Federal Aviation Administration 2023 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This action proposes to amend the Class E airspace at Hutchinson, MN. The FAA is proposing this action as the result of an airspace review conducted due to the decommissioning of the Darwin very high frequency omnidirectional range (VOR) as part of the VOR Minimum Operating Network (MON) Program. The name 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.

This action proposes to amend the Class E airspace at Natchez, MS. The FAA is proposing this action as the result of an airspace review conducted due to the decommissioning of the Natchez 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.

This action proposes to amend the Class E airspace at Jackson, OH. The FAA is proposing this action as the result of an airspace review conducted due to the decommissioning of the York very high frequency omnidirectional range (VOR) as part of the VOR Minimum Operating Network (MON) Program. The 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.

This amendment adopts miscellaneous amendments to the required IFR (instrument flight rules) altitudes and changeover points for certain Federal airways, jet routes, or direct routes for which a minimum or maximum en route authorized IFR altitude is prescribed. This regulatory action is needed because of changes occurring in the National Airspace System. These changes are designed to provide for the safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace under instrument conditions in the affected areas.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2023-04- 12, which applied to all Airbus SAS Model A350-941 and -1041 airplanes. AD 2023-04-12 required repetitive detailed inspections of affected cargo sealing tapes and applicable corrective actions. Since the FAA issued AD 2023-04-12, additional locations have been identified that are subject to the unsafe condition. This AD retains the requirements of AD 2023-04-12 and expands the inspection area, 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 A321neo XLR airplane. The airplane 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 electronic flight-control system (EFCS) associated with lateral-directional and longitudinal stability, and low-energy awareness. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These 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.

This action amends Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airways V-158 and V-172 in the vicinity of Polo, IL. The amendments are due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Polo, IL (PLL), VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) navigational aid (NAVAID). The Polo VOR is being decommissioned as part of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.

This action amends Jet Route J-84, United States Area Navigation (RNAV) route Q-42, and Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airways V-171 and V-251, and establishes United States RNAV route T-478. The FAA is taking this action due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Danville, IL (DNV), VOR/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) navigational aid (NAVAID). The Danville VOR is being decommissioned in support of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.

This action amends United States Area Navigation (RNAV) Route Q-46 in the vicinity of Point Hope, AK. The FAA is taking this action due to the pending decommissioning of the Point Hope, AK (PHO), Non- Directional Beacon (NDB) navigational aid (NAVAID).

This action proposes to establish Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Flying Joseph Ranch Airport, May, ID, in support of the airport's transition from visual flight rules (VFR) to instrument flight rules (IFR) operations.

The FAA, in cooperation with the National Park Service (NPS) (together the agencies), has initiated development of an Air Tour Management Plan (ATMP) for Canyon de Chelly National Monument (the Park) pursuant to the National Parks Air Tour Management Act (NPATMA) of 2000 and its implementing regulations. The agencies determined that the development of an ATMP constitutes a Federal undertaking subject to compliance the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended (NHPA). The agencies have initiated the section 106 process with the Navajo Nation Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, Tribes, and other consulting parties. This notice announces the opportunity for the public to comment on the results of the FAA's efforts to identify historic properties, evaluate the properties' significance, and assess the undertaking's effects on them. The agencies are seeking public input on the FAA's efforts to date in identifying consulting parties, determining the area of potential effects, identifying historic properties, and assessing the effects of the undertaking on historic properties within the area of potential effects. The agencies are providing the description of the undertaking, the consulting party list, the delineation of the proposed Area of Potential Effects (APE), the results of the agencies' efforts to identify historic properties within the APE, the evaluation of their significance, and the agencies' approach to assessing the undertaking's effects upon the identified historic properties. Supporting documentation can be found at the following link: https://parkplanning.nps.gov/CACHATMP.

This action reopens the comment period for the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) published on May 23, 2023, titled ``Removal of Expiration Date on a Flight Instructor Certificate; Additional Qualification Requirements To Train Initial Flight Instructor Applicants; and Other Provisions.'' The proposed amendments would function to remove the expiration date from a flight instructor certificate, establish recent experience requirements, expand certain certificate reinstatement options for flight instructors, amend qualification requirements for flight instructors seeking to provide training to initial flight instructor applicants, and codify the requirements of a Special Federal Aviation Regulation. The FAA is reopening the comment period to allow commenters an additional opportunity to provide feedback on this proposed rule.

The FAA is revising a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2020-26-08. AD 2020-26-08 applies to The Boeing Company Model 787-8, 787-9, and 787-10 airplanes powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines. This action revises the NPRM by proposing replacement of an additional upper splitter fairing assembly. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. Since these actions would impose an additional burden over those in the NPRM, the FAA is requesting comments on this SNPRM.

