A small Alabama airport gets its own controlled airspace

The Federal Aviation Administration is establishing Class D airspace and amending Class E airspace around Auburn University Regional Airport in Auburn, Alabama. This change means the airport now has its own dedicated controlled airspace, managed by a new air traffic control tower.

Controlled airspace makes it safer for planes to fly using instruments, especially in bad weather. This change means more reliable operations for flights in and out of Auburn, which can attract more commercial and private air traffic. It also means pilots flying near Auburn will need to follow new communication and flight rules.