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

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 767-300 series airplanes. This AD requires replacing the frequency converters used to supply power for medical and galley utility outlets with modified frequency converters, and related actions. This AD results from a report indicating that a hard short circuit condition between the output of certain frequency converters and their downstream circuit breakers will produce a continuous output current that could cause the undersized output wiring to overheat when the frequency converters fail to shut off. We are issuing this AD to prevent overheating of the output wiring of the frequency converters, which could result in the failure of a wire bundle and consequent adverse effects on other systems sharing the affected wire bundle.

This notice announces the availability of and requests comments on a proposed advisory circular (AC) which sets forth an acceptable means, but not the only means, of demonstration compliance with the provisions of the airworthiness standards for transport category airplanes related to Fuel Tank Flammability Reduction. This proposed AC complements revisions to the airworthiness standards that are being proposed by a separate notice. This notice is necessary to give all interested persons an opportunity to present their views on the proposed AC.

This action proposes to modify the St. Louis, MO, (STL) Class B airspace area. Specifically, this action proposes airspace changes to contain large, turbine-powered aircraft operations to and from the new Runway 11/29 at the Lambert-St. Louis International Airport (KSTL), St. Louis, MO. The FAA is proposing this action to enhance safety and improve the management of aircraft operations in the KSTL terminal area. Further, this effort supports the FAA's national airspace redesign goal of optimizing terminal and en route airspace areas to reduce aircraft delays and improve system capacity.

This notice grants in full the petition of DaimlerChrysler Corporation (DaimlerChrysler) for an exemption in accordance with Sec. 543.9(c)(2) of 49 CFR part 543, Exemption from the Theft Prevention Standard, for the Chrysler 300C vehicle line beginning with model year (MY) 2006. This petition is granted because the agency has determined that the antitheft device to be placed on the line as standard equipment is likely to be as effective in reducing and deterring motor vehicle theft as compliance with the parts-marking requirements of the Theft Prevention Standard.

This action establishes the Class E airspace area at Hillsboro Municipal Airport, Hillsboro, TX (INJ), to provide adequate controlled airspace for the area navigation (RNAV) global positioning system (GPS) standard instrument approach procedure (SIAP).

This action revokes Class E airspace, Eagle, Colorado published in the Federal Register October 13, 2005 (70 FR 59652). The FAA is taking this action due to errors in the effective date, airspace description, and geographic coordinates.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A310-200 and -300 series airplanes. This proposed AD would require repetitive inspections for cracks and corrosion of the areas behind the scuff plates below the passenger/crew doors and bulk cargo door, and repair of any cracked or corroded part. This proposed AD also would require repetitive inspections for cracks of the holes of the corner doublers, the fail-safe ring, and the door frames of the passenger/crew door structures. This proposed AD is prompted by reports of corrosion behind the scuff plates at passenger/ crew doors and the bulk cargo door and fatigue cracks on the corner doublers of the forward and aft passenger/crew door frames. We are proposing this AD to prevent such corrosion and fatigue cracking, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the door surroundings.

This notice establishes the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA, we) policy concerning notice and comment for FTA documents that impose binding obligations. This new policy is consistent with recent amendments to FTA's administrative procedures statute and provides the public and opportunity to comment on documents that FTA issues routinely.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain EMBRAER Model EMB-135 airplanes, and Model EMB-145, -145ER, - 145MR, -145LR, -145XR, -145MP, and -145EP airplanes. This AD requires modification of the upper frame of the firewall for the auxiliary power unit (APU). This AD results from the discovery of a hole in the upper frame of the firewall for the APU. We are issuing this AD to ensure that the APU compartment is isolated from the rest of the airplane in the event of an APU fire. If the APU compartment is not isolated, smoke could enter the passenger cabin in the event of an APU fire.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all British Aerospace Model HS 748 airplanes. This AD requires repetitive inspections for fatigue cracking, corrosion, and other related discrepancies of the rear pressure bulkhead and associated areas, and the fin attachment fittings, particularly the fin link beam; and related investigative and corrective actions. This AD results from a structural integrity audit of the airplane that showed the importance of inspecting for fatigue cracking and corrosion of these areas. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracking, corrosion, and other related discrepancies of the rear pressure bulkhead and associated areas, and the fin attachment fittings, particularly the fin link beam, which could result in damage to the airplane structure or injury to airplane occupants.

These special conditions are issued to Garmin AT, Inc., 2345 Turner Rd. SE, Salem, OR 97302, for a Supplemental Type Certificate for the Raytheon A36. The airplane will have novel and unusual design features when compared to the state of technology envisaged in the applicable airworthiness standards. These novel and unusual design features include the installation of an electronic flight instrument system (EFIS) display, Model G-1000, manufactured by Garmin International Inc., for which the applicable regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate airworthiness standards for the protection of these systems from the effects of high intensity radiated fields (HIRF). These special conditions contain the additional safety standards that the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to the airworthiness standards applicable to these airplanes.

