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

This notice announces the availability of and requests comments on the proposed advisory circular, AC 23-24. This guidance sets forth one method that may be used to generate compliance checklists for some 14 CFR, part 23 Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) airplane projects. Guidance is provided for changes to the airplane autopilot, engine, propeller, auxiliary fuel tank, and gross weight. These compliance checklists may be used to fulfill some of the requirements for a Certification Plan as part of an STC project.

The FAA proposes to rule and invites public comment on the application to impose and use, PFC revenue at Mahlon Sweet Field Eugene Airport under the provisions of 49 U.S.C. 40117 and part 158 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 158).

The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain Boeing Model 757-200, 757-200CB, and 757- 200PF series airplanes. The existing AD currently requires repetitive detailed inspections to detect horizontal or vertical movement of the shims at the joint of the mid-bulkhead and the upper link fittings, and corrective action if necessary; or certain alternative actions that terminate the requirement for the repetitive inspections. This new AD continues to require those repetitive inspections; decreases the allowable tolerance for shim migration; and adds new repetitive detailed inspections for cracking of the entire mid-bulkhead, and repair if necessary. This new AD also adds additional airplanes to the applicability of the AD. This AD is prompted by reports of cracks in the mid-bulkhead lower vertical flange common to the lower chord and stiffener and reports of cracking at other locations on the mid- bulkhead. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct migration of shims at the joint of the mid-bulkhead and the upper link fittings and cracking of the mid-bulkhead, which could result in cracking of the strut and consequent loss of the strut and engine.

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.

This final rule adopts without change the April 1, 2005, mandatory compliance date for the notification and record retention requirements for aircraft operators transporting hazardous materials, as adopted in an interim final rule in this proceeding published on September 1, 2004.

The Surface Transportation Board (Board) will hold a public hearing beginning at 10 a.m. on Thursday, March 24, 2005, at its offices in Washington, DC, to provide interested persons an opportunity to express their views on the subject of rail rate challenges under the stand-alone cost (SAC) methodology. Persons wishing to speak at the hearing should notify the Board in writing.

On January 5, 1993, the U.S. Department of Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) issued an interim final rule establishing oil spill response planning requirements for onshore oil pipelines (49 CFR Part 194). These regulations were issued pursuant to section 1321(j)(5) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (FWPCA), as amended by the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90). OPS is now adopting the interim rule as a final rule. This final rule makes minor amendments to some of the regulations in response to the written public comments received after issuance of the interim final rule and at a public meeting held in 1997 in New Orleans, LA. The amendments also reflect the experience that OPS has gained in implementing the rule; leading spill response exercises; and, responding to actual spills and harmonizes certain OPS requirements with related oil spill response regulations developed by the U.S. Coast Guard. The amendments are generally technical in nature and do not involve additional costs to pipeline operators or the public.

The FAA proposes to rule and invites public comment on the application to impose and use the revenue from a PFC at Victoria Regional Airport under the provisions of the Aviation Safety and Capacity Expansion Act of 1990 (Title IX of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990) (Pub. L. 101-508) and Part 158 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR Part 158).

Pursuant to FAA's rulemaking provisions governing the application, processing, and disposition of petitions for exemption, part 11 of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR), this notice contains a summary of certain petitions seeking relief from specified requirements of 14 CFR, dispositions of certain petitions previously received, and corrections. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, this aspect of FAA's regulatory activities. Neither publication of this notice nor the inclusion or omission of information in the summary is intended to affect the legal status of any petition or its final disposition.

Pursuant to FAA's rulemaking provisions governing the application, processing, and disposition of petitions for exemption, part 11 of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR), this notice contains a summary of a certain petition seeking relief from specified requirements of 14 CFR. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, this aspect of FAA's regulatory activities. Neither publication of this notice nor the inclusion or omission of information in the summary is intended to affect the legal status of any petition or its final disposition.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and its implementing regulations, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) hereby announces that it is seeking renewal of the following currently approved information collection activities. Before submitting these information collection requirements (ICRs) for clearance by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), FRA is soliciting public comment on specific aspects of the activities identified below.

In accordance with the procedures governing the application for, and the processing of, exemptions from the Department of Transportation's Hazardous Material Regulations (49 CFR Part 107, Subpart B), notice is hereby given that the Office of Hazardous Materials Safety has received the application described herein. This notice is abbreviated to expedite docketing and public notice. Because the sections affected, modes of transportation, and the nature of application have been shown in earlier Federal Register publications, they are not repeated here. Request of modifications of exemptions (e.g. to provide for additional hazardous materials, packaging design changes, additional mode of transportation, etc.) are described in footnotes to the application number. Application numbers with the suffix ``M'' denote a modification request. There applications have been separated from the new application for exemption to facilitate processing.

In accordance with the procedures governing the application for, and the processing of, exemptions from the Department of Transportation's Hazardous Material Regulations (49 CFR Part 107, Subpart B), notice is hereby given that the Office of Hazardous Materials Safety has received the application described herein. Each mode of transportation for which a particular exemption is requested is indicated by a number in the ``Nature of Application'' portion of the table below as follows: 1Motor vehicle, 2Rail freight, 3Cargo vessel, 4Cargo aircraft only, 5Passenger-carrying aircraft.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Dornier Model 328-300 series airplanes. This proposed AD would require installing an additional mounting angle for the respective de- icing pipes at rib 9 in the leading edge area of the left- and right- hand wings. This proposed AD is prompted by chafed de-icing lines in the wing leading edge area. We are proposing this AD to prevent chafing of the de-icing lines, which could result in a reduction in functionality of the anti-ice system, and possibly reduced controllability and performance of the airplane in icing conditions.