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

The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD), which applies to all Fokker Model F27 Mark 050 series airplanes. The existing AD currently requires using a torque wrench to repetitively tighten the screws for the attachment of the leading edges of the elevators, rudder, and ailerons. This new AD requires the same actions as those of the existing AD, but with reductions in the intervals for repetitive actions. This AD also requires modifying the elevator, rudder, and aileron leading edge attachments with additional locking devices. This AD results from a report of an in-flight vibration caused by a loose leading edge section of the elevator. We are issuing this AD to prevent binding of the flight controls caused by loose attachment screws, which could result in reduced controllability of the airplane.

The FAA adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Shadin ADC-2000 air data computers (ADC) installed on airplanes. This AD requires you to replace affected ADC-2000 units with a modified unit. This AD results from reports that certain ADC-2000 units display incorrect altitude information on the Electronic Flight Information System (EFIS) to the pilot. We are issuing this AD to prevent ADC-2000 units, part numbers (P/Ns) 962830A-1-S-8, 962830A-2-S-8, and 962830A-3- S-8, configurations B, C, and D, from displaying incorrect altitude information. This could cause the flight crew to react to this incorrect flight information and possibly result in an unsafe operating condition.

This action establishes the Class D and modifies the Class E airspace area at Rogers Municipal/Carter Field, Rogers, AR (ROG). Establishing an Airport Traffic Control Tower at Rogers Municipal/ Carter Field, Rogers, AR, has made this rule necessary. The intended effect of this proposal is to provide adequate controlled airspace for aircraft operating in the vicinity of Rogers Municipal/Carter Field, Rogers, AR.

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).

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 747-400 series airplanes. This proposed AD would require inspecting the support bracket of the crew oxygen cylinder installation to determine the manufacturing date marked on the support, and performing corrective action if necessary. This proposed AD results from a report indicating that certain oxygen cylinder supports may not have been properly heat-treated. We are proposing this AD to prevent failure of the oxygen cylinder support under the most critical flight load conditions, which could cause the oxygen cylinder to come loose and leak oxygen. Leakage of oxygen could result in oxygen being unavailable for the flightcrew or could result in a fire hazard in the vicinity of the leakage.

This final rule revises terminology, definitions, and requirements for consistency with the Hazardous Materials Safety and Security Reauthorization Act of 2005. These amendments include revising the definitions of ``hazmat employee'' and ``hazmat employer;'' revision of shipping paper retention requirements; providing a security plan exception for farmers; adding conditional applicability of postal laws and regulations; and replacement of ``Exemption'' with ``Special permit.''

The Coast Guard and the Maritime Administration (MARAD) announce the cancellation of all actions related to the processing of a license application for the proposed Pearl Crossing LNG Terminal LLC deepwater port. The action announced here includes cancellation of all activities related to the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that was announced on Monday, August 16, 2004, in Federal Register Volume 69 Number 157 (Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement). The action is taken in response to the applicant's decision to withdraw the application.

This document announces a decision by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that certain 1999 Ferrari 456GT and GTA passenger cars that were not originally manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS) are eligible for importation into the United States because they are substantially similar to vehicles originally manufactured for importation into and sale in the United States and that were certified by their manufacturer as complying with the safety standards (the U.S. certified version of the 1999 Ferrari 456GT and GTA passenger cars), and they are capable of being readily altered to conform to the standards.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Model BAe 146 airplanes and Model Avro 146-RJ airplanes. This proposed AD would require repetitive replacement of the elevator servo tab hinge bearings, elevator servo tab mechanism bearings, elevator trim tab hinge bearings, and elevator trim tab drive rod bearings with new bearings. This proposed AD results from reported incidents of flight control surface restrictions due to the deterioration of flight control surface bearings. We are proposing this AD to prevent corrosion of flight control surface bearings and freezing of moisture inside the bearings, due to loss of lubrication in the bearings, which could lead to flight control restrictions and result in reduced controllability of the airplane.

This document revises an earlier proposed airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to all BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Model BAe 146 and Avro 146-RJ airplanes, that would have required installation of a linear fluid-filled damper between each elevator surface and the airplane structure on both the left and right sides of the airplane, along with related structural and system modifications. This new action revises the proposed rule by updating and adding service information, and changing the compliance time. The actions specified by this new proposed AD are intended to prevent pitch oscillation (vertical bouncing) of the fuselage due to excessive ice buildup on the elevator servo tab, and consequent reduced controllability of the airplane. This action is intended to address the identified unsafe condition.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Hamilton Sundstrand (formerly Hamilton Standard Division of United Technologies Corporation) Model 14RF-19 propellers. This proposed AD would require replacing certain actuator yokes with improved actuator yokes. This proposed AD results from certain propeller system actuator yoke arms breaking during flight. We are proposing this AD to prevent actuator yoke arms breaking during flight, which could cause high propeller vibration, requiring the pilot to feather the propeller, and could contribute to reduced controllability of the airplane.

