Proposed Airspace Rule for Clovis, NM
Summary
The FAA has proposed amendments to Class D and Class E airspace in Clovis, NM, and the establishment of Class E airspace in Portales, NM. This action is a result of airspace reviews for Cannon AFB and local airports, driven by updated instrument procedures, and aims to ensure compliance with FAA orders and support IFR operations.
What changed
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to amend airspace designations in Clovis, New Mexico, and establish new airspace in Portales, New Mexico. This proposal stems from biennial airspace reviews for Cannon Air Force Base and reviews at Clovis Regional Airport and Portales Municipal Airport, necessitated by updated instrument procedures. The FAA also plans to update the name and coordinates for the Cannon TACAN to align with its aeronautical database. The primary goal is to bring the affected airspace into compliance with FAA orders and to better support instrument flight rule (IFR) operations.
Interested parties are invited to submit written comments on all aspects of the proposed rule, with a deadline of May 11, 2026. Comments should be specific, explaining the rationale for any recommended changes and providing supporting data. The FAA is seeking input on the overall regulatory, aeronautical, economic, environmental, and energy-related impacts of the proposal. This action is promulgated under the FAA's authority to prescribe regulations for airspace safety and efficiency, as detailed in Title 49 of the United States Code.
What to do next
- Submit written comments by May 11, 2026
- Reference FAA Docket No. FAA-2026-3238 and Airspace Docket No. 26-ASW-3 in comments
- Ensure comments explain the reason for any recommended change and include supporting data
Archived snapshot
Mar 25, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
Content
ACTION:
Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
SUMMARY:
This action proposes to amend the Class D and Class E airspace at Clovis, NM, and establish Class E airspace at Clovis, NM,
and Portales, NM. The FAA is proposing this action as the result of a biennial airspace review conducted for Cannon AFB (Air
Force Base), Clovis, NM, and airspace reviews conducted at Clovis Regional Airport, Clovis, NM, and Portales Municipal Airport,
Portales, NM, due to updated instrument procedures. The name and geographic coordinates for the Cannon TACAN would also be
updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database. This action would bring the airspace into compliance with FAA orders
and support instrument flight rule (IFR) procedures and operations.
DATES:
Comments must be received on or before May 11, 2026.
ADDRESSES:
Send comments identified by FAA Docket No. FAA-2026-3238 and Airspace Docket No. 26-ASW-3 using any of the following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov and follow the online instructions for sending your comments electronically.
• Mail: Send comments to Docket Operations, M-30; U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Room W12-140, West
Building Ground Floor, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
• Hand Delivery or Courier: Take comments to Docket Operations in Room W12-140 of the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington,
DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
• Fax: Fax comments to Docket Operations at (202) 493-2251.
Docket: Background documents or comments received may be read at www.regulations.gov at any time. Follow the online instructions for accessing the docket or go to Docket Operations in Room W12-140 of the West
Building Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays.
FAA Order JO 7400.11K, 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, 600 Independence
Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20597; telephone: (202) 267-8783.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jeffrey Claypool, Federal Aviation Administration, Operations Support Group, Central Service Center, 10101 Hillwood Parkway,
Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5711.
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 would amend the Class D and Class E airspace and establish Class E airspace at the affected airports to support IFR
operations.
Comments Invited
The FAA invites interested persons to participate in this rulemaking by submitting written comments, data, or views. Comments
are specifically invited on the overall regulatory, aeronautical, economic, environmental, and energy-related aspects of the
proposal. The most helpful comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the reason for any recommended change,
and include supporting data. To ensure the docket does not contain duplicate comments, commenters should submit only one time
if comments are filed electronically, or commenters should send only one copy of written comments if comments are filed in
writing.
The FAA will file in the docket all comments it receives, as well as a report summarizing each substantive public contact
with FAA personnel concerning this proposed rulemaking. Before acting on this proposal, the FAA will consider all comments
it received on or before the closing date for comments. The FAA will consider comments filed after the comment period has
closed if it is possible to do so without incurring expense or delay. The FAA may change this proposal in light of the comments
it receives.
Privacy: In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits comments from the public to better inform its rulemaking process. DOT posts
these comments, without edit, including any personal information the commenter provides, to www.regulations.gov as described in the system of records notice (DOT/ALL-14FDMS), which can be reviewed at www.dot.gov/privacy.
Availability of Rulemaking Documents
An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded through the internet at www.regulations.gov. Recently published rulemaking documents can also be accessed through the FAA's web page at www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/airspace_amendments/.
You may review the public docket containing the proposal, any comments received, and any final disposition in person in the
Dockets Office (see the
ADDRESSES
section for the address, phone number, and hours of operations). An informal docket may also be examined during normal business
hours at the Federal Aviation Administration, Air Traffic Organization, Central Service Center, Operations Support Group,
10101 Hillwood Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177.
Incorporation by Reference
Class D and E airspace relevant to this action are published in paragraphs 5000, 6002, and 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 proposes
to amend the current version of that order, FAA Order JO 7400.11K, dated August 4, 2025, and effective September 15, 2025.
These updates would be published in the next update to FAA Order JO 7400.11. FAA Order JO 7400.11K, which lists Class A, B,
C, D, and E airspace areas, air traffic service routes, and reporting points, is publicly available as listed in the
ADDRESSES
section of this document.
