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

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the FAA invites public comment on three currently approved public information collections which will be submitted to OMB for renewal.

The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for Rolls-Royce plc (RR) models RB211 Trent 768-60, Trent 772-60, and Trent 772-60 turbofan engines. That AD currently requires initial and repetitive surge margin testing of engines. This AD requires the same actions but at updated intervals. This AD also requires installation of updated software for the engine electronic controllers (EECs), and adds a terminating action for the surge margin testing requirement. This AD supersedure results from RR requiring EEC software to be revised, and extending the repetitive interval for surge margin testing for engines that have incorporated the software update for the EECs. This AD also results from RR introducing a stage 1 high pressure (HP) compressor casing and intermediate case outer location ring with wear-resistant coating, to reduce wear to prevent reduction in surge margin. We are issuing this AD to prevent a possible dual-engine in- flight surge, which could result in dual engine power loss.

Based on the agency's evaluation, NHTSA denies the petition for rulemaking from Mr. Kazyaka of TVK Industries, Inc. to amend our safety standards to require the shift patterns on vehicles equipped with manual transmissions to be illuminated and to indicate the gear selected.

BNSF Railway Company (BNSF) \1\ has filed an application under 49 U.S.C. 10901 for authority to acquire and operate approximately 368 miles of railroad lines (referred to as the ``Core Lines'') that are owned by the State of South Dakota (the State).\2\ The Core Lines, which are described in a July 10, 1986 Operating Agreement between Burlington Northern Railroad Company (BN, a BNSF predecessor) and the State, extend principally: between milepost (MP) 777.0 near Aberdeen, SD, and MP 650.6 near Mitchell, SD; between MP 518.9 near Sioux City, IA, and MP 649.7 near Mitchell, SD; between MP 293.1 near Canton, SD, and MP 650.6 near Mitchell, SD; \3\ between MPs 74.1 and 68.8 in Sioux Falls, SD; between MP 68.8 near Sioux Falls, SD, and MP 49.4 near Canton, SD; and between MPs 511.9 and 518.9 in Sioux City, IA.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A320 series airplanes. This proposed AD would require post-maintenance bleeding of accumulated air from, or ground functional testing of, the ram air turbine (RAT) system; modifying and reidentifying the airborne ground check module of the RAT system; and replacing the RAT reducer assembly if applicable. This proposed AD is prompted by reports of unsuccessful in-flight RAT tests during which a deployed RAT failed to pressurize the blue hydraulic circuit of the RAT system. We are proposing this AD to prevent failure of the RAT during an in-flight emergency, which could lead to loss of hydraulic and electrical power and reduced controllability of the airplane.

This document proposes superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to Eurocopter France (Eurocopter) Model EC 155B, SA-365N and N1, AS-365N2, and AS 365 N3 helicopters. That AD currently requires inspecting the hydraulic brake hose (hose) for crazing, pinching, distortion, or leaks at the torque link hinge and replacing the hose, if necessary. That AD also requires inspecting the hose and the emergency flotation gear pipe to ensure adequate clearance, and adjusting the landing gear leg, if necessary. This action would require the same actions as the existing AD and would add a model to the applicability. This proposal is prompted by notification by the manufacturer and the European Authority that another affected model helicopter, the Model EC155B1, may have the same unsafe condition and should be added to the existing AD. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent failure of a hose, resulting in failure of hydraulic pressure to the brakes on the affected landing gear wheel, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter during a run-on landing.

This document announces receipt by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that 2004 and 2005 Porsche Carrera GT passenger cars that were not originally manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards are eligible for importation into the United States because (1) they are substantially similar to vehicles that were originally manufactured for importation into and sale in the United States and that were certified by their manufacturer as complying with the safety standards, and (2) they are capable of being readily altered to conform to the standards.

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.

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.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection abstracted below has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The nature of the information collection is described as well as its expected burden. The Maritime Administration (MARAD) published a 60-day notice and request for comments on this information collection in the Federal Register (69 FR 69668) on November 30, 2004, indicating comments should be submitted by January 31, 2005. One comment was received. The commenter asserted that no waivers should be given, except in the case of medically verified disability, and there is an obligation these students assume and they should pay it. In addition, the commenter indicated that taxpayers are burdened by the costs of this education and they deserve recompense. Also, the commenter asked how many students sought waivers last year and on what grounds. 46 CFR part 310 authorizes the Maritime Administrator to grant waivers in cases where there would be undue hardship or impossibility of performance of the provisions of the agreement, due to accident, illness or other justifiable reason. The regulation also allows for deferments in exceptional cases for entry into a maritime-related graduate course of study, or the graduate may seek approval to accept maritime-related shoreside employment after first seeking afloat employment. The Maritime Administration (MARAD) is cognizant of the obligation of graduates as we review waiver and deferral requests. In 2004, MARAD granted 18 employment determination requests for shoreside employment. These employment determinations were granted for maritime- related shoreside employment on the recommendation from the U. S. Merchant Marine Academy, only after the graduates diligently sought afloat employment and were unable to obtain it.

