Department of Transportation 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 release of 13.6672 acres of airport property for an exchange of property between the Columbus Regional Airport Authority (CRAA) and the City of Columbus. The land currently houses a solid waste transfer station that will remain on the site. The land was conveyed to the City of Columbus in Deed Volume 2803, page 547 of the Recorder's Office, Franklin County, Ohio. The land was acquired by the City of Columbus with funding from Federal Grant 8-39-0026-01. There are no impacts to the airport by allowing the airport to dispose of the property. 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. In exchange, the CRAA will receive a parcel of land (43.562 acres) currently being used as a golf course facility adjacent to Port Columbus International Airport. This parcel is partially located in the existing Runway Protection Zone for Runway 10R-28L as indicated on the approved Airport Layout Plan (ALP) for Port Columbus International Airport. 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 action establishes Class D airspace and revises Class E airspace at Big Delta, Allen Army Airfield (BIG) on Ft. Greely, Alaska. This action was taken at the request of the United States Army to enable them to establish the appropriate airspace to open an Airport Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) at BIG to support operations of the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command. This action also enlarges Class E Airspace from 700 ft. above the surface to the point at which it is sufficient to contain aircraft executing standard instrument approach procedures (SIAP). The new BIG ATCT is being established to provide airport traffic control service to aircraft operating at BIG due to increased airport operations caused by an expanded homeland security mission at Ft. Greely.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain CASA Model C-212-CC series airplanes. This proposed AD would restrict the operation of the airplane to carrying either passengers or cargo (but not both) in the same compartment, unless the airplane is modified to include an approved protective liner between the passengers and the cargo. This proposed AD is prompted by our determination that affected airplanes, when carrying both cargo and passengers in the same compartment, cannot achieve the required level of performance. We are proposing this AD to prevent a hazardous quantity of smoke, flames, and/or fire extinguishing agent from the cargo compartment from entering a compartment occupied by passengers or crew.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain CASA Model C-212-CC series airplanes. This proposed AD would restrict the operation of the airplane to carrying either passengers or cargo (but not both) in the same compartment, unless the airplane is modified to include an approved protective liner between the passengers and the cargo. This proposed AD is prompted by our determination that affected airplanes, when carrying both cargo and passengers in the same compartment, cannot achieve the required level of performance. We are proposing this AD to prevent a hazardous quantity of smoke, flames, and/or fire extinguishing agent from the cargo compartment from entering a compartment occupied by passengers or crew.

The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD), which applies to certain Boeing Model 767 series airplanes. That 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 new AD adds 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 AD also reduces the inspection interval of the upper tang of the outboard midspar fitting; and provides an optional terminating action for the repetitive inspections. This AD results from 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 issuing 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.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A330-202, -223, -243, and -343 airplanes; and certain Model A340-313 airplanes. This AD requires a one-time inspection for discrepancies of the attachment bolts of the windshield central retainer, and corrective actions if necessary. This AD results from a report indicating that, during production, the windshield central retainer may have been installed with attachment bolts that were too short, which prevented the thread of the bolt from fully engaging in the self-locking nut. We are issuing this AD to prevent loosened attachment bolts, which could result in loss of the windshield and consequent reduced structural integrity of the airplane.

This rule revises and adopts as final the interim final rule published in the Federal Register on July 20, 2004. The Maritime Administration (MARAD) is issuing this final rule to implement provisions of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004, the Maritime Security Act of 2003 (MSA 2003). The MSA 2003 authorizes the creation of a new Maritime Security Program (MSP) that establishes a fleet of active, commercially viable, privately owned vessels to meet national defense and other security requirements and to maintain a United States presence in international commercial shipping.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is issuing this notice to advise the public that the FAA has prepared and approved on September 8, 2005, a Finding of No Significant Impact/Record of Decision (FONSI/ROD) based on the Final Environmental Assessment (Final EA) for the following proposed action at the St. Louis Downtown Airport: the construction of a new Air Traffic Control Tower, associated support building, parking lot, and access road. The FAA prepared the Final EA in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and the FAA's regulations and guidelines for environmental documents. The Final EA was reviewed and evaluated by the FAA and was accepted on September 6, 2005 as a Federal document by the FAA's Responsible Federal Official.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of a meeting of the RTCA Government/Industry Air Traffic Management Advisory Committee.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of a meeting of RTCA Special Committee 206: Aeronautical Information Services Data Link.