This document confirms the effective date of the direct final rule which revises Class E airspace at Sheldon Municipal Airport, IA.

As authorized by Public Law 105-383 and Public Law 107-295, the Secretary of Transportation, as represented by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), is authorized to grant waivers of the U.S.- build requirement of the coastwise laws under certain circumstances. A request for such a waiver has been received by MARAD. The vessel, and a brief description of the proposed service, is listed below. The complete application is given in DOT docket 20005-22993 at https:// dms.dot.gov. Interested parties may comment on the effect this action may have on U.S. vessel builders or businesses in the U.S. that use U.S.-flag vessels. If MARAD determines, in accordance with Public Law 105-383 and MARAD's regulations at 46 CFR part 388 (68 FR 23084; April 30, 2003), that the issuance of the waiver will have an unduly adverse effect on a U.S.-vessel builder or a business that uses U.S.-flag vessels in that business, a waiver will not be granted. Comments should refer to the docket number of this notice and the vessel name in order for MARAD to properly consider the comments. Comments should also state the commenter's interest in the waiver application, and address the waiver criteria given in Sec. 388.4 of MARAD's regulations at 46 CFR part 388.

As authorized by Public Law 105-383 and Public Law 107-295, the Secretary of Transportation, as represented by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), is authorized to grant waivers of the U.S.- build requirement of the coastwise laws under certain circumstances. A request for such a waiver has been received by MARAD. The vessel, and a brief description of the proposed service, is listed below. The complete application is given in DOT docket 2005-22992 at https:// dms.dot.gov. Interested parties may comment on the effect this action may have on U.S. vessel builders or businesses in the U.S. that use U.S.-flag vessels. If MARAD determines, in accordance with Public Law 105-383 and MARAD's regulations at 46 CFR part 388 (68 FR 23084; April 30, 2003), that the issuance of the waiver will have an unduly adverse effect on a U.S.-vessel builder or a business that uses U.S.-flag vessels in that business, a waiver will not be granted. Comments should refer to the docket number of this notice and the vessel name in order for MARAD to properly consider the comments. Comments should also state the commenter's interest in the waiver application, and address the waiver criteria given in Sec. 388.4 of MARAD's regulations at 46 CFR part 388.

The FAA adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all CENTRAIR 101 series gliders. This AD requires you to make pen and ink changes to the Limitations Section of the glider maintenance manual to eliminate contradictory information concerning the structural life limit. This AD results from a review by FAA of the Limitations Section of the CENTRAIR Model 101AP glider maintenance manual that revealed conflicting information concerning the structural life limit. We are issuing this AD to assure that the published life limit is adhered to and to prevent structural failure of the glider once this life limit is reached.

This document denies a petition for reconsideration of the agency's newly expanded parts marking requirements. The Anti Car Theft Act of 1992 required NHTSA to conduct a rulemaking to extend the parts marking requirements of that Standard to all passenger cars and multipurpose passenger vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 6,000 pounds or less regardless of theft rate, unless the Attorney General found that such a requirement would not substantially inhibit chop shop operations and motor vehicle thefts. The initial final rule extending the parts marking requirement was published in April of 2004. In May 2005, NHTSA responded to petitions for reconsideration of the April 2004 final rule and established a phase in schedule for the new requirements. We also decided to exclude vehicle lines with annual production of not more than 3,500 vehicles from the parts marking requirements because the benefits of marking these vehicle lines would be trivial or of no value. The agency received a petition for reconsideration of the May 2005 final rule from International Association of Auto Theft Investigators. The petition asked the agency to reconsider the phase-in and small volume exclusion as it applied to large volume vehicle manufacturers. This document denies that petition because it did not provide sufficient information in support of their request to reconsider the May 2005 final rule.

This action proposes to revise the Class E airspace at Holy Cross, AK. Two new Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) and a revised Departure Procedure (DP) are being published for the Holy Cross Airport. Adoption of this proposal would result in revised Class E airspace upward from 700 feet (ft.) above the surface at Holy Cross, AK.

This action proposes to establish new Class E airspace at Koyuk, AK. Two revised procedures and one new Standard Instrument Approach Procedure (SIAP) are being published for the Koyuk Airport. Additional Class E Airspace is needed to contain aircraft executing instrument approaches at Koyuk Airport. Additionally, one small section of Class G airspace surrounded by Class E airspace will be converted to Class E airspace by this action. Adoption of this proposal would result in creation of additional Class E airspace upward from 700 feet (ft.) and 1,200 ft. above the surface at Koyuk, AK.