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New Class D and Class E Airspace at Jose Aponte de la Torre Airport in Ceiba, Puerto Rico

🇺🇸United States··Final Rule·Low Impact·View source ↗

AI-generated summary for informational purposes only. Not legal advice. See the original source for the authoritative text.

🇬🇧 English

This rule creates controlled Class D and Class E airspace around Jose Aponte de la Torre Airport in Ceiba, Puerto Rico. The change supports the airport traffic control tower operated by the U.S. Marine Corps and is meant to improve the handling of both instrument and visual flight operations. Pilots, aircraft operators, flight planners, and airport users should update procedures and charts for flights near RVR airport. The Class D area runs from the surface up to 2,500 feet within 5 miles of the airport, while the Class E area begins at 700 feet above the surface within 7 miles. The rule takes effect on July 9, 2026.

AI-generated summary. May contain errors. Refer to official sources for legal decisions.

Key Changes

  • Establishes Class D airspace from the surface up to 2,500 feet within a 5-mile radius of Jose Aponte de la Torre Airport.
  • Establishes Class E airspace beginning at 700 feet above the surface within a 7-mile radius of the airport.
  • Updates FAA airspace designations to support tower-controlled operations at RVR airport starting July 9, 2026.

Obligations

What this law requires

high

Beginning at 0901 UTC on July 9, 2026, flight operations within a 5-mile radius of Jose Aponte de la Torre Airport, Ceiba, PR, from the surface up to and including 2,500 feet MSL must be treated as operations in Class D airspace and conducted under the applicable Class D airspace rules.

pilotsaircraft operators
Effective 0901 UTC, July 9, 2026
operational
medium

Beginning at 0901 UTC on July 9, 2026, flight operations within a 7-mile radius of Jose Aponte de la Torre Airport, Ceiba, PR, at and above 700 feet above the surface must be treated as operations in Class E controlled airspace and conducted under the applicable Class E airspace rules.

pilotsaircraft operators
Effective 0901 UTC, July 9, 2026
operational
medium

Flight planning for operations near Jose Aponte de la Torre Airport must account for the newly established Class D airspace within 5 miles of the airport up to 2,500 feet MSL and Class E airspace within 7 miles of the airport beginning at 700 feet above the surface.

flight plannersaircraft operatorspilots
For flights conducted on or after 0901 UTC, July 9, 2026
operational
medium

Aeronautical charts, navigation databases, and operational procedures used for flights near Jose Aponte de la Torre Airport should be updated to reflect the Class D and Class E airspace designations effective July 9, 2026.

aircraft operatorsflight planning service providersaeronautical chart and navigation data providers
By the effective date, 0901 UTC, July 9, 2026
operational

Affected Parties

Pilots operating near Jose Aponte de la Torre AirportAircraft operators and flight planners+2 more…

Tags

aviation,airspace,Puerto Rico