Proposed rule · 2026-19815

Establishment, Modification, and Revocation of Class E Airspace; Alaska, AK

This action supplements a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) published by the FAA in the Federal Register on June 17, 2025, which proposed to establish Class E domestic en route airspace (Class E6) within a designated landmass and within 12 miles from a designated shoreline associated with the state of Alaska to facilitate the vectoring of instrument flight rules (IFR) aircraft on direct routes where the current en route structure is insufficient or improper within the proposed airspace areas. As revised in this SNPRM, the FAA now proposes to establish five discrete areas of Class E domestic en route airspace over the state. Due to redundancy, the NPRM also proposed to remove two Class E6 airspace areas and modify 101 Class E airspace areas extending upward from at least 700 feet or more above the surface of the earth (Class E5) to remove any portion extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface. This SNPRM continues to propose these actions, but also now proposes to remove two Class E airspace areas extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface, revoke a duplicate Class E5 airspace legal description, and redefine airspace areas from a "Point of Origin" instead of using their respective airport reference points. Finally, both the NPRM and this SNPRM propose administrative amendments to the legal descriptions of 101 Class E5 airspace areas that would correct or update nomenclature as needed. This action would support IFR operations while enhancing the safety and management of aircraft operations within the National Airspace System (NAS).