Federal Aviation Administration – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This action proposes to amend the Class E airspace at Mankato, MN. The FAA is proposing this action as the result of an airspace review conducted due to the decommissioning of the Mankato very high frequency omnidirectional range (VOR) as part of the VOR Minimum Operating Network (MON) Program. The name of an airport would also be updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database. This action will bring the airspace into compliance with FAA orders to support instrument flight rule (IFR) operations.

On December 15, 2023, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) published a correction to the Random Drug and Alcohol Testing Percentage Rates of Covered Aviation Employees for the Period January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024. In that document, the FAA inadvertently provided the incorrect docket number in the heading and corrections sections. This document corrects that error.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Leonardo S.p.a Model AW169 helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by a determination that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. This proposed AD would require revising the airworthiness limitations section (ALS) of the existing helicopter maintenance manual or instructions for continued airworthiness (ICA) for your helicopter and the existing approved maintenance or inspection program for your helicopter, as applicable, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action proposes to revoke Colored Federal airway Amber 1 (A-1) in Alaska due to the pending decommissioning of the navigational aids (NAVAID) that support the airway.

This action proposes to amend Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal Airway V-220 and revoke VOR Federal Airways V-79 and V-380. The FAA is proposing this action due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Hastings, NE (HSI), VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) navigational aid (NAVAID). The Hastings VOR is being decommissioned in support of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.

This action proposes to establish restricted area R-4601 in the vicinity of Townsend, MT. The new restricted area would provide the Montana Army National Guard (MTARNG) and the 40th Helicopter Squadron with the ability to conduct aerial gunnery training.

This action proposes to amend the Class E airspace at Danville, IL. The FAA is proposing this action as the result of an airspace review conducted due to the decommissioning of the Danville very high frequency omnidirectional range (VOR) as part of the VOR Minimum Operating Network (MON) Program. The name and geographic coordinates of the airport would also be updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database. This action will bring the airspace into compliance with FAA orders to support instrument flight rule (IFR) operations.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2019-12- 07, which applied to all Airbus SAS Model A318-111, -112, -121, and - 122 airplanes; Model A319-111, -112, -113, -114, -115, -131, -132, and -133 airplanes; Model A320-211, -212, -214, -216, -231, -232, and -233 airplanes; and Model A321-111, -112, -131, -211, -212, -213, -231, and -232 airplanes. AD 2019-12-07 required replacement of both main landing gear (MLG) shock absorbers, an identification of affected MLG sliding tubes; inspection of affected chromium plates and sliding tube axles for damage; and replacement of the sliding tube if necessary. AD 2019- 12-07 also required repetitive inspections of affected MLG sliding tubes for cracking, replacement of cracked MLG sliding tubes, and eventual replacement of each affected MLG sliding tube. This AD continues to require the actions specified in AD 2019-12-07 and requires repetitive inspections of additional MLG sliding tubes, replacement if necessary, and eventual replacement of the additional MLG sliding tubes. This AD also extends the repetitive inspection interval. This AD also prohibits the installation of affected parts under certain conditions. This AD was prompted by the FAA's determination that additional MLG sliding tubes are affected by the unsafe condition and that the repetitive inspection interval may be extended. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew an information collection. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on April 24, 2023. The collection involves practices that permitted certificated air carriers to operate two-engine airplanes over long range routes. The FAA uses this information collection to ensure that aircraft for long range flights are equipped to minimize diversions, to preclude and prevent diversions in remote areas, and to ensure that all personnel are trained to minimize any adverse impacts of a diversion.

This rule amends, suspends, or removes Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) and associated Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures for operations at certain airports. These regulatory actions are needed because of the adoption of new or revised criteria, or because of changes occurring in the National Airspace System, such as the commissioning of new navigational facilities, adding new obstacles, or changing air traffic requirements. These changes are designed to provide for the safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace and to promote safe flight operations under instrument flight rules at the affected airports.

