Proposed Modification of the Minneapolis Class B Airspace Area

The Minneapolis Class B Airsapce final rule, DOT Docket No. FAA-2003-15471-9 establishes the effective date as 0901 UTC, February 16, 2006. EAA urges the FAA to either to change the effective date of the final rule to January 19, 2006, or delay the effective date until the next publication cycle of the associated VFR maps. The Twin Cities VFR Sectional and the Minneapolis-St. Paul VFR Terminal Area Charts will be published on January 19, 2006. It is imperative the flying public have the correct and most current information available when operating in/around the high density Minneapolis Class B airspace. The effective date of February 16, 2005, will mean the public will have out-of-date VFR maps 30 days after they were issued.

EAA noticed that the FAA issued a final rule on November 28, 2005 for the modification of the Minneapolis Class B airspace. On March 7, 2001, EAA submitted a request to establish a VFR transition corridor as part of the airspace modification. EAA did not see any discussion of this request in the final rule, as such we are once again asking the FAA to create such a corridor for VFR traffic to transition north/south over the airport. The following is an extract from EAA's March 7, 2001 request: "March 7, 2001 Mr. Christopher Blum Manager, Air Traffic Division, AGL-500 FAA, Great Lakes Region 2300 East Devon Avenue Des Plaines, IL 60018 Reference: Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) Class B airspace expansion proposal Dear Mr. Blum: EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) is the world leader in recreational aviation. With an international membership of 170,000, of which 6,300 members reside in the state of Minnesota, EAA brings together aviation enthusiasts, pilots and aircraft owners who are dedicated to the continued growth of aviation, the preservation of its history and a commitment to aviation's future. EAA programs, activities and events are known throughout the world for supporting aviation safety and promoting personal enjoyment and responsibility within an aviation lifestyle. The following are EAA's comments to the proposed Class B airspace expansion proposal: 1.Establish a VFR transition corridor to allow the movement of VFR aircraft along a North/South line. It appears the most viable corridor would be from over Airlake Airport (LVN), direct to Minneapolis VORTAC (MSP), then northwest along the Mississippi River to the Gopher VORTAC (GEP). Flown at normal VFR altitudes, starting at 5,500' MSL, this route will provide a reasonable transition to local and transient pilots." EAA strongly feels the establishment of the requested VFR corridor is in the public interest and would enhance flight safety in/around the Minneapolis Class B airsapce area.