Beginning on March 7, 2005, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will be assisting the Office of the Secretary (OST) in verifying that the aircraft accessibility requirements of the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) and its implementing regulations, 14 CFR Part 382 (Part 382), are being met by U.S. certificated and commuter air carriers. FAA inspectors, in the normal course of their duties, will be performing on-site inspections of U.S. airline aircraft that are subject to the design requirements of the ACAA and Part 382, which prohibit discrimination against disabled air travelers in air transportation. The FAA will also take steps to verify that these requirements are met when new aircraft enter the U.S. airline fleet.

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 extension of the currently approved collection. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and the expected burden. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on August 25, 2004 page 52324.

This notice proposes to create a Class E surface area at Monett, MO. It also proposes to modify the Class E5 airspace at Monett, MO.

This document publishes in the Federal Register an amendment adopting airworthiness directive (AD) 2005-04-51 that was sent previously to all known U.S. owners and operators of certain Boeing Model 747-100B SUD, -200B, -200C, -200F, and -300 series airplanes by individual notices. This AD requires repetitive external detailed inspections for cracked skin or loose or missing fasteners of the body skin between body stations (BS) 420 and 460 inclusive and between stringers S-8 and S-12 inclusive on the left and right sides of the airplane, and a high frequency eddy current inspection for cracked frames if necessary. This AD also requires repair of any cracked frame or skin, and replacement of any loose or missing fastener. This AD is prompted by reports of large cracks common to fuselage frames in the upper deck area and severed or nearly severed adjacent frames. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct fatigue cracks in the frames and body skin at BS 420, 440, and 460 between stringers S-8 and S-12 inclusive, which could lead to severed frames, and consequent rapid decompression and loss of the structural integrity of the airplane.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Air Tractor, Inc. (Air Tractor) Models AT-300, AT-301, AT-302, AT-400, AT-400A, AT-401, AT-402, AT-602, AT-802, and AT-802A airplanes. This proposed AD would require you to repetitively tighten the four eyebolts that attach the front and rear spar of the horizontal stabilizer to the respective stabilizer strut to the specified torque, and repetitively replace at specified intervals any eyebolts that attach the front and rear spar of the horizontal stabilizer to the respective stabilizer strut. An option for replacing the steel brace assembly inside the stabilizer with a new steel brace assembly with larger bushings and stronger eyebolts that increases the interval for replacement of eyebolts for AT-602, AT-802, and AT-802A airplanes is also included in this proposed AD. This proposed AD results from reports of failures of the subject eyebolt. We are issuing this proposed AD to detect, correct, and prevent future fatigue failure in any eyebolt that attaches the front and rear spar of the horizontal stabilizer to the respective stabilizer strut. Failure of the eyebolt could lead to an abrupt change or complete loss of pitch control and/or the airplane departing from controlled flight.

This document makes a correction to Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2004-22-07. That AD applies to GE CF6-80C2 turbofan engines with certain part number (P/N) high pressure turbine stage 2 nozzle guide vanes (HPT S2 NGVs) installed. That AD was published in the Federal Register on October 27, 2004 (69 FR 62571). The phrase ``5.0 or more cycles per flight leg'' in the Compliance section is incorrect. This document corrects that phrase. In all other respects, the original document remains the same.

The FAA proposes to rule and invite public comment on the release of land at the Pueblo Memorial Airport under the provisions of Section 125 of the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR 21).

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is continuing to expand the availability and capability of area navigation (RNAV) to improve safety and efficiency within the National Airspace System (NAS). A major enhancement is the introduction of Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) capable RNAV instrument approach procedures that provide for near-precision vertical guidance. The number of instrument approach procedures available to the public has nearly doubled over the past decade and will continue to grow with the public's demand for new WAAS procedures. The cost of maintaining the existing ground-based navigational infrastructure while expanding new RNAV capability is challenging to the FAA's projected budget over the next five years. Maintenance of existing ground-based procedures places the greatest strain on limited FAA resources. To meet the public's demand for WAAS capable RNAV procedures, the FAA must manage the growth in the number of instrument approach procedures by eliminating redundant ground-based procedures. Specifically, the agency has identified NDB procedures for cancellation at runway ends that are also served by an RNAV procedure and a second ground-based procedure (i.e., a ground-based procedure other than the NDB). The FAA resources currently used to maintain these NDB procedures will be applied to the development of new WAAS capable RNAV procedures in the NAS.

Northern Natural Gas Company (NNG) petitioned the Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) for a waiver from the requirements of 49 CFR 192.625(b)(3), Ordorization of gas. This section requires that a transmission line located in a Class 3 or Class 4 location that transports a combustible gas in a distribution line must contain a natural odorant or be odorized so that the gas is readily detectable by a person with a normal sense of smell unless, in the case of a lateral line which transports gas to a distribution center, at least 50 percent of the line is in a Class 1 or Class 2 location.

The Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) is granting Columbia Gas Transmission's (Columbia) petition for a waiver of the pipeline safety regulations to install fiberglass reinforced polyethylene pipe in its high pressure natural gas storage field operations.