wrote in message ...
As Steve said, not only does the airport have to have approved weather
reporting service and communications, the regional FAA office has to
determine
a need for a Class E surface area. AOPA fights these tooth and nail as an
"airspace grab," so the FAA policy is to not establish them except under
certain circumstances. The regional FAA Flight Procedures Office is in
the
best position to explain that policy to you.

Thanks, perhaps I'll ask them. So far all of my IMC approaches have been to
Class B, C, or D airports, so I haven't been very concerned about this
issue. But it does seem to me that the safety of being in controlled
airspace during the approach until below the MDA would outweigh the
usefulness of being able to fly VFR under a 700' ceiling (especially at HIE,
surrounded by hills and mountains).

--Gary