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

The FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval for the renewal of a currently approved information collection. 14 CFR Part 61 requires airmen to notify the FAA of any conviction or administrative action resulting from any alcohol or drug related motor vehicle offense within 60 days of the offense. A notice was published in the Federal Register announcing our intention to request renewal of this collection on September 6, 2005, vol 70, 171, pages 53039-53040.

The FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval for a new information collection. The FAA has undertaken an effort to improve aviation safety by collecting data on pilots' training and experience with transport category rudder control systems. A Federal Register notice for public comment was published on April 12, 2005, vol 70, 69, page 19144.

FRA is amending a portion of the accident reporting regulations. Specifically, FRA is amending the method for calculating the monetary threshold for reporting rail equipment accidents/ incidents. The amendment is necessary because, in 2001, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) ceased collecting and publishing railroad wage data used by FRA in the calculation. Consequently, FRA has had to seek a new source of publicly-available data. In the new formula, FRA uses wage data collected and maintained by the Surface Transportation Board (STB) in place of the unavailable BLS wage data. As equipment data remain available from the BLS, there is no change to the source of the equipment component of the reporting threshold. The purpose of the rule is to ensure and maintain comparability between different years of accident data by having the threshold keep pace with any increases or decreases in equipment and labor costs so that each year accidents involving the same minimum amount of railroad property damage are included in the reportable accident counts. In addition, FRA is using the newly established formula to calculate a new accident/incident monetary reporting threshold for calendar year 2006. This final rule increases the monetary threshold for reporting rail equipment accidents/incidents from $6,700 to $7,700, and applies to accidents and incidents involving railroad property damage that occur on or after January 1, 2006.

This document revises an earlier proposed airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain McDonnell Douglas Model DC-9-10, -20, -30, -40, and -50 series airplanes; Model DC-9-81 (MD-81), -82 (MD-82), -83 (MD-83), and -87 (MD-87) airplanes; and Model MD-88 airplanes. That proposed AD would have required repetitive inspections and functional tests of the static port heater assemblies, an inspection of the static port heaters and insulators, and corrective actions if necessary. This new action revises the proposed AD by adding repetitive inspections of the static port heaters and insulators and revising the functional test of the static port heater. The actions specified by this new proposed AD are intended to prevent an electrical short of the static port heater from sparking and igniting the insulation blanket adjacent to the static port heater, which could result in smoke and/or fire in the cabin area. This action is intended to address the identified unsafe condition.

The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain 747-100, -200, and -300 series airplanes. The existing AD currently requires repetitive inspections to detect cracking of certain lower lobe fuselage frames, and repair if necessary. This proposed AD would retain all the requirements of the existing AD, and add airplanes to the applicability. This proposed AD results from reports indicating that fatigue cracks were found in lower lobe frames on the left side of the fuselage. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct fatigue cracking of certain lower lobe fuselage frames, which could lead to fatigue cracks in the fuselage skin, and consequent rapid decompression of the airplane.

This action revises Class E airspace at Koliganek, AK to provide adequate controlled airspace to contain aircraft executing two new Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs). This rule results in revised Class E airspace upward from 700 feet (ft.) and 1,200 ft. above the surface at Koliganek Airport, AK.

This action proposes to revise the Class E airspace at Sand Point, AK. Three new Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs), a revised Departure Procedure (DP) and a revised SIAP are being published for the Sand Point Airport. Adoption of this proposal would result in revised Class E airspace upward from 700 feet (ft.) and 1,200 ft. above the surface at Sand Point, AK.

This action establishes Class E airspace at New Stuyahok, AK to provide adequate controlled airspace to contain aircraft executing two new Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs). This rule results in new Class E airspace upward from 700 feet (ft.) above the surface at New Stuyahok Airport, AK.

The ``Transportation, Treasury, Housing and Urban Development, the Judiciary, the District of Columbia, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006'' (Pub. L. 109-115), signed into law by President Bush on November 30, 2005, appropriates funds for all of the surface transportation programs of the Department of Transportation for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2006. This notice provides information on the FY 2006 transit appropriations for the FTA assistance programs, and apportions and allocates FY 2006 funds. The Notice also makes corrections to information in the SAFETEA-LU implementation Notice published in the Federal Register on November 30, 2005.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposes to revise its procedures for implementing the National Environmental Policy Act, Order 1050.1E, Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures, with proposed Order 1050.1E, Change 1. The revisions in proposed Order 1050.1E, Change 1, include: Changes for clarification; changes for consistency; a change for addition of information; corrections; editorial changes, and the addition of Categorical Exclusion 311f for prohibited areas. This notices provides the public opportunity to comment on the proposed changes. All comments on the proposed changes will be considered in preparing the final version of FAA Order 1050.1E, Change 1.

The FAA adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Przedsiebiorstwo Doswiadczalno-Produkcyjne Szybownictwa ``PZL-Bielsko'' Model SZD-50-3 ``Puchacz'' gliders. This AD requires you to perform a visual inspection of the turnbuckle link for cracks or wear and replace if cracks or wear is found. This action only applies to those gliders where the turnbuckle is directly connected to the pedal. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority for Poland. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracks in the turnbuckle link, which could result in failure of the rudder cable. This failure could lead to loss of control of the glider.

