# 2026-07612: FAA Updates Airspace Rules for Alaska's Kotzebue Airport

2026-07612, Modification of Class E Airspace; Ralph Wien Memorial Airport, Kotzebue, AK, is a Federal Register proposed rule from Transportation Department, Federal Aviation Administration published 2026-04-20, effective Comments must be received on or before June 4, 2026.; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-06-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-07612
- As of: 2026-06-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-07612
- Title: Modification of Class E Airspace; Ralph Wien Memorial Airport, Kotzebue, AK
- Type: Proposed Rule
- Agencies: Transportation Department; Federal Aviation Administration
- Citation: 91 FR 20944
- Published: 2026-04-20
- Effective: Comments must be received on or before June 4, 2026.
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: yes
- Regulation identifier numbers: 2120-AA66
- Last updated: 2026-06-11

## In one line

FAA Updates Airspace Rules for Alaska's Kotzebue Airport

## Summary

The FAA is updating the airspace rules around Ralph Wien Memorial Airport in Kotzebue, Alaska, to make flying safer and smoother for pilots using instruments. This change affects pilots flying under instrument flight rules and adjusts the controlled airspace starting at the surface and 700 feet up. Comments on this proposal are open until June 4, 2026, and there’s no cost impact for the public.

## Abstract

This action updates a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) published by the FAA in the Federal Register on November 24, 2025, proposing to modify the Class E airspace area designated as a surface area (Class E2 airspace area) and Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface (Class E5 700-foot (ft) airspace area) to optimize instrument flight procedure (IFP) containment at the Ralph Wien Memorial Airport, Kotzebue, AK. This proposal supports the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the airport. The proposal has been updated based on amendments to four IFPs.

## Effects PRIA read

- Surface Class E Expansion: benefit, low. If you fly under instrument flight rules (IFR) at Ralph Wien Memorial Airport in Kotzebue, this proposal increases the Class E surface area radius from 4.3 miles to 4.4 miles and describes surface airspace up to 2,500 feet above the airport. The proposal also shifts a western extension 0.5 miles fa…
- 700-ft and Higher Class E Reconfiguration: benefit, low. If you fly IFR at Ralph Wien Memorial Airport, the FAA proposes to modify Class E airspace that begins at 700 feet and higher by setting a 6.8-mile radius area from 700 ft, adding and removing sector areas, expanding areas to contain missed approaches and departures until 1,200 feet, and extending…

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## Sources
- [2026-07612 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/04/20/2026-07612/modification-of-class-e-airspace-ralph-wien-memorial-airport-kotzebue-ak)
- [2026-07612 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-04-20/pdf/2026-07612.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2026-07609, Petition for Reconsideration of Action in Rulemaking Proceeding](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-07609)
- [Next: 2026-07617, Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program-Limited Party Concessions](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-07617)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-07612 (as of 2026-06-11).