Department of Transportation June 3, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is considering a proposal to change a portion of the airport from aeronautical use to non-aeronautical use and to authorize the sale of the airport property. The proposal consists of 14 parcels of land totaling approximately 3.981 acres. Current use and present condition is vacant grassland. The land is zoned residential. The land was acquired under FAA Project Nos. 3-26-0079-0694, C-26-0079-0795, B-26-0079-1397, 3-26-SBGP-1098, and 3- 26-SBGP-1799, and 3-26-SBGP-1999. There are no impacts to the airport by allowing the airport to dispose of the property. This land is to be sold for proposed use to accommodate the relocation of Williams Lake Road, which will provide a fully compliant runway safety area for Runway 9R. Approval does not constitute a commitment by the FAA to financially assist in the disposal of the subject airport property nor a determination of eligibility for grant-in-aid funding from the FAA. The disposition of proceeds from the disposal of the airport property will be in accordance FAA's Policy and Procedures Concerning the Use of Airport Revenue, published in the Federal Register on February 16, 1999. In accordance with section 47107(h) of title 49, United States Code, this notice is required to be published in the Federal Register 30 days before modifying the land-use assurance that requires the property to be used for an aeronautical purpose.

This notice announces the availability of and requests comments on a proposed Technical Standard Order (TSO)-C128a, Equipment That Prevent Blocked Channels Used in Two-way Radio Communications Due To Unintentional Transmissions. The TSO manufacturers seeking a TSO authorization or letter of design approval what minimum performance standards (MPS) their transmitter radio equipment to prevent blocked channels must first meet for approval and identification with the applicable TSO markings.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 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 Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on March 10, 2005, and comments were due by May 9, 2005. No comments were received.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A321 series airplanes. This proposed AD would require repetitive measurements for correct control rod gap of the hold-open mechanism of all emergency doors, and corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD would also require replacing the control rods with new, improved control rods, which would terminate the repetitive measurements. This proposed AD is prompted by a report that an operator found it impossible to lock emergency doors 2 and 3 in the open position. We are proposing this AD to prevent failure of the emergency doors to lock in the open position, which could interfere with passenger evacuation during an emergency.

The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to all Short Brothers Model SD3-30 and SD3- 60 series airplanes equipped with certain fire extinguishers. The existing AD currently requires replacement of the covers for fire extinguisher adapter assemblies that are installed on certain bulkheads with new covers that swivel to lock the extinguishers in place; and replacement of nozzles and triggers on these fire extinguishers with better fitting nozzles and stronger triggers. The existing AD also currently requires the installation of new fire extinguisher point placards and a revision of the Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) to instruct the flightcrew in the use of the new covers for these adapter assemblies. This proposed AD would also require modification of the fire extinguishing point adapter assembly of the forward and aft baggage bays as applicable. This proposed AD also would add airplanes to the applicability. For these new airplanes, this proposed AD would require a revision to the AFM for instructions on using the new fire extinguisher adapter. This proposed AD is prompted by reports of individuals experiencing fire extinguishant blowback when the extinguishant discharges through the fire extinguishing point adapters. We are proposing this AD to prevent fire extinguishant blowback, which could result in injury to a person using the fire extinguisher in the event of a fire.

The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain Boeing Model 767 series airplanes. The existing AD currently requires repetitive inspections to detect discrepancies of the eight aft-most fastener holes in the horizontal tangs of the midspar fitting of the strut, and corrective actions if necessary. That AD also provides an optional terminating action for the repetitive inspections. This proposed AD would add repetitive inspections for cracks of the closeout angle that covers the two aft-most fasteners in the lower tang of the midspar fitting, and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD also would reduce the inspection interval of the upper tang of the outboard midspar fitting; and would provide an optional terminating action for the repetitive inspections. This proposed AD is prompted by a report of a crack in a closeout angle that covers the two aft-most fasteners in the lower tang of the midspar fitting; and the discovery of a crack in the lower tang of the midspar fitting under the cracked closeout angle. We are proposing this AD to prevent fatigue cracking in the primary strut structure and reduced structural integrity of the strut, which could result in separation of the strut and engine.

This document corrects a typographical error that appeared in airworthiness directive (AD) 2005-03-14, which was published in the Federal Register on February 14, 2005 (70 FR 7384). The typographical error resulted in an incorrect reference to an AD number. This AD is applicable to certain Airbus Model A300 B2 and B4 series airplanes. This AD supersedes an existing AD that currently requires determining the part and amendment number of the variable lever arm (VLA) of the rudder control system to verify that the parts were installed using the correct standard, and corrective actions if necessary. For certain VLAs, this new AD requires repetitive inspections of the VLA and corrective action if necessary. This new AD also provides a terminating action for the repetitive inspections. Furthermore, this new AD reduces the applicability of affected airplanes.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all EMBRAER Model ERJ 170 series airplanes. This proposed AD would require inspecting the hydraulic pressure tubes at the outlet of the engine-driven hydraulic pumps to determine the part and serial numbers; and replacing hydraulic pressure tubes having certain serial numbers with new hydraulic pressure tubes. This proposed AD is prompted by failure of a hydraulic system due to leakage of hydraulic fluid from a crack in the pipe coming from the pressure side of the engine driven pump. We are proposing this AD to prevent cracking of the hydraulic pressure pipes, which could result in failure of hydraulic system 1 or 2 or both, and consequent reduced controllability of the airplane.

This document announces receipt by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that 2005 Smart Car Passion, Pulse, and Pure (coupe and cabriolet) 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 they have safety features that comply with, or are capable of being altered to comply with, all such standards.