FAA Tweaks Skies Over Mineral Wells After Beacon Retirement
Published Date: 3/7/2025
Proposed Rule
Summary
The FAA wants to update the airspace rules around Mineral Wells, TX because they’re retiring an old navigation beacon and need to fix airport coordinates and names. This helps pilots fly safely using instruments and keeps everything up to date. If you have thoughts, speak up by April 21, 2025—no costs or big changes for the public, just smoother skies!
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Surface Class E airspace slightly expanded
The FAA proposes to expand the Class E surface airspace at Mineral Wells Regional Airport from a 4.0-mile radius to a 4.3-mile radius and to update the airport name to Mineral Wells Regional Airport. The proposal also removes the Mineral Wells non-directional beacon (NDB) from the airspace legal description and lists the airport coordinates as Lat. 32°46'54" N, Long. 98°03'37" W.
Higher Class E airspace extended and refined
The FAA proposes to extend the Class E airspace that begins at 700 feet above the surface from a 6.5-mile radius to a 6.8-mile radius of Mineral Wells Regional Airport and to add an extension within 2.5 miles each side of the 316° bearing from the Millsap VORTAC extending from the 6.8-mile radius to 7.0 miles southeast of the Millsap VORTAC. The proposal also updates the Millsap VORTAC coordinates to Lat. 32°43'34" N, Long. 97°59'51" W and repeats the airport coordinates as Lat. 32°46'54" N, Long. 98°03'37" W.
FAA finds minimal economic impact on small entities
The FAA states this proposed amendment is routine and will only affect air traffic procedures and air navigation, and it certifies the proposal will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities under the Regulatory Flexibility Act. The FAA also says the anticipated impact is minimal and the rule is not a "significant regulatory action."
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Key Dates
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