FAA Tweaks Alabama Skies: More Control, Less Unused Airspace
Published Date: 10/2/2026
Proposed Rule
Summary
The FAA wants to update the airspace rules around Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, AL. They plan to expand some controlled airspace to keep flights safe and remove some airspace that’s no longer needed. Pilots and local folks should know these changes could affect flight paths starting after November 16, 2026, but there’s no cost impact for the public.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Class E Airspace Expanded Around Maxwell AFB
If you fly IFR near Maxwell Air Force Base, the Class E airspace that starts at 700 feet above the surface will expand from a 7.0-mile radius to a 7.5-mile radius around Maxwell AFB. The change is intended to contain IFR departures as they transition to the adjacent Class E that starts at 1,200 feet above the surface.
Class E Surface Area at Maxwell AFB Revoked
The FAA proposes to remove (revoke) the Class E airspace designated as a surface area at Maxwell AFB because the airport "does not have the weather reporting capability necessary to support the Class E surface area when the air traffic control tower is closed." This revocation means the surface Class E designation at Maxwell would no longer apply when the tower is closed.
FAA: No Significant Economic Impact on Small Entities
The FAA states this proposal involves routine technical airspace amendments and "is expected to result in, at most, de minimis costs from compliance or minor flight rerouting." The agency certifies the proposal "will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities" under the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
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