FAA Redraws Skies Over Patuxent River: Safer Flights, No Drama
Published Date: 2/19/2026
Rule
Summary
The FAA is updating the airspace rules around Patuxent River Naval Air Station in Maryland to better cover all flight operations and remove outdated navigation references. These changes affect pilots flying under instrument flight rules and take effect on May 14, 2026. No new fees or costs are involved—just clearer, safer skies!
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Class D Airspace Expanded to 4.7 Miles
The FAA expands the Class D airspace at Patuxent River NAS (Trapnell Field) to a 4.7-mile radius and a 0.5-mile radius around Chesapeake Ranch Airport, effective May 14, 2026. This change updates the airport coordinates and replaces the "Airport Facility Directory" reference with "Chart Supplement."
Surface Class E2 Reconfigured to Contain IFR Procedures
The FAA reconfigures the Class E2 surface airspace at Patuxent River to extend from the surface within a 4.7-mile radius of the airport, plus specific corridor segments: 1.8 miles each side of the 047° bearing to 6.5 miles, 1.9 miles each side of the 233° bearing to 6.2 miles, and 1.8 miles each side of the 137° bearing to 10.8 miles; and a 0.5-mile radius at Chesapeake Ranch Airport. References to the decommissioned Patuxent VORTAC and Patuxent River NDB are removed; effective May 14, 2026.
Class E4 Extensions Updated and Obsolete Aids Removed
The FAA amends the Class E4 airspace extensions for Patuxent River by updating airport coordinates and specifying the same corridor segments as the E2 action (047° to 6.5 miles, 233° to 6.2 miles, 137° to 10.8 miles), excluding Restricted Areas R-4005 and R-4007 when active. The rule removes references to the decommissioned Patuxent VORTAC and Patuxent River NDB and replaces "Airport Facility Directory" with "Chart Supplement."
Class E5 Replaced with Point-in-Space Coordinates
The FAA replaces the decommissioned VORTAC reference in the Class E5 legal description with a point-in-space coordinate (Lat. 38°17'16" N, Long. 76°24'01" W) and defines the E5 area as upward from 700 feet within a 12.2-mile radius of that point, with a specific NW exclusion line; effective May 14, 2026.
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