2026-14471: Establishment of Class E Airspace; Peoria, IL

Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 192 (Tuesday, October 6, 2026) [Federal Register Volume 91, Number 192 (Tuesday, October 6, 2026)] [Rules and Regulations] [Pages 63475-63476] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2026-20479] ======================================================================== Rules and Regulations Federal Register ________________________________________________________________________ This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains regulatory documents having general applicability and legal effect, most of which are keyed to and codified in the Code of Federal Regulations, which is published under 50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510. The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by the Superintendent of Documents. ======================================================================== Federal Register / Vol. 91, No. 192 / Tuesday, October 6, 2026 / Rules and Regulations [[Page 63475]] DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part 71 [Docket No. FAA-2026-8054; Airspace Docket No. 26-AGL-15] RIN 2120-AA66 Establishment of Class E Airspace; Peoria, IL

Agency

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

Action

Final rule. -----------------------------------------------------------------------

Summary

This action establishes Class E airspace at OSF St Francis Medical Center Heliport, Peoria, IL. This action supports new instrument procedures and instrument flight rule (IFR) operations.

Dates

Effective 0901 UTC, December 24, 2026. The Director of the Federal Register approves this incorporation by reference action under 1 CFR part 51, subject to the annual revision of FAA Order JO 7400.11 and publication of conforming amendments.

Addresses

A copy of the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), all comments received, this final rule, and all background material may be viewed online at www.regulations.gov using the FAA Docket number. Electronic retrieval help and guidelines are available on the website. It is available 24 hours each day, 365 days each year. An electronic copy of this document may also be downloaded from www.federalregister.gov. FAA Order JO 7400.11M, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, and subsequent amendments can be viewed online at www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/. You may also contact the Rules and Regulations Group, Office of Policy, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW, Washington DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267- 8783.

For Further Information Contact

Raul Garza Jr., Federal Aviation Administration, Operations Support Group, Central Service Center, 10101 Hillwood Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5874.

Supplementary Information

Authority for This Rulemaking The FAA's authority to issue rules regarding aviation safety is found in Title 49 of the United States Code. Subtitle I, Section 106 describes the authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII, Aviation Programs, describes in more detail the scope of the agency's authority. This rulemaking is promulgated under the authority described in Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart I, Section 40103. Under that section, the FAA is charged with prescribing regulations to assign the use of airspace necessary to ensure the safety of aircraft and the efficient use of airspace. This regulation is within the scope of that authority as it establishes Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at OSF St Francis Medical Center Heliport, Peoria, IL, to support IFR operations. History The FAA published an NPRM for Docket No. FAA-2026-8054 in the Federal Register (91 FR 44779; July 24, 2026) proposing to establish Class E airspace at OSF St Francis Medical Center Heliport, Peoria, IL. Interested parties were invited to participate in this rulemaking effort by submitting written comments on the proposal to the FAA. Nine comments were received. One comment expressed support for the NPRM. The FAA received eight comments objecting to the proposed amendment on the grounds that low-flying helicopter traffic is causing noise and vibration, resulting in disturbance and structural damage to homes within Peoria, including historic homes and districts. These commenters expressed concern with the proposal on these grounds without articulating how it would cause or worsen these conditions that they allege already exist. These commenters requested an environmental review pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act that considers these impacts, including cumulative impacts, and includes a formal Section 106 review and consultation under the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). In response to these comments, the FAA clarifies that Class E5 airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface already exists in the Peoria, IL, area to protect instrument procedures for Peoria International Airport (PIA). The instant rulemaking action does not alter or expand the existing PIA Class E5 airspace footprint over the City of Peoria west of the Illinois River where the commenters' properties are located. This action only establishes a minimal extension of Class E5 airspace east of the Illinois River to safely contain aircraft executing the missed approach segment of the new instrument approach procedure for the OSF helipad. Moreover, this rulemaking action does not change existing flight patterns, altitudes, or baseline operations, including those over the historic districts cited by the commenters. Accordingly, the FAA has determined that the Area of Potential Effects (APE) for this undertaking does not encompass these properties. In accordance with 36 CFR 800.4(d)(1), the FAA finds that no historic properties are affected by this rule. A formal Section 106 review and consultation with respect to the pre-existing Peoria airspace is outside the scope of this action. One commenter also raised issues outside the scope of this action, such as the number of annual operations at OSF, airspace congestion, and the perceived lack of standardized traffic patterns. Other commenters similarly referenced increasing numbers of operations. The FAA is not addressing these topics because this rulemaking action is unrelated to these matters. Incorporation by Reference Class E airspace designations are published in paragraph 6005 of FAA Order JO 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 on an annual basis. This document amends the current version of that order, FAA Order JO 7400.11M, dated July 30, 2026, and effective September 15, 2026. These amendments will be published in the next update to FAA Order JO 7400.11. FAA Order JO 7400.11M, which lists Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and reporting points, is publicly [[Page 63476]] available as listed in the ADDRESSES section of this document. The Rule This action modifies 14 CFR part 71 by establishing Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface within a 6.6- mile radius of OSF St Francis Medical Center Heliport, Peoria, IL. This action is the result of instrument procedures being developed for this heliport to support IFR operations. Regulatory Notices and Analyses The FAA has determined that this regulation only involves an established body of technical regulations for which frequent and routine amendments are necessary to keep them operationally current. It, therefore: (1) is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866; (2) is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Order 2100.6B, ``Rulemaking and Guidance Procedure'' (March 10, 2025); and (3) is expected to result in, at most, de minimis costs from compliance with applicable operating requirements or minor flight rerouting for operators choosing to navigate around the controlled airspace. Since these amendments are routine and the expected impact to operators is de minimis, the FAA certifies that this rule, when promulgated, does not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. Environmental Review The FAA has determined that this action qualifies for categorical exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act in accordance with FAA Order 1050.1G, ``FAA National Environmental Policy Act Implementing Procedures,'' paragraph B-2.5(a), which categorically excludes from further environmental impact review rulemaking actions that designate or modify classes of airspace areas, airways, routes, and reporting points (see 14 CFR part 71, Designation of Class A, B, C, D, and E Airspace Areas; Air Traffic Service Routes; and Reporting Points); and paragraph B-2.5(k), which categorically excludes from further environmental impact review the publication of existing air traffic control procedures that do not essentially change existing tracks, create new tracks, change altitude, or change concentration of aircraft on these tracks. As such, this action is not expected to result in any potentially significant environmental impacts, and no extraordinary circumstances exist that warrant preparation of an environmental assessment. Lists of Subjects in 14 CFR 71 Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air). The Amendment In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation Administration amends 14 CFR part 71 as follows: PART 71--DESIGNATION OF CLASS A, B, C, D, AND E AIRSPACE AREAS; AIR TRAFFIC SERVICE ROUTES; AND REPORTING POINTS 0