September 8, 2020 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Sikorsky) Model S-92A helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by the manufacturer discovering non-conforming threads, resulting in a life limit reduction on multiple landing gear components including threaded hinge pins and main landing gear (MLG) and nose landing gear (NLG) actuator pins. This proposed AD would require a one-time inspection of the landing gear for components with non-conforming threads and removal of any nonconforming threaded hinge pin and MLG and NLG actuator pin. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This document announces the continuation of, effectiveness of, and the extension of the timeline for publication of a final rule. We are issuing this document in accordance with section 1871(a)(3)(C) of the Social Security Act (the Act), which allows an interim final rule to remain in effect after the expiration of the timeline specified in section 1871(a)(3)(B) of the Act if the Secretary publishes a notice of continuation explaining why we did not comply with the regular publication timeline.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2019-22-10, which applies to all The Boeing Company Model 737-600, - 700, -700C, -800, -900, and -900ER series airplanes. AD 2019-22-10 requires repetitive inspections for cracking of the left- and right- hand side outboard chords of frame fittings and failsafe straps at a certain station around eight fasteners, and repair if any cracking is found. Since the FAA issued AD 2019-22-10, it was determined that the initial inspection threshold and repetitive inspection interval are inadequate to address the cracking in a timely manner. For certain airplanes, this proposed AD would reduce the compliance time for the initial inspection, and for all airplanes this proposed AD would reduce the compliance time for the repetitive inspections. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action amends the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Park Rapids Municipal Airport-Konshok Field, Park Rapids, MN. This action as the result of an airspace review caused by the decommissioning of the Park Rapids VHF omnidirectional range (VOR) navigation aid as part of the VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) Program. The name and geographic coordinates of the airport are also being updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.

This action amends the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Harper Municipal Airport, Harper, KS. This action is the result of an airspace review due to the decommissioning of the Anthony VHF omnidirectional range (VOR) navigation aid as part of the VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) Program.

This action extends the Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) prohibiting certain flight operations in the Pyongyang Flight Information Region (FIR) (ZKKP) by all: U.S. air carriers; U.S. commercial operators; persons exercising the privileges of an airman certificate issued by the FAA, except when such persons are operating U.S.-registered aircraft for a foreign air carrier; and operators of U.S.-registered civil aircraft, except when the operator of such aircraft is a foreign air carrier. The FAA finds this action necessary to address significant, continuing hazards to U.S. civil aviation associated with North Korean military capabilities and activities, including unannounced North Korean missile launches and air defense weapons systems. Additionally, the FAA republishes the approval process and exemption information for this SFAR, consistent with other recently published flight prohibition SFARs, and makes a minor administrative change to the wording of the applicability paragraph of the SFAR for consistency with other recently published flight prohibition SFARs.

In a final rule published in the Federal Register on June 3, 2020, and effective on July 6, 2020, we amended the U.S. Department of Agriculture's administrative regulations by adding procedural regulations for the review and issuance of agency guidance documents as mandated by Executive Order. The final rule contained an incorrect email address and a provision that is inconsistent with the Executive Order and other provisions of the final rule. This document addresses those issues.

This document denies a petition for rulemaking from SafeGuard/ IMMI (formerly Indiana Mills and Manufacturing, Inc.) and C.E. White requesting that NHTSA amend Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 213, ``Child restraint systems,'' to provide for ``school bus built-in belt-positioning seats.'' Under the petitioners' suggested amendment, a school bus built-in belt positioning seat would be a type of ``booster seat'' and would consist of a school bus seat with a lap/ shoulder belt and a shoulder belt height adjuster. The agency is denying the petition because under the requested amendment, designs would be permitted that do not provide the full benefits of booster seats, namely the proper positioning of the child on the vehicle seat to improve the fit of the lap belt to mitigate the risk of abdominal injuries in a crash.

This rule implements a recommendation from the Citrus Administrative Committee (Committee) to establish reporting requirements under the Federal marketing order for oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, and pummelos grown in Florida. This action requires Florida citrus handlers who handle citrus grown within the production area to register with the Committee.