FAA reshapes Kotzebue airspace boundaries starting September

The Federal Aviation Administration is redrawing the controlled airspace around Ralph Wien Memorial Airport in Kotzebue, with a final rule taking effect at 0901 UTC on September 3, 2026. The changes modify the protected zones pilots use during instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

The rule modifies both Class E2 surface area airspace, the controlled zone at the surface, and Class E5 airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface. According to the FAA, the goal is to "optimize instrument flight procedure containment at the Ralph Wien Memorial Airport, Kotzebue, AK" and to support "the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the airport."

The Class E2 surface area radius grows from 4.3 miles to 4.4 miles to better accommodate circling maneuvers to runways 18 and 9. New extensions of 1.4 miles to the southeast and 0.6 miles to the west contain departing aircraft executing the COGAS TWO and PIGLI TWO RNAV (Required Navigation Performance) departure procedures until they reach the base of adjacent airspace. The Class E5 modifications remove unnecessary controlled airspace to the northeast, east, southwest, and west while expanding targeted areas southeast and northwest of the airport.

Pilots, charter operators, and cargo carriers serving Kotzebue and Northwest Arctic villages will need to review the updated airspace designations in FAA Order JO 7400.11K, the controlling document for airspace designations, before September 3. The incorporation by reference is subject to the annual revision of that order. The full rule and related materials, including the notice of proposed rulemaking, all comments received, and background material, are available at regulations.gov using the FAA docket number and at federalregister.gov.