Airspace over a Marine Corps base gets new rules for part-time operations

The Federal Aviation Administration changed the rules for controlled airspace above the New River Marine Corps Air Station in Jacksonville, North Carolina. This means that when the air traffic control tower is not fully staffed, instrument flight rules operations will still have proper safety management.

Airspace rules are usually set for full-time operations, but many smaller military airfields have part-time towers. This change creates a specific airspace class for these situations, ensuring that pilots flying by instruments still have controlled airspace when the tower is closed. It means the FAA is adapting its rules to the actual operating conditions of some military bases.