# 2026-12674: FAA Adjusts Airspace Around Remote Alaska Airport

2026-12674, Modification of Class E Airspace; Ralph Wien Memorial Airport, Kotzebue, AK, is a Federal Register rule from Transportation Department, Federal Aviation Administration published 2026-06-24, effective 2026-09-03; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-07-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-12674
- As of: 2026-07-01
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-12674
- Title: Modification of Class E Airspace; Ralph Wien Memorial Airport, Kotzebue, AK
- Type: Rule
- Agencies: Transportation Department; Federal Aviation Administration
- Citation: 91 FR 37787
- Published: 2026-06-24
- Effective: 2026-09-03
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: yes
- Regulation identifier numbers: 2120-AA66
- Last updated: 2026-07-01

## In one line

FAA Adjusts Airspace Around Remote Alaska Airport

## Summary

The FAA is updating the airspace around Ralph Wien Memorial Airport in Kotzebue, Alaska, to make flying safer and smoother for pilots using instruments. These changes, effective September 3, 2026, adjust the controlled airspace near the airport without affecting costs or schedules for travelers. Pilots and airlines flying IFR (instrument flight rules) will benefit from clearer, safer flight paths.

## Abstract

This action modifies the Class E airspace area designated as a surface area (Class E2 airspace) and Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface (Class E5 airspace) to optimize instrument flight procedure containment at the Ralph Wien Memorial Airport, Kotzebue, AK. This action supports the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

## Effects PRIA read

- IFR Flights Get Clearer, Safer Paths: benefit, medium. The FAA changed the controlled airspace around Ralph Wien Memorial Airport to better contain instrument flight procedures and support IFR (instrument flight rules) operations, effective September 3, 2026. The action is intended to make flying safer and smoother for pilots and airlines that fly on i…
- Specific Airspace Boundaries Changed: benefit, low. The Class E2 radius around the airport increased from 4.3 miles to 4.4 miles and added 1.4-mile and 0.6-mile extensions; Class E5 was changed (700-ft airspace now within a 6.8-mile radius and other sector extensions) and the rule adds an area extending from 1,200 feet within a 45-mile radius of the…
- Travelers' Costs and Schedules Unchanged: benefit, low. The FAA states these airspace changes will not affect costs or schedules for travelers. The rule explicitly says passengers' travel costs and schedules are not affected by this modification.
- Operators May See De Minimis Compliance Costs: cost, low. The FAA expects, at most, de minimis costs from compliance or minor flight rerouting for operators who choose to navigate around the controlled airspace; the agency also certifies the rule does not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. These findings are part…

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## Sources
- [2026-12674 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/06/24/2026-12674/modification-of-class-e-airspace-ralph-wien-memorial-airport-kotzebue-ak)
- [2026-12674 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-06-24/pdf/2026-12674.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2026-12673, Modification of Class E Airspace, Omak Airport, Omak, WA](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-12673)
- [Next: 2026-12698, Establishment of Class E Airspace; Barksdale, TX](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-12698)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-12674 (as of 2026-07-01).