The FAA is correcting an airworthiness directive (AD) that was published in the Federal Register. That AD applies to certain International Aero Engines, LLC (IAE LLC) Model PW1124G1-JM, PW1127G- JM, PW1127GA-JM, PW1129G-JM, PW1130G-JM, PW1133G-JM, and PW1133GA-JM engines. As published, a part number was inadvertently excluded in the regulatory text of the AD. This document corrects that error. In all other respects, the original document remains the same.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Canada Limited Partnership Model BD-500-1A10 and BD-500-1A11 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of multiple occurrences of low clearance or fouling between certain wiring harnesses and a hydraulic bracket and structure in the wing trailing edge area that were detected on the production line. This proposed AD would require inspecting certain wiring harnesses for any damage and clearance to adjacent structure and corrective actions, as specified in a Transport Canada AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference (IBR). This proposed AD would also require an inspection report. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA proposes to supersede airworthiness directive (AD) 2021-13-07, which applies to all GE Aviation Czech s.r.o. (GEAC) (type certificate previously held by WALTER Engine a.s., Walter a.s., and MOTORLET a.s.) Model M601D-11, M601E-11, M601E-11A, M601E-11AS, M601E- 11S, and M601F engines. AD 2021-13-07 requires recalculating the life of critical parts and, depending on the results of the recalculation, replacing these critical parts. AD 2021-13-07 also requires replacing a certain compressor case. Since the FAA issued AD 2021-13-07, the manufacturer published the airworthiness limitations section (ALS) of the existing engine maintenance manual (EMM), which includes the calculations for the life of critical parts addressed by AD 2021-13-07 and prompted this proposed AD. This proposed AD would continue to require the replacement of a certain centrifugal compressor case. This proposed AD would also include an additional part number as an option for the replacement and would limit the applicability of the proposed AD, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference (IBR). The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 757 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of operators finding frequent and severe damage to the blowout vent grills of the aft soft bulkhead lining in the aft lower lobe cargo compartment. This proposed AD would require repetitive detailed inspections of certain decompression panels and pressure equalization valves, as applicable, in the forward and aft lower lobe cargo compartments for damage, and applicable on-condition actions. For certain airplanes, this proposed AD would also require replacement of a certain soft bulkhead with a rigid bulkhead. For certain other airplanes, this proposed AD would require installation of doublers to a certain bulkhead assembly panel. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action removes the current flight prohibition Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) for specified areas of the Dnipro Flight Information Region (FIR) (UKDV). This SFAR, which is scheduled to expire on October 27, 2023, reflects risks to the safety of U.S. civil aviation as they existed prior to the Russian Federation's full- scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and is therefore obsolete. This action is necessary to alleviate confusion that might otherwise result from leaving an obsolete rule in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) after its scheduled expiration date of October 27, 2023. FAA Notice-to-Air-Missions (NOTAM) KICZ A0004/22 remains in effect and continues to prohibit U.S. civil flight operations in the Lviv (UKLV), Kyiv (UKBV), Dnipro (UKDV), Simferopol (UKFV), and Odesa (UKOV) FIRs, as well as the Kyiv Upper Information Region (UIR) (UKBU). NOTAM KICZ A0004/22, together with NOTAMs KICZ A0003/22 and A0005/22, reflects the FAA's current assessment of the safety-of-flight risks the Russia- Ukraine conflict presents to U.S. civil aviation operations.

These special conditions are issued for The Boeing Company (Boeing) Model 777 series airplanes. These airplanes 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 pretensioner restraint systems installed on passenger seats. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These 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.

The FAA is considering a proposal to change approximately 0.135 acres of airport land from aeronautical use to non-aeronautical use and to authorize an easement be placed on airport property located at Evansville Regional Airport, Evansville, Indiana. The aforementioned land is not needed for aeronautical use. The land is located at the intersection of Oak Hill Road and William L. Brooks Drive and is currently vacant. The proposed use of the land is to accommodate right- of-way needed for Oak Hill Road improvements.

This rule establishes, amends, suspends, or removes Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPS) and associated Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure procedures (ODPs) 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 safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace and to promote safe flight operations under instrument flight rules at the affected airports.

This action proposes to establish Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Antone Ranch Airport, Mitchell, OR, in support of the airport's forthcoming transition from visual flight rules (VFR) to instrument flight rules (IFR) operations.

This action changes the effective date of a final rule published in the Federal Register on September 22, 2023, amending Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airway V-36 and establishing Canadian Area Navigation (RNAV) route T-675 in the northcentral United States (U.S.). The FAA is delaying the effective date to coincide with the expected completion of the associated aeronautical data requirements for establishing all segments of Canadian RNAV route T-675 within U.S. airspace and to adopt the rule amendments concurrently.

This notice announces a meeting of the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Epic Aircraft, LLC Model E1000 airplanes. This AD was prompted by improperly rigged flap position switches. This AD requires installing a secondary full position limit switch to the flap system, installing a switch ramp on the flap actuator, and modifying the take- off position switch rigging. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.