In article p_ySc.132920$eM2.100919@attbi_s51,
"Gary Drescher" wrote:

Why do some airports with an instrument approach (e.g. HIE) lack a surface
Class E to protect the approach?

It's a regulatory thing. In order to have controlled airspace to the
surface (what's known as a "surface area"), you need to have approved
weather reporting. Interestingly enough, HIE has an ASOS, which I
thought would have counted as "approved weather reporting", but maybe
not?

HIE LOC 10 has Class G below 700' AGL, but
the MDA is well below that height. A plane can legally fly VFR just below a
700' ceiling along the final approach course, with no way for it to see and
avoid an approaching IFR plane, or vice versa.

Yup. Big sky, small plane. If that sort of stuff scares you, stick to
places with surface areas. Of course, there's nothing to prevent
somebody from flying IMC illegally without a clearance, even when there
is a surface area.