Federal Aviation Administration – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA invites public comments about our intention to request 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 August 7, 2023. The collection involves information related to recreational flying under the Exception for Limited Recreational Operations of Unmanned Aircraft. The information collected will be used to recognize Community Based Organizations (CBOs), administer an aeronautical knowledge and safety test, establish fixed flying sites, approve standards and limitations for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) weighing more than 55 pounds, and designate FAA Recognized Identification Areas (FRIAs).

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 collection involves requirements primarily applicable to air carriers conducting domestic, flag, and supplemental operations to enhance the professional development of pilots in those operations. The action requires air carriers conducting domestic, flag, and supplemental operations to provide new-hire pilots with an opportunity to observe flight operations and become familiar with procedures before serving as a flightcrew member in operations. Additionally, it requires air carriers who have not previously revised the upgrade training to include professional development and to provide leadership and command and mentoring training for all pilots in command. The information to be collected is necessary to mitigate incidents of unprofessional pilot behavior and reduce pilot errors that can lead to a catastrophic event.

This action makes the editorial changes, updating the airport names of two Army Airfields (AAF) and replacing the term Notice to Airmen with Notice to Air Missions in the Class E description. This action does not change the airspace boundaries or operating requirements.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its determination that the noise exposure map submitted by Dane County for Dane County Regional Airport/Truax Field is in compliance with applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.

The FAA proposes to amend, restructure, and consolidate the falsification regulations presently located throughout title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations. This proposal would (1) harmonize inconsistencies among the various falsification regulations and associated sanctions; (2) consolidate all existing falsification regulations into a general rule that standardizes the existing falsification regulations; and (3) ensure that falsification-related conduct not addressed by pertinent current regulations would be covered under the general rule. In addition, this proposal would create a falsification prohibition applicable to the regulations governing Commercial Space Transportation.

The FAA is requesting public comment on the Police Jury of Beauregard Parish's proposal to change 3,501.65 acres of airport property at Beauregard Regional Airport in DeRidder, Louisiana from aeronautical to non-aeronautical use. This acreage was federally conveyed through the Surplus Property Act of 1944.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2023-24-51 which applied to all H[eacute]licopt[egrave]res Guimbal Model Cabri G2 helicopters. AD 2023-24-51 was prompted by reports of a crack in the pilot cyclic stick base and required repetitively inspecting certain part-numbered pilot and co-pilot cyclic stick bases and, depending on the results, corrective action. AD 2023-24-51 also prohibited installing those pilot and co-pilot cyclic stick bases unless certain requirements were met. Since the FAA issued AD 2023-24-51, more cracks in the cyclic stick bases have been reported, including a crack in a cyclic stick base that had accumulated only 700 hours time-in-service (TIS). This AD requires the same actions as AD 2023-24-51 but reduces the compliance time for performing the initial inspection. These actions are specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA previously sent this AD as an emergency AD to all known U.S. owners and operators of these helicopters. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action amends Class D and Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface for William P. Gwinn Airport, Jupiter, FL. This action increases the radius of the Class D airspace and amends verbiage in the Class D description. This action also updates the geographic coordinates for the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface. It revokes Class E airspace designated as an extension to a Class D surface area.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Helicopters Model AS332C, AS332C1, AS3322L, AS332L1, AS332L2, and EC225LP helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of cracks on the fuel filter bowl (bowl) due to over-torquing. This proposed AD would require visually inspecting the bowls of the right hand (RH) and left hand (LH) fuel filters for any cracks and seepage. Depending on the inspection results, this proposed AD would require removing an affected fuel filter from service and replacing that part. This proposed AD would also allow a certain fuel filter to be installed on a helicopter if certain actions are accomplished, 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.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain MHI RJ Aviation ULC Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 & 440) airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a determination that a more restrictive airworthiness limitation is necessary. This proposed AD would require revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate a more restrictive airworthiness limitation, as specified in a Transport Canada AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference (IBR). The FAA is proposing 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 for a new information collection. The collection involves conducting research in the form of interviews with aviation stakeholders (e.g., airport/droneport operators, private entities, original equipment manufacturers, unmanned aircraft system (UAS) industry vendors, academia, representatives of the military, aviation stakeholders, etc.) to catalog current and planned droneport planning, design, and infrastructure needs, as well as find out which airports are integrating UAS into the airport environment. During each interview, the FAA will ask the stakeholders a specific set of questions, and if necessary, fact-specific follow-up questions will be posed to clarify and enhance the respondent's answers to the specified set of questions. The information to be collected is necessary because it will allow the FAA to understand how aviation stakeholders are integrating UAS into existing airport design standards/infrastructure and standalone facilities also referred to as droneports. Currently, no formal FAA definition of droneport currently exists. Based on the results of this research effort, the FAA may develop a formal definition for a droneport. For the purposes of this research effort, a modified version of the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 1 definition of `airport' is used to define droneport: `an area of land or water that is used or intended to be used for the landing and takeoff of UAS aircraft, and includes its buildings and facilities, if any.' The information collected will also be used to help the FAA to shape future droneport research efforts and possible standards and guidance material.

