FAA redraws invisible sky boundaries over two North Carolina towns
Published Date: 6/10/2025
Proposed Rule
Summary
The FAA is updating the airspace rules around Hickory and Morganton, NC to make flying safer and smoother. They’re expanding the controlled airspace near Hickory Regional Airport because of new flight procedures and runway changes. Pilots and local air traffic controllers will feel the difference, and the public can share their thoughts by July 25, 2025—no extra costs involved!
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Surface Airspace Expanded at Hickory
The FAA proposes to expand the Class D and Class E surface airspace around Hickory Regional Airport by increasing the radius from 4.1 miles to 4.6 miles and by adding a surface extension within 2 miles each side of the 235° bearing from Hickory Regional Airport, extending from the 4.6-mile radius to 5.2 miles southwest of the airport. This change is intended to manage instrument flight rules (IFR) traffic and improve safety for flights around the airport.
Higher-Altitude Class E Airspace Increased
The FAA proposes to amend the Class E airspace that begins at 700 feet above the surface for Hickory Regional Airport by increasing the radius from 6.6 miles to 7.1 miles and by adding an extension within 3 miles each side of the 055° bearing from the Tawba NDB, extending from the 7.1-mile radius to 5.7 miles northeast of the NDB. This affects controlled airspace used for IFR procedures above the surface.
Reference Point Correction and NDB Addition
The FAA proposes to correct an incorrect reference point in the Class D and Class E surface area descriptions by using Hickory Regional Airport as the reference point (rather than the Tawba NDB) so the proposed surface extension lies southwest of the airport as intended. Separately, the Tawba Nondirectional Radio Beacon (NDB) will be added to the Class E (above 700 feet) airspace description.
FAA Finds Minimal Economic Impact
The FAA certified that this proposed airspace amendment is a routine technical change with minimal anticipated economic impact and will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities under the Regulatory Flexibility Act. The FAA determined the proposal is not a 'significant regulatory action' and does not warrant a regulatory evaluation.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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