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

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 757-200, -200PF, and -300 series airplanes. This proposed AD would require inspecting for damage of the ground brackets, ground wires, and terminal lugs of the auxiliary power unit (APU) battery and the APU start transformer rectifier unit (TRU) as applicable; and corrective and related investigative actions. This proposed AD is prompted by reports indicating that, during inspections on two airplanes, the ground brackets for the APU battery were found damaged. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct a damaged electrical bonding surface of the APU battery and APU start TRU ground connections, which could cause overheating of the ground connections and lead to possible consequent ignition of the adjacent insulating blankets.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus transport category airplanes. This proposed AD would require an inspection to determine if the suspect part numbers (P/N) and serial numbers of certain Thales Avionics equipment is installed, and replacement of any suspect part with a modified part having a new P/N. This proposed AD is prompted by reports of loss of the digital distance radio magnetic indicator and subsequent loss of both very high frequency omnidirectional range indicators, both distance measuring equipment, and one centralized maintenance computer. We are proposing this AD to prevent loss of navigation indications on the primary flight display requiring continuation of the flight on emergency instruments, which could lead to reduced ability to control the airplane in adverse conditions.

This document requests comments on data about passenger motor vehicle thefts that occurred in calendar year (CY) 2003 including theft rates for existing passenger motor vehicle lines manufactured in model year (MY) 2003. The preliminary theft data indicate that the vehicle theft rate for CY/MY 2003 vehicles (1.84 thefts per thousand vehicles) decreased by 26.1 percent from the theft rate for CY/MY 2002 vehicles (2.49 thefts per thousand vehicles). Publication of these data fulfills NHTSA's statutory obligation to periodically obtain accurate and timely theft data, and publish the information for review and comment.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Model BAe 146 and Avro 146-RJ series airplanes. This AD requires repetitive detailed inspections of the center and rear fuselage skin including all the lap joints at stringers 2, 10, 19, and 30, and repair if necessary. This AD is prompted by evidence of cracking due to fatigue along the edges of certain chemi- etched pockets in the rear fuselage upper skin. We are issuing this AD to prevent a possible sudden loss of cabin pressure and consequent injury to passengers and flightcrew.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 757 series airplanes. This AD requires identification of the part number for the cable assembly for the lower anti-collision light, and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. This AD is prompted by a report of damage caused by an electrical arc in a connector on the cable assembly for the lower anti-collision light. We are issuing this AD to prevent an electrical arc in the cable assembly for the lower anti-collision light, which could result in a fire in a flammable leakage zone of the airplane.

The FAA is making available a draft of changes to the commercial space transportation regulations governing licensing and safety requirements for launch. We intend the changes to identify, codify, and maintain the successful safety measures that have been implemented at the federal launch ranges belonging to the Department of Defense and NASA. We are also establishing clear safety requirements for launches from non-federal launch sites. We will hold a public meeting on March 29-31, 2005, to give stakeholders an opportunity to get information about, and provide comments on, the draft regulatory language.

The Board, under 49 U.S.C. 10502, revokes the class exemption as it pertains to the modified trackage rights described in STB Finance Docket No. 34417 (Sub-No. 2) \2\ to permit the trackage rights to expire on or about May 16, 2005, in accordance with the agreement of the parties,\3\ subject to the employee protective conditions set forth in Oregon Short Line R. Co.AbandonmentGoshen, 360 I.C.C. 91 (1979).

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Dassault Model Falcon 2000EX and 900EX series airplanes. This AD requires prohibiting dispatch with certain equipment inoperative; and revising the airplane flight manual to facilitate recovery of the cockpit display units in the event of an avionics standard communication bus (ASCB) failure and to inform the flightcrew what equipment is inoperative during an ASCB failure. This AD also requires doing an integrity check of the ASCB for any faults and corrective action if necessary, and installing an avionics software update to the Honeywell Primus Epic system. This AD is prompted by a report that an analysis and tests of the Honeywell Primus Epic systems installed on the Model Falcon 2000EX and 900EX series airplanes revealed that all information displayed on the cockpit display units could become invalid during flight. We are issuing this AD to prevent a loss of data from all four of the cockpit display units, and loss of all radio communications (with the exception of VHF emergency frequency and last frequency used), primary navigation instruments, autopilot, auto- throttle, central alerting system, aural alarms, and normal braking (on Model Falcon 2000EX series airplanes only). These losses could reduce the flightcrew's situational awareness, increase flightcrew workload, and consequently reduce the ability to maintain safe flight and landing of the airplane.