This action proposes to revoke colored Federal Airway B-12, modify three colored Federal Airways B-4, R-50 and G-7, and establish colored Federal Airway R-4 in Alaska. These amendments would remove all airways and routes off the Bishop, AK, Nondirectional Radio Beacon (NDB) in preparation for the NDB's eventual decommissioning from the National Airspace System (NAS).

This action proposes to amend the Gulf of Alaska Low and Control 1487L Offshore airspace areas in Alaska. Specifically, this action proposes to modify the Gulf of Alaska Low and Control 1487L airspace areas in the vicinity of the Yakutat Airport, Yakutat, AK, by lowering the affected controlled airspace floor to 700 feet mean sea level (MSL) for the Gulf of Alaska Low, and 1,200 feet MSL for Control 1487L. The FAA is proposing this action to provide additional controlled airspace for the safety of aircraft executing instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the Yakutat Airport.

FRA is proposing to clarify and amend its existing regulations in an effort to address various mechanical issues relevant to the manufacture, efficient utilization, and safe operation of passenger equipment and trains that have arisen since FRA's original issuance of the Passenger Equipment Safety Standards. FRA proposes miscellaneous amendments to its existing regulations in five areas by: Clarifying the terminology related to piston travel indicators; providing alternative design and additional inspection criteria for new passenger equipment not designed to allow inspection of the application and release of the brakes from outside the equipment; permitting some latitude in the use of passenger equipment with redundant air compressors when a limited number of the compressors become inoperative; recognizing current locomotive manufacturing techniques by permitting an alternative pneumatic pressure test for main reservoirs; and adding provisions to ensure the proper securement of unattended equipment. FRA is also clarifying the existing regulatory requirements related to the attachment of safety appliances and is proposing an identification and inspection protocol to address passenger equipment containing welded safety appliances or welded safety appliance brackets or supports. Finally, FRA is proposing to permit railroads the ability to apply out- of-service credit to certain periodic maintenance requirements.

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 Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on September 9, 2005, and comments were due by November 8, 2005. No comments were received.

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 Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on September 9, 2005, and comments were due by November 8, 2005. No comments were received.

This notice sets forth the reasons for the denial of a petition submitted by Ms. Miriam Schneider to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), received on August 2, 2005, under 49 U.S.C. 30162, requesting that the agency commence a proceeding to determine the existence of a defect related to motor vehicle safety with respect to the performance of the tie rod ends on certain model year (MY) 1999 Volkswagen Passat vehicles not included in two previous safety recall campaigns. After a review of the petition and other information, NHTSA has concluded that further expenditure of the agency's investigative resources on the issues raised by the petition does not appear to be warranted. The agency accordingly has denied the petition. The petition is herein after identified as DP05-003.

The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an environmental impact statement will be prepared for the proposed extension of SR-357 in Sullivan County, Tennessee.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the City and County of Honolulu, Department of Transportation Services (DTS) intend to prepare an EIS (and Alternative Analysis (AA)) on a proposal by the City and County of Honolulu to implement transit improvements that potentially include high-capacity transit service in a 25-mile travel corridor between Kapolei and the University of Hawaii at Manoa and Waikiki. Alternatives proposed to be considered in the AA and draft EIS include No Build, Transportation System Management, Managed Lanes, and Fixed Guideway Transit. Other transit alternatives may be identified during the scoping process. The EIS will be prepared to satisfy the requirements of the National Environmental Policy of 1969 (NEPA) and its implementing regulations. The FTA and DTS request public and interagency input on the purpose and needs to be addressed by the project, the alternatives to be considered, and the scope of the EIS for the corridor, including the alternatives and the environmental and community impacts to be evaluated.

This amendment establishes, amends, suspends, or revokes Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) and/or Weather Takeoff Minimums for operations at certain airports. These regulatory actions are needed because of the adoption of new or revised criteria, or because of changes occurring in the National Airspace System, such as the commissioning of new navigational facilities, addition of new obstacles, or changes in air traffic requirements. These changes are designed to provide safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace and to promote safe flight operations under instrument flight rules at the affected airports.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain McDonnell Douglas Model DC-9-10, DC-9-20, DC-9-30, DC-9-40, and DC-9-50 series airplanes. This proposed AD would require repetitive inspections for stress corrosion cracks of the main fuselage frame, and corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD also would provide an optional terminating action for the repetitive inspections. This proposed AD results from several reports of cracking of the main fuselage frame. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct stress corrosion cracking of the main fuselage frame, which could result in extensive damage to adjacent structure, and reduced structural integrity of the airplane.