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FAA Proposes to Revoke Class E Airspace at Diamond "O" Ranch Airport, Santa Elena, TX

The FAA has issued a notice of proposed rulemaking to remove Class E airspace at Santa Elena, Texas, after instrument procedures were cancelled and the local radio beacon decommissioned.

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The Federal Aviation Administration has proposed revoking the Class E airspace at Diamond "O" Ranch Airport in Santa Elena, Texas, citing the cancellation of instrument procedures and the decommissioning of the Santa Elena radio beacon (RBN). The action was published as a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) and would amend 14 CFR Part 71.

What the Proposal Does

Specifically, the FAA proposes to remove the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 ft. above the surface at Diamond "O" Ranch Airport. The agency explains that this airspace is no longer needed to support IFR operations, given that the instrument procedures at the airport have been cancelled and the Santa Elena RBN has been decommissioned. Under Section 40103 of Title 49 of the United States Code, 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, and the agency states this rulemaking falls within that authority.

Regulatory Mechanics

The relevant Class E airspace designation is 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. The proposal would amend the current version of that order — FAA Order JO 7400.11K, dated August 4, 2025, and effective September 15, 2025 — with the updates to be published in the next update to FAA Order JO 7400.11.

The FAA has determined that this proposed regulation involves an established body of technical regulations for which frequent and routine amendments are necessary to keep them operationally current. As a result, the agency has determined it is not a "significant regulatory action" under Executive Order 12866, is not a "significant rule" under DOT Order 2100.6B ("Policies and Procedures for Rulemakings," March 10, 2025), and 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.

What to Watch

Comments on the proposal must be received on or before October 1, 2026. The FAA states it will consider all comments received on or before the closing date, and may also consider comments filed after the comment period closes if doing so is possible without incurring expense or delay. The agency notes it may change the proposal in light of comments received. Comments and supporting documentation are available for public review via the federal docket system.

Related

Sources

11 cited

Every hard fact above is grounded in and cited to a primary source record.

  1. The FAA has issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to revoke the Class E airspace at Diamond "O" Ranch Airport in Santa Elena, Texas.

    federalregister.gov

  2. The FAA is proposing this action due to the instrument procedures being cancelled and the decommissioning of the Santa Elena radio beacon (RBN).

    federalregister.gov

  3. The proposal would remove the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 ft. above the surface at Diamond "O" Ranch Airport.

    federalregister.gov

  4. The agency states this airspace is no longer needed to support IFR operations.

    federalregister.gov

  5. The rulemaking is promulgated under Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart I, Section 40103 of Title 49 of the United States Code.

    federalregister.gov

  6. The relevant Class E airspace is 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.

    federalregister.gov

  7. The proposal would amend FAA Order JO 7400.11K, dated August 4, 2025, and effective September 15, 2025.

    federalregister.gov

  8. The FAA determined the proposed regulation is not a 'significant regulatory action' under Executive Order 12866.

    federalregister.gov

  9. The FAA determined the proposed regulation is not a 'significant rule' under DOT Order 2100.6B, 'Policies and Procedures for Rulemakings' (March 10, 2025).

    federalregister.gov

  10. The FAA expects the rule 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.

    federalregister.gov

  11. Comments on the proposal must be received on or before October 1, 2026.

    federalregister.gov

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