FAA Redraws Airspace Over North Carolina's Hickory Skies
Published Date: 5/22/2025
Proposed Rule
Summary
Hickory and Morganton airports are getting bigger and better airspace zones to keep flights safe and smooth. The changes expand the flying areas around these airports and update some details like names and locations. Pilots and travelers will benefit from safer skies, with no extra costs or delays expected.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Hickory airspace expanded and extended
If you fly to or from Hickory Regional Airport, the controlled airspace around the airport is being enlarged: the Class D and Class E surface area radius is increased to 4.6 miles and an extension to the surface area is being added, and the Class E area from 700 feet is being increased to a 7.1-mile radius with an added extension. These changes are due to new instrument approach procedures and runway configuration changes and are intended to improve safety for instrument flight rules (IFR) operations; pilots and travelers are expected to benefit with no extra costs or delays expected.
Morganton (Foothills) airspace and chart updates
Foothills Regional Airport in Morganton will have its Class E airspace (extending upward from 700 feet) amended to ensure protection for standard instrument approach procedures. The rule also updates the airport's name and geographic coordinates in the description and removes 'Grace Hospital' from the airport description. These changes are intended to support safe IFR operations for pilots and travelers.
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Key Dates
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