Department of Transportation February 25, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, 5 U.S.C. 552a, requires that agencies that maintain a system of records publish a notice in the Federal Register of the existence and character of the system of records. In accordance with the Privacy Act, DOT is giving notice of a system of records to track consumer complaints by airline passengers.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describes the nature of the information collections and their expected burden. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period was published on August 13, 2004 [FR Doc. 04-18536, Vol. 69, No. 156, Pages 50234-50235].

This notice proposes to amend Class E5 airspace at Parsons, TN. The Beech River Regional Airport is being constructed at Parsons, TN. As a result, airspace must be established to contain the Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) Runway (RWY) 19 Standard Instrument Approach Procedure (SIAP) to Beech River Regional Airport. Controlled airspace extending upward from 700 feet Above Ground Level (AGL) is needed to contain the SIAP.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of a meeting of RTCA Special Committee 189/EUROCAE Working Group 53: Air Traffic Services (ATS) Safety and Interoperability Requirements.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of a meeting of RTCA Special Committee 159: Global Positioning System.

This notice announces the availability of, and requests comments on, proposed Technical Standard Order (TSO)-C154a, Universal Access Transceiver (UAT) Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) Equipment Operating on the Frequency of 978 MHz. In this TSO, we (the Federal Aviation Administration, or FAA) refer to a revised minimum performance standard (MPS)RTCA Inc., Document (RTCA/DO)-282A, Minimum Operational Performance Standards for Universal Access Transceiver (UAT) Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B), dated July 29, 2004. We also add Appendix 1, which lists corrections to RTCA/DO-282A since its date of issuance. The TSO also supports an optional frequency Diplexer. The Diplexer allows the ATCRBS/Mode S Transponder and the UAT equipment developed under this TSO to share antennas. This TSO is for manufacturers of Universal Access Transceiver ADS-B equipment or UAT Diplexer seeking a TSO authorization or letter of design approval. In it, we tell them what MPS their UAT equipment must meet for approval and identification with the TSO-C154a marking.

This notice announces the availability of, and requests comments on proposed Technical Standard Order (TSO)-C139, Aircraft Audio Systems and Equipment. The proposed TSO is for audio systems designers, manufacturers, and installers seeking a TSO authorization or letter of design approval. In it, we (the Federal Aviation Administration, or FAA) describe what minimum performance standards (MPS) their audio systems and equipment must meet for approval and identification with applicable TSO marking. We also combine and update the requirements of TSO-C50c, Audio Selector Panels and Amplifers; TSO- 57a, Headsets and Speakers; and TSO-C58a, Aircraft Microphones (except carbon).

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Short Brothers Model SD3-60 series airplanes. This AD requires, for certain airplanes, repetitive inspections for cracking of the balance weight brackets of the elevator trim tabs, and replacement of any cracked bracket with a new or reworked bracket that conforms to the approved design standard. This AD also provides for an optional terminating action for the repetitive inspections. This AD is prompted by reports indicating that balance weight brackets have been found cracked on both the left and right elevator trim tabs. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the balance weight bracket for the elevator trim tab, which could cause loss of the balance weight. This could result in incorrect trim during takeoff and landing, and reduced controllability of the airplane.