This action proposes special conditions for the Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation (Gulfstream) Model GVIII-G700 and GVIII-G800 series airplanes. These airplanes 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 side-facing seats oriented in the aircraft with the occupant facing 90 degrees to the direction of aircraft travel. 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.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all The Boeing Company Model 777 airplanes. This AD was prompted by an evaluation by the design approval holder (DAH) that found the force limiter assemblies for the lateral control mechanism are not breaking out within the maximum design force requirements. This AD requires replacing affected force limiter assemblies and prohibits the installation of affected parts. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action amends the Class E airspace at Litchfield, MN. This action is 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. This action brings the airspace into compliance with FAA orders to support instrument flight rule (IFR) operations.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Britten-Norman Aircraft, Ltd. Model BN-2, BN-2A, BN-2A-2, BN- 2A-3, BN-2A-6, BN-2A-8, BN-2A-9, BN-2A-20, BN-2A-21, BN-2A-26, BN-2A- 27, BN-2B-20, BN-2B-21, BN-2B-26, BN-2B27, BN-2T, BN2T-4R, and BN2T-4S airplanes; and Model BN2A MK. III, BN2A MK. III-2, and BN2A MK. III-3 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of electrical cable (Koiled Kord) and flight control cables interference with the control column. This proposed AD would require inspecting for interference between the control column, rudder pedal adjuster cable, and any wiring (including the Koiled Kord) concurrently with performing a flight control full and free movement inspection, and taking corrective actions if necessary. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company (Boeing) Model 787-8, 787-9, and 787-10 airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of undetected water leaks from the faucet control module (FCM) migrating below the passenger floor in multiple lavatory locations during flight, and into the electronic equipment bay(s). This AD requires repetitive general visual inspections of the area under all lavatory washbasins for evidence of intermittent and active leaks at the FCM and applicable on-condition actions. 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 Airbus SAS A300 B4-600, B4-600R, and F4-600R series airplanes, and Model A300 C4-605R Variant F airplanes (collectively called Model A300- 600 series airplanes). This AD was prompted by a determination that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. This AD requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations, 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 notice contains a summary of a petition seeking relief from specified requirements of Federal Aviation Regulations. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, the FAA's exemption process. 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.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all helicopters with certain Pacific Scientific Company rotary buckle assemblies (buckles) installed. This AD was prompted by a report of a manufacturing defect in the screws used inside the buckle. This AD requires inspecting the buckle screws and, depending on the results, reidentifying the buckle, replacing the screws and reidentifying the buckle, or replacing the buckle. This AD also prohibits installing certain buckles. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

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

These special conditions are issued for the Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation (Gulfstream) Model GVIII-G700 and GVIII-G800 series airplanes. These airplanes 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, the functions of which are dependent upon the electrical power-generation and distribution systems, whereby the loss of all electrical power may be catastrophic to the airplane. 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 superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2023-04- 10, which applied to all Dassault Aviation Model MYSTERE-FALCON 900 airplanes. AD 2023-04-10 required revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations. This AD was prompted by a determination that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. This AD continues to require the actions in AD 2023-04- 10, and requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations; 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 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.

These special conditions are issued for the Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation (Gulfstream) Model GVIII-G700 and GVIII-G800 series airplanes. These airplanes 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 side-stick controllers for pitch and roll control. 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 proposed rule would implement certain mandates in the Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act of 2020 by requiring applicants for, and holders of, new and amended transport category airplane type certificates to submit, and subsequently continue to disclose, certain safety critical information to the FAA. The proposed rule would also require all applicants for type certificates, including new, amended, and supplemental type certificates, to submit a proposed certification plan to the FAA.