FAA Redraws Alaska Skies: More Safe Flying, Less Confusion
Published Date: 9/28/2026
Proposed Rule
Summary
The FAA is updating Alaska’s Class E airspace to make flying safer and smoother for pilots using instruments. They’re creating five new airspace zones, removing some old ones, and fixing confusing boundaries to help planes fly better routes. If you want to share your thoughts, you’ve got until November 12, 2026, and these changes won’t cost anyone extra.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Five new statewide Class E6 zones
The FAA proposes to create five new Class E domestic en route airspace (Class E6) areas across Alaska and to modify 101 existing Class E5 areas. The proposal would revoke two existing Class E6 areas and remove two Class E5 areas that extend upward from 1,200 feet, consolidating many existing airspace pieces into the five new areas.
Preserve low-altitude Class G in four areas
In response to comments, the FAA proposes to preserve Class G (uncontrolled) airspace below 4,000 feet above ground level in four named high Class E6 areas (Northeast High, Southeast High, South High, Northwest High). Those four revised Class E6 areas would instead start at 4,000 feet AGL rather than the standard 1,200 feet AGL.
Switch to Point of Origin coordinates
The FAA proposes to replace airport names and some navigational-aid references in 101 Class E5 legal descriptions with a "Point of Origin" (airport geographic coordinates from recent rulemaking) and use "Point in Space" in place of decommissioned NAVAIDs. This is intended to prevent coordinate discrepancies and preserve lateral airspace boundaries.
FAA expects de minimis economic effects
The FAA states the proposal is expected to result in, at most, de minimis costs from compliance or minor flight rerouting and certifies it will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.
Minor boundary tweaks at some airports
The proposal would make small lateral boundary changes (no more than 700 feet on any side) for the Class E5 airspace at Aniak, Koyuk, Talkeetna, and Valdez, remove a duplicated Manokotak/New Airport legal description, and add 12-nautical-mile shoreline exclusions at some sites.
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Key Dates
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