Pursuant to FAA's rulemaking provisions governing the application, processing, and disposition of petitions for exemption part 11 of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR), this notice contains a summary of certain petitions seeking relief from specified requirements of 14 CFR. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, this aspect of FAA's regulatory activities. Neither publication of this notice nor the inclusion or omission of information in the summary is intended to affect the legal status of any petition or its final disposition.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, PHMSA invites comments on certain information collections pertaining to hazardous materials transportation for which PHMSA intends to request renewal from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Boeing Model 757 airplanes. This proposed AD would require repetitive measurements of the freeplay of each of the three power control units (PCUs) that move the rudder; repetitive lubrication of rudder components; and corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD results from a report of freeplay-induced vibration of the rudder. We are proposing this AD to prevent excessive vibration of the airframe during flight, which could result in divergent flutter and loss of control of the airplane.

This document revises an earlier proposed airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain EMBRAER Model EMB-135 and -145 series airplanes. The proposed AD would have required performing repetitive inspections for cracks, ruptures, or bends in certain components of the elevator control system; replacing discrepant components; and, for certain airplanes, installing a new spring cartridge and implementing new logic for the electromechanical gust lock system. The proposed AD also would have required eventual modification of the elevator gust lock system to replace the mechanical system with an electromechanical system, which would terminate the repetitive inspections. This new action revises the proposed rule by requiring installing a new spring cartridge and implementing new logic for the electromechanical gust lock system on additional airplanes. The actions specified by this new proposed AD are intended to prevent discrepancies in the elevator control system, which could result in reduced control of the elevator and consequent reduced controllability of the airplane. This action is intended to address the identified unsafe condition.

The FAA adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain PZL-Swidnik S.A. (PZL-Swidnik) Models PW-5 ``Smyk'' and PW-6U gliders. This AD requires you to inspect for the minimum dimension of the left side aileron, right side aileron, and airbrake push-rod ends for certain Model PW-5 ``Smyk'' gliders; inspect for the minimum dimension of the aileron, airbrake, and elevator control push-rod ends for certain Model PW-6U gliders; and replace any push-rod end that does not meet the minimum dimension. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority for Poland. We are issuing this AD to detect and replace any push-rod end that does not meet the minimum dimension, which could result in failure of the control system. This failure could lead to loss of control of the glider.

The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD), which applies to all Short Brothers Model SD3-30 and SD3-60 airplanes equipped with certain fire extinguishers. That 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 new AD also requires modification of the fire extinguishing point adapter assembly of the forward and aft baggage bays as applicable. This new AD also adds airplanes to the applicability. For these new airplanes, this new AD requires a revision to the AFM for instructions on using the new fire extinguisher adapter. This AD results from reports of individuals experiencing fire extinguishant blowback when the extinguishant discharges through the fire extinguishing point adapters. We are issuing 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 is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A330-301, -321, -322, -341, and -342 airplanes; and Model A340-200 and A340-300 series airplanes. This AD requires repetitive inspections for cracks of the inboard lower flange and radius of the left- and right-hand outboard floor beams at frame (FR) 48, and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. This AD also provides an optional terminating action for the repetitive inspections. This AD results from reports that cracks were found during fatigue tests at the attachment between the canted lower flange of the floor beam and the pressure diaphragm in front of FR48 on both left- and right-hand floor beams; and that an additional crack was found in the flange radius of the floor beam. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct such cracking, which could propagate and result in reduced structural integrity of the fuselage.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A320-111 airplanes and Model A320-200 series airplanes. This AD requires installing a bonding strip between each of the two water scavenge jet pumps of the center fuel tank and the rear spar in section 21. This AD results from the results of fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. We are issuing this AD to prevent an ignition source for fuel vapor in the wing, which could result in fire or explosion in the center wing fuel tank.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A318-100, A319-100, A320-200, A321-100, and A321- 200 series airplanes; and Model A320-111 airplanes. This AD requires modification of the electrical bonding of all structures and systems installed inside the center fuel tank. This AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. We are issuing this AD to prevent electrical arcing in the center fuel tank due to inadequate bonding, which could result in an explosion of the center fuel tank and consequent loss of the airplane.

The Surface Transportation Board will hold a public hearing beginning at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, October 19, 2005, at its offices in Washington, DC. The purpose of the public hearing will be to examine the impact, the effectiveness, and the future of the Staggers Rail Act of 1980 (Staggers Act). Persons wishing to speak at the hearing should notify the Board in writing.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A321-100 and -200 series airplanes. This proposed AD would require replacing the crashworthiness pins on the side-stay of the main landing gear (MLG) with new pins having an increased internal notch diameter. This proposed AD results from testing on the side-stay crashworthiness pins on the MLG, which revealed that, in the case of an emergency landing, the crashworthiness pins installed will not ensure a correct MLG collapse. We are proposing this AD to prevent a punctured fuel tank, which could cause damage to the airplane or injury to passengers.