the airport name from 'Ross-Field-Twin Cities Airport' to 'Southwest Michigan Regional Airport' and updates the airport geographic coordinates to match the FAA's aeronautical database. The proposal also removes the city from the airspace legal description header and replaces the term 'Airport/Facility Directory' with 'Chart Supplement' in the legal text.
FAA Expects Minimal Economic Impact
The FAA states this is a routine technical amendment and is not a 'significant regulatory action' under Executive Order 12866. The FAA also certifies the proposal will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities and expects minimal impact and no costs or hassles for the public.
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