Department of Transportation March 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice solicits Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 grant proposals to continue the development of a Commercial Space Transportation infrastructure system that supports the National Space Policy and Congressional intent. Begun in 2010, the program supports the Commercial Space Transportation industry by identification, prioritization, and funding for Commercial Space Transportation infrastructure projects. This program has been previously referred to as the Commercial Space Transportation Grants Program. The FAA/AST intends to continue funding the Space Transportation Infrastructure Matching Grants Program for FY 2012. However, funding has not been determined at this time. In order for the FAA/AST to swiftly execute grant awards within FY 2012, should funding be available, the FAA/AST is requesting grant applications at this time. The FAA/AST intends to receive, process, and evaluate the applications in a timely manner, and in accordance with the notional schedule listed below, so should there be available funding, the recipients will already be selected and the awards can be made within FY 2012. There remains the possibility that no funds will be available in FY 2012 for the Space Transportation Infrastructure Matching Grants Program. If no funds are available, no grant applications submitted in response to this Notice will be approved and funded. This Notice will be the only solicitation made for FY 2012 projects and proposals. The FAA/AST will review and evaluate all applications for a grant received by the deadline, pursuant to 51 U.S.C. Chapter 511. The FAA/AST may make one or more grant awards based upon its evaluations of the submissions. All grants awarded under the Space Transportation Infrastructure Matching Grants Program are discretionary awards. Projects to be funded under the Space Transportation Infrastructure Matching Grants Program must carry out commercial space transportation infrastructure development, as defined in 51 U.S.C. 51101.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its findings on the noise compatibility program submitted by the City of Battle Creek, Michigan, under the provisions of 49 U.S.C. 47501 et seq. (formerly the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act, hereinafter referred to as ``the Act'') and 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 150 (hereinafter referred to as ``Part 150''). On November 1, 2011, the FAA determined that the noise exposure maps submitted by the City of Battle Creek, Michigan, under Part 150 were in compliance with applicable requirements. On February 16, 2012, the FAA approved the W.K. Kellogg Airport noise compatibility program. All of the recommendations of the program were approved. No program elements relating to new or revised flight procedures for noise abatement were proposed by the airport operator.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Eurocopter France Model AS350 helicopters. This proposed AD is prompted by an in-flight fire caused by ignition of hydraulic fluid leaking from a damaged forward (pitch) servo-control hydraulic hose. The proposed actions are intended to prevent the forward servo-control hydraulic hoses from becoming damaged and leaking hydraulic fluid that could ignite in flight, which can result in loss of main rotor control, power loss, structural damage, propagation of fire, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

Graco Children's Products Inc. (Graco), has determined that certain warning labels attached to detachable accessory pillows that it sold with MyRide\TM\ 65 line child restraint systems produced between April, 2009, and October, 2009, failed to meet the flammability requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) No. 213 \1\. Graco estimates that about 90,000 child restraint systems may be affected. Graco filed an appropriate report pursuant to 49 CFR Part 573 Defect and Noncompliance Responsibility and Reports on November 13, 2009.

As authorized by 46 U.S.C. 12121, the Secretary of Transportation, as represented by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), is authorized to grant waivers of the U.S.-build requirement of the coastwise laws under certain circumstances. A request for such a waiver has been received by MARAD. The vessel, and a brief description of the proposed service, is listed below.

PHMSA is issuing this advisory bulletin to alert operators using Driscopipe[supreg] 8000 High Density Polyethylene Pipe (Drisco8000) of the potential for material degradation. Degradation has been identified on pipe between one-half inch to two inches in diameter that was installed between 1978 and 1999 in desert-like environments in the southwestern United States. However, since root causes of the degradation have not been determined, PHMSA cannot say with certainty that this issue is isolated to these regions, operating environments, pipe sizes, or pipe installation dates. While the manufacturer has attempted to communicate with known or suspected users, PHMSA and the National Association of Pipeline Safety Representatives (NAPSR) have identified several operators currently using Drisco8000 pipe who had not received communications about the issue. PHMSA is issuing this advisory bulletin to all operators of Drisco8000 pipe in an effort to ensure they are aware of the issue, communicating with the manufacturer and their respective regulatory authorities to determine if their systems are susceptible to similar degradation, and taking measures to address it.

This notice contains a summary of a petition seeking relief from specified requirements of 14 CFR. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, this aspect of FAA's regulatory activities. Neither publication of this notice nor the inclusion or omission of information in the summary is intended to affect the legal status of the petition or its final disposition.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain BAE SYSTEMS (OPERATIONS) LIMITED Model BAe 146 and Avro 146-RJ airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of a crack found on the left-hand sidewall well on the nose landing gear (NLG). This proposed AD would require performing a repetitive high frequency eddy current inspection of the stiffeners on the left-hand sidewall on the NLG gear bay for cracks, and repair or replace the sidewall if necessary. Replacing the sidewall with a certain sidewall part number constitutes a terminating action for the repetitive inspections. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct failure of the sidewall, which could result in consequent in-flight rapid decompression of the cabin and injury to the passengers.

The Department published a notice entitled ``Additional Guidance on Airfare/Air Tour Price Advertisements,'' in the Federal Register of February 27, 2012; the notice contained an incorrect address for the Department.

This action amends Class E Airspace in the Springfield, TN area. Aydelotte Airport has been abandoned and controlled airspace is no longer needed. Airspace reconfiguration is necessary for the continued safety and airspace management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations within the Springfield, TN airspace area. This action also makes a minor adjustment to the geographic coordinates of the Springfield Robertson County Airport.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 747-100, 747-100B, 747-100B SUD, 747-200B, 747-200C, 747-200F, 747-300, 747-400, 747-400D, 747-400F, 747SR, and 747SP series airplanes. This AD requires inspections for scribe lines in affected lap and butt splices, wing-to-body fairing locations, and external repair and cutout reinforcement areas; and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. This AD was prompted by reports of scribe lines found at lap joints and butt joints, around external doublers and antennas, and at locations where external decals had been cut. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct scribe lines, which can develop into fatigue cracks in the skin and cause sudden decompression of the airplane.

The FAA is conducting a public meeting to seek technical input on proposed operational incentive scenarios for possible implementation in the 2012-2014 timeframe. The discussion will be limited to technical and operational implications of these selected scenarios. The candidate proposals for discussion have been designed to deliver on the best equipped, best performing, best served concept for implementation in the 2012-2014 timeframe. The proposed scenarios target use of the following NextGen technologies: ADS-B Out and In and RNAV/RNP 0.3 with and without RF Legs. This meeting is focused on technical considerations; before implementation of any potential scenario the FAA would conduct the necessary reviews and opportunities for public notice and comment as appropriate.

The FAA is correcting an airworthiness directive (AD) that published in the Federal Register. That AD applies to all Hawker Beechcraft Corporation Models 95-C55, D55, E55, 58, and 58A airplanes equipped with a certain STC. The description of the affected STCs in the first sentence of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION, Discussion section, is incorrect. This document corrects that error. In all other respects, the original document remains the same.