Airspace Designations and Reporting Points: Tri-Cities, TN

What it does

• •Expands the lateral dimensions of Class D airspace around Tri-Cities Airport to a 4.7-mile radius plus an extension along a 042° bearing to 5.3 miles northeast.
• •Expands Class E2 airspace with matching dimensions and removes Class E4 airspace entirely as no longer necessary.
• •Expands Class E5 airspace to multiple specified radii and bearings extending up to 23 miles from the airport to contain IFR operations.
• •Updates legal descriptions to replace 'Airport/Facility Directory' with 'Chart Supplement,' change 'day(s) and time(s)' to 'date(s) and time(s),' and rename the airport from 'Tri-Cities Regional Airport, TN/VA' to 'Tri-Cities Airport, TN.'

Why it matters

• •Current IFR operations at Tri-Cities Airport, including specific instrument approach procedures (ILS/LOC RWY 5, RNAV GPS RWY 5, and RNAV GPS RWY 9), are not adequately contained within existing airspace dimensions, particularly for departures.
• •The FAA determined this is a routine amendment with de minimis compliance costs and no significant economic impact on small entities.

Who is affected

• •Aircraft operators conducting IFR operations at Tri-Cities Airport in Tennessee.
• •Pilots and flight crews operating in the airspace around Tri-Cities Airport.

What happens next

The FAA will accept public comments until September 25, 2026, and may revise the proposal based on comments received before issuing a final rule, which will be incorporated into the next update of FAA Order JO 7400.11.