FAA Reshuffles Airspace After Army Tower Shuts Down in Maryland
Published Date: 6/2/2025
Rule
Summary
Phillips Army Airfield in Aberdeen, MD is changing its airspace rules because its control tower closed. They’re removing some old airspace zones and creating a new one to keep flights safe, especially for pilots flying by instruments. These updates also adjust nearby airspace after a navigation beacon was turned off, with no extra costs or delays expected.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Airspace Reclassified After Tower Closure
The FAA is removing Class D and Class E4 airspace at Phillips Army Airfield in Aberdeen, MD because the air traffic control tower closed. At the same time, the FAA is establishing Class E2 airspace that starts at the surface to provide the required controlled airspace for Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at Phillips AAF.
Navigation Beacon Removed; Approach Canceled
The FAA is amending Class E5 airspace around Phillips AAF to account for the decommissioning of the Aberdeen non‑directional radio beacon (NDB). The amendment also reflects cancellation of the instrument approach procedures that relied on that Aberdeen NDB.
No Expected Costs or Delays
The rule states that these airspace updates are made to keep flights safe and that no extra costs or delays are expected as a result of the changes. The FAA frames the actions as safety and airspace-management updates for existing instrument approaches.
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