The Proposal
The FAA is proposing an amendment to 14 CFR part 71 that would modify the
Class D airspace, Class E surface airspace, and Class E airspace extending upward from 700 ft. above the surface at Clovis,
NM, and establish Class E airspace extending upward from 700 ft. above the surface at Clovis, NM, and Portales, NM due to
a biennial airspace review and airspace reviews conducted due to updated instrument procedures.
For the Cannon AFB, Clovis, NM, Class D airspace, the proposal would: (1) decrease the radius from 6 miles to 5.4 miles; (2)
add an extension within 1 mile each side of the 039° bearing from the Cannon TACAN extending from the 5.4-mile radius to 5.9
miles northeast of the airport; and (3) update the outdated term “Airport/Facility Directory” to “Chart Supplement.”
For the Cannon AFB Class E surface area, the proposal would: (1) decrease the radius from 6 miles to 5.4 miles; (2) add an
extension within 1 mile each side of the 039° bearing from the Cannon TACAN extending from the 5.4-mile radius to 5.9 miles
northeast of the airport; (3) remove the Cannon ILS Localizer from the airspace legal description as it is not required; (4)
update the geographic coordinates and the name of the Cannon TACAN, previously Cannon TACAN0, to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical
database; and (5) update the outdated term “Airport/Facility Directory” to “Chart Supplement.”
For the Cannon AFB Class E airspace extending upward from 700 ft. above the surface, the proposal would: (1) decrease the
radius from 20 miles to 7.9 miles; (2) remove the Portales Municipal Airport and associated airspace from the airspace legal
description as separate airspace is being established to comply with FAA Order JO 7400.2R, Procedures for Handling Airspace
Matters; (3) remove the Texico VORTAC and associated extension as they are no longer required; and (4) remove the city associated
with Cannon AFB from the airspace legal description header to comply with changes to FAA Order JO 7400.2R.
The proposal would establish Class E airspace extending upward from 700 ft. above the surface within a 7.5-mile radius of
Clovis Regional Airport, Clovis, NM.
And the proposal would establish Class E airspace extending upward from 700 ft. above the surface within a 7.4-mile radius
of Portales Municipal Airport, Portales, NM.
Regulatory Notices and Analyses
The FAA has determined that this proposed 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, “Policies and Procedures
for Rulemakings” (March 10, 2025); and (3) does not warrant preparation of a regulatory evaluation as the anticipated impact
is so minimal. Since this is a routine matter that will only affect air traffic procedures and air navigation, it is certified
that this proposed rule, when promulgated, will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities
under the criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
Environmental Review
This proposal will be subject to an environmental analysis in accordance with FAA Order 1050.1G, “FAA National Environmental
Policy Act Implementing Procedures” prior to any FAA final regulatory action.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71
Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).
The Proposed Amendment
In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend 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
- The authority citation for 14 CFR part 71 continues to read as follows:
Authority:
49 U.S.C. 106(f), 106(g), 40103, 40113, 40120; E.O. 10854, 24 FR 9565, 3 CFR, 1959-1963 Comp., p. 389.
§ 71.1 [Amended] 2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of FAA Order JO 7400.11K, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated
August 4, 2025, and effective September 15, 2025, is amended as follows:
Paragraph 5000 Class D Airspace.
ASW NM D Clovis, NM [Amended]
Cannon AFB, NM
(Lat. 34°22′58″ N, long. 103°19′20″ W)
Cannon TACAN
(Lat. 34°22′50″ N, long. 103°19′21″ W)
That airspace extending upward from the surface to and including 6,800 feet MSL within a 5.4-mile radius Cannon AFB; and within
1 mile each side of the 039° bearing from the Cannon TACAN extending from the 5.4-mile radius of Cannon AFB to 5.9 miles northeast
of Cannon AFB. The Class D airspace area is effective during the specific dates and times established in advance by the Notice
to Airmen. The effective dates and times will thereafter be continuously published in the Chart Supplement.
Paragraph 6002 Class E Airspace Areas Designated as Surface Areas.
ASW NM E2 Clovis, NM [Amended]
Cannon AFB, NM
(Lat. 34°22′58″ N, long. 103°19′20″ W)
Cannon TACAN
(Lat. 34°22′50″ N, long. 103°19′21″ W)
That airspace extending upward from the surface within a 5.4-mile radius Cannon AFB; and within 1 mile each side of the 039°
bearing from the Cannon TACAN extending from the 5.4-mile radius of Cannon AFB to 5.9 miles northeast of Cannon AFB. The Class
E airspace area is effective during the specific dates and times established in advance by the Notice to Airmen. The effective
dates and times will thereafter be continuously published in the Chart Supplement.
Paragraph 6005 Class E Airspace Areas Extending Upward From 700 Feet or More Above the Surface of the Earth.
ASW NM E5 Clovis, NM [Amended]
Cannon AFB, NM
(Lat. 34°22′58″ N, long. 103°19′20″ W)
That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface within a 7.9-mile radius of Cannon AFB.
ASW NM E5 Clovis, NM [Establish]
Clovis Regional Airport, NM
(Lat. 34°25′36″ N, long. 103°04′39″ W)
That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface within a 7.5-mile radius of Clovis Regional Airport.
ASW NM E5 Portales, NM [Establish]
Portales Municipal Airport, NM
(Lat. 34°08′44″ N, long. 103°24′37″ W)
That airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface within a 7.4-mile radius of Portales Municipal Airport.
Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on March 23, 2026. Courtney E. Johns, Acting Manager, Operations Support Group, ATO Central Service Center. [FR Doc. 2026-05784 Filed 3-24-26; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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