This document makes a correction to Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2005-20-26. That AD applies to Aviointeriors S.p.A. (formerly ALVEN), series 312 box mounted seats. That AD published in the Federal Register on October 12, 2005 (70 FR 59243). This document corrects the AD number in the Amendatory section. In all other respects, the original document remains the same.

These special conditions are issued to Envoy Aerospace, 5027 Switch Grass Lane, Naperville, Illinois 60564-5368, for a Supplemental Type Certificate for the Raytheon B200, B200C, 300, B300, and B300C models. These models 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) and a navigation display. The EFIS consists of the Universal Avionics, Inc. EFI-890R system 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). The installation includes three EFI-890R Flat Panel Displays (two Primary Flight Displays Pilot/Copilot and one Navigational Display), and supporting equipment. 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 notice announces the extension of the comment period for Notice of availability of proposed Advisory Circular (AC) 25.21-1X, and request for comments, which was published in the Federal Register on November 4, 2005 (70 FR 67303), and closes on January 3, 2006. In that notice, the FAA invited public comment on a proposed AC which provides guidance on a means, but not the only means, of compliance with the proposed certification requirements for performance and handling characteristics of transport category airplanes affected by flight in the icing conditions defined in appendix C of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 25. This extension of the comment period is necessary to give all interested persons an opportunity to present their views on the proposed AC.

This notice announces the issuance of Advisory Circular (AC) 23-24, Airworthiness Compliance Checklists for Common Part 23 Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) Projects. The AC standardizes compliance checklists for common Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 23 STC projects. These checklists may be used to fulfill some of the requirements for a Certification Plan for STC projects. The standard compliance checklists show typical methods of compliance with the regulations and cross-references related guidance material. Checklists created using the information in the AC complement the guidance in the Guides for Certification of Part 23 Airplanes (ACs 23-8B, 23-16A, 23-17B, and 23-19) and other project-specific guidance. The checklists may contain complete certification requirements or may be used as a starting place when applying for an STC that may be beyond the scope of the checklists.

In accordance with the procedures governing the application for, and the processing of special permits 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 special permits (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'' demote a modification request. There applications have been separated from the new applications for special permits to facilitate processing.

This notice advises the public that the comment period for the Draft Supplemental Environmental Assessment (DSEA) for the proposed modification to the Four Corner-Post Plan at Las Vegas McCarran International Airport, Las Vegas, Nevada is extended.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is giving notice that 1.29 + / - acres (Parcel P-1R) of the airport property located at Southern Illinois Airport, Carbondale-Murphysboro, Illinois, will be released. This acreage is adjacent to the Airport Entrance Road and in close proximity to Airport Road and Fox Farm Road. It is in the southern part of Tract P-1, which is 11.024 acres. Tract P-1 was originally acquired in fee on August 20, 1975, with partial federal funding of Grant 7-17-00077-02. The proposed sale of will facilitate the construction of a centralized 911 emergency dispatch center, which will serve all of Jackson County. It will combine the current emergency dispatch functions of the cities of Carbondale and Murphysboro, Jackson County and Southern Illinois University. This center will position first responders and mutual aid providers near the airport for the needs of the airport. The land use of the property is currently agricultural, which provides minimal income to the airport. This one-time sale will generate income for airport improvement purposes and build a better rapport with the surrounding communities and their officials. The future use of this release will be required to comply with part 77 surfaces, and in conformity with FAA Deed Restrictions as required in Appendix 3 of PPM 5190.6. The Exhibit `A' Property Line Map (Exhibit 1) and the Airport Layout Plan (Exhibit 2) depicts the exchange. 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 that property to be used for an aeronautical purpose.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 767-200, -300, and -300F series airplanes. This AD requires replacing the aileron control override quadrant with a modified unit. This AD results from a report of the seizing of the input override mechanism bearings of the lateral central control actuator on affected airplanes. We are issuing this AD to prevent corrosion of the input override mechanism bearings of the lateral central control actuator, which, in the event of a subsequent jam in the pilot's aileron control system, could result in failure of the aileron override system and consequent reduced lateral controllability of the airplane.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 777-200 and -300 series airplanes. This AD requires repetitive detailed inspections of the forward lugs of the power control unit (PCU), yoke assembly, and forward attachment hardware of the left inboard, left outboard, right inboard, and right outboard flaperon PCUs; and other specified/corrective actions if necessary. For certain airplanes, this AD also requires other related concurrent actions. This AD results from reports indicating that operators have found worn, fretted, and fractured bolts that attach the yoke assembly to the flaperon PCU. We are issuing this AD to prevent damage and eventual fracture of the yoke assembly, pin assembly, and attachment bolts that connect the inboard and outboard PCUs to a flaperon, which could lead to the flaperon becoming unrestrained and consequently departing from the airplane. Loss of a flaperon could result in asymmetric lift and reduced roll control of an airplane. A departing flaperon could also cause damage to the horizontal and vertical stabilizers, which could result in loss of control of the airplane if damage is significant.