The FAA published a document in the Federal Register on November 28, 2023, announcing the primary category airworthiness design criteria for type certification of the ICON Aircraft Inc., (ICON) Model A5-B airplane. The document contained incorrect references to the aircraft and engine model numbers.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc., Model CL-600-2B16 (604 Variant) airplanes. This AD was prompted by sleeve loops on some passenger oxygen mask lanyards that had improper crimping and unsealed ends. This AD requires an inspection of the passenger oxygen mask lanyards and replacement of defective oxygen mask lanyards. This AD also prohibits the installation of affected parts. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Embraer S.A. Model EMB-135BJ airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of missing sealant on the rivets installed in the interface between rib 3 and the wing skin. This AD requires applying sealant on the rivets installed in the interface between rib 3 and wing skin, as specified in an Ag[ecirc]ncia Nacional de Avia[ccedil][atilde]o Civil (ANAC) AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action proposes to modify the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface and remove the Class E airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface at Klawock Airport, Klawock, AK. Additionally, this action proposes administrative amendments to update the airport's existing Class E airspace legal description. These actions would support the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

This action corrects a typographic error in the final rule published in the Federal Register on November 28, 2023, making an administrative change to rename restricted areas R-5311A, R-5311B, and R-5311C, Fort Bragg, NC, and updating the using agency description to reflect the change. Additionally, geographic coordinate technical amendments for two boundary points listed in the restricted areas were made to accurately align the existing boundary with the Little River referenced in the descriptions.

This action proposes to establish three and amend three United States Area Navigation (RNAV) T-routes in the eastern United States. This action supports Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) which provides a modern RNAV route structure to improve the efficiency of the National Airspace System (NAS).

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Viking Air Limited (type certificate previously held by Bombardier Inc. and de Havilland, Inc.) (Viking) Model DHC-3 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report of cracking in the left-hand side (LHS) and right- hand side (RHS) lower engine mount pickup fittings. This AD requires a one-time inspection of the affected parts for cracking, deformation, corrosion, fretting or wear, paint or surface coating damage, and loose, missing, or broken fasteners, and applicable corrective actions. This AD also requires reporting the inspection results. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

On November 17, 2023, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) published the Random Drug and Alcohol Testing Percentage Rates of Covered Aviation Employees for the Period January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024. In that document, the FAA inadvertently provided incorrect years in the supplementary information section. This document corrects that error.

In accordance with section 125 of The Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century(AIR-21) the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) provides notice that the FAA is approving a surplus property land release of Federal obligations for a 5.25 acre parcel at the Kearney Muncipal Airport, Kearney, Nebraska.

This action amends Class D airspace, Class E airspace designated as an extension to a Class D surface area, and Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface for Arnold Palmer Regional Airport, Latrobe, Pennsylvania, by making editorial changes to the airspace legal descriptions. This action does not change the airspace boundaries or operating requirements.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Piper Aircraft, Inc. (Piper) Model PA-46-350P, PA-46-500TP, and PA-46-600TP airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report that a bearing fell out of a control column mount during routine handling prior to installation in an affected airplane and the discovery that a quality escape condition could exist on other airplanes. This AD requires inspecting the left and right control column mounts to determine if a retaining ring is installed. If a retaining ring is not installed, this AD requires inspecting the bearing in the mount block for the presence of retaining compound, and depending on the inspection results, installing a retaining ring and applying retaining compound to the bearing, as applicable. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all MHI RJ Aviation ULC Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 & 440), CL-600-2C10 (Regional Jet Series 700, 701 & 702), CL-600-2C11 (Regional Jet Series 550), CL-600-2D15 (Regional Jet Series 705), CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900), and CL-600-2E25 (Regional Jet Series 1000) airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of power control unit (PCU) rod end fractures due to pitting corrosion, and a determination that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. This AD requires, for certain airplanes, revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations. This AD also requires accomplishing certain aircraft maintenance manual (AMM) tasks and corrective actions following short-term or long-term storage. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew an information collection. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on April 17, 2023. The FAA collects information from applicants for experimental permits in order to determine whether they satisfy the requirements for obtaining an experimental permit.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Safran Helicopter Engines, S.A. (Safran) (type certificate previously held by Turbomeca S.A.) Model Arrius 2R engines. This AD is prompted by reports of inconsistencies between the torque (TQ) and measured gas temperature (MGT) conformation values recorded in the avionics and the TQ and MGT conformation values recorded on the engine log cards following replacement of the M01 and M02 modules installed on the engine. This AD requires a one-time check of the consistency between the TQ and MGT conformation values recorded in the avionics and the values recorded on the engine log cards, and, if necessary, recalibrating the values and updating the engine logs, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action proposes special conditions for the Airbus Model A330-300 series airplane. This airplane as modified by Aerocon Engineering Company (Aerocon) will have a novel or unusual design feature when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport category airplanes. This design feature is an installation of a lower deck crew rest compartment (LDCRC) under the passenger cabin floor in the cargo compartment. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These proposed special conditions contain the additional safety standards that the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards.