FAA Proposes Updating Airspace Boundaries and Name for New Bedford Regional Airport

The Federal Aviation Administration is proposing to adjust the controlled airspace around New Bedford Regional Airport in Massachusetts. The current Class D airspace boundary does not fully cover flight operations on the northwest side of the airport. Specifically, arrivals using the RNAV Runway 14 approach and departures heading northwest fall outside the area where air traffic control normally exercises authority. The proposal adds a northwest extension to the Class D boundary to capture these operations.

Why it matters: The practical effect is that air traffic control will have clear authority over the airspace where specific arrival and departure paths cross the current boundary. For pilots, this means the controlled airspace will align better with the actual flight paths used for Runway 14 arrivals and northwest departures. The name and coordinate updates ensure that official charts and documents match the airport’s current identity and precise location.

Who it affects

• Pilots and aircraft operators using New Bedford Regional Airport, particularly those flying the RNAV Runway 14 approach or departing northwest.

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This summary is based on a proposed rule published by the Federal Aviation Administration in the Federal Register. The FAA invites public comments and may change the proposal based on feedback. Check the original document and the docket at regulations.gov for the full text, comment deadline, and any subsequent updates.

Agency: Transportation Department, Federal Aviation Administration
Source: Federal Register — read the official document