Department of Transportation January 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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.

This action creates Class E airspace at Chignik, AK to provide adequate controlled airspace to contain aircraft executing a new Standard Instrument Approach Procedure (SIAP) at the airport. This rule results in new Class E airspace upward from 700 ft. and 1,200 ft. above the surface at the Chignik Airport, Chignik AK.

This action modifies the Class E airspace at Gothenburg Quinn Field, NE. The FAA has developed Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAP) to Runways (RWY) 3 and 21 at Gothenburg, Quinn Field, NE. Additional controlled airspace extending upward from 700 feet Above Ground Level (AGL) is needed to accommodate the SIAPs. The intended effect of this rule is to provide controlled Class E airspace for aircraft executing the SIAPs and to segregate aircraft using instrument approach procedures in instrument conditions from aircraft operating in visual conditions.

This notice announces the availability of, and requests comments on a proposed Technical Standard Order (TSO) C-176, Aircraft Image Recorder Systems. This proposed TSO tells persons seeking a TSO authorization or letter or design approval what minimum performance standards (MPS) their aircraft image recorder system (AIRS) must meet. In it, we (the Federal Aviation Administration, or FAA) tell you what minimum performance standard (MPS) your AIRS must first meet for approval and identification with the applicable TSO marking.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing transport category airplanes. This proposed AD would require determining if the terminal fittings of the spars of the wings are made of 7079 aluminum alloy material. For any positive finding, the proposed AD would require doing repetitive inspections for cracks and corrosion of all exposed surfaces of the terminal fitting bores; doing repetitive inspections for cracks, corrosion, and other surface defects, of all exposed surfaces, including the flanges, of the terminal fitting; applying corrosion inhibiting compound to the terminal fittings; and repairing or replacing any cracked, corroded, or defective part with a new part. This proposed AD also provides for an optional terminating action for the repetitive inspections. This proposed AD results from reports of cracking of the terminal fittings of the spars of the wings. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct stress-corrosion cracking of the terminal fittings, which could result in the failure of one of the terminal fitting connections. Such a failure, combined with a similar failure of one of the other three terminal fittings, could result in the inability of the airplane structure to carry fail-safe loads, which could result in loss of structural integrity of the wing attachment points.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all EMBRAER Model EMB-135 and EMB-145, -145ER, -145MR, -145LR, - 145XR, -145MP, and -145EP airplanes. This proposed AD would require inspecting to determine the part number of the ailerons. For airplanes with affected aileron part numbers, this proposed AD would require reworking the aileron damper fitting. For certain airplanes, this proposed AD would also require replacing the rod end of the aileron damper assembly with an improved rod end. This proposed AD results from reports of structural failure of the rod end of the aileron damper, which was caused by insufficient clearance between the lugs of the aileron damper fitting and the rod end of the aileron damper. We are proposing this AD to prevent failure of the aileron damper, which could result in failure of the aileron actuator and consequent reduced controllability of the airplane.

The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that affects certain Airbus Model A300 series airplanes and all Model A300-600 and A310 series airplanes. That AD currently requires repetitive inspections of the pitch trim system to detect continuity defects in the autotrim function, and follow-on corrective actions if necessary. For certain airplanes, this proposed AD would also require replacing the flight augmentation computers (FACs) with new improved FACs. This proposed AD also revises the applicability of the existing AD. This proposed AD results from the development of a final action intended to address the unsafe condition. We are proposing this AD to prevent a sudden change in pitch due to an out-of-trim condition combined with an autopilot disconnect, which could result in reduced controllability of the airplane.

This notice denies a petition filed by Diane and Dorsey Smith requesting that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) amend its regulation concerning odometer disclosure requirements to eliminate the exemption for vehicles having a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of more than 16,000 pounds.

PHMSA is inviting interested persons to participate in a series of public meetings that will address new hazardous materials transportation enforcement authority contained in the Hazardous Materials Safety and Security Reauthorization Act of 2005 (Title VII of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users), enacted on August 10, 2005. This expanded authority permits DOT enforcement personnel to open the outer packaging(s) of a package believed to contain hazardous materials; order a package believed to contain hazardous materials to be transported to an appropriate facility for examination and analysis; assist in the safe resumption of transportation of a package when practicable and an imminent hazard is found not to exist; and, when an imminent hazard may exist, remove a package from transportation or issue an emergency restriction, prohibition, recall, or out-of-service order.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Park Service (NPS), as co-leads in the environmental process, intend to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) under the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended. The EIS will address environmental and related impacts that may result from actions to be proposed and alternatives to be developed to achieve the statutory mandate of Public Law 100-91 (``commonly know as the Overflights Act''); to provide for the substantial restoration of the natural quiet and experience of Grand Canyon National Park (GCNP). The Presidential Memorandum dated April 22, 1996, Earth Day Initiative, Parks for Tomorrow calls for substantial restoration of natural quiet in the GCNP to be achieved by 2008. ``Substantial restoration of natural quiet'' has been defined by the NPS to mean that 50 percent or more of the park will achieve natural quiet (i.e., no aircraft audible) for 75 to 100 percent of the day. This undertaking is a follow-on to previous actions taken by the FAA, in cooperation with the NPS, since December 1996. The FAA and NPS are inviting the public, agencies, and other interested parties to provide comments, suggestions, and input regarding: (1) The scope, issues, and concerns related to the development of proposed and alternative actions at Grand Canyon National Park that provide for the substantial restoration of the natural quiet and experience of the park and protection of public health and safety from significant adverse effects associated with all aircraft overflights; (2) past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future actions which, when considered with any alternatives, may result in significant cumulative impacts; and, (3) potential alternatives. The scoping process for this EIS will include three public meetings and a ninety-day comment period for interested agencies and parties to submit oral and/or written comments representing the concerns and issues they believe should be addressed. Please submit any written comments within ninety-days from the date of this Notice, or no later than April 27, 2006. Address your comments to: Docket Management System, Doc No. FAA-2005-23402, U.S. Department of Transportation, Room Plaza 401, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001. The purpose of this Notice is to inform Federal, State, local government agencies, and the public of the intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and to conduct a public and agency scoping process. Information, data, opinions, and comments obtained throughout the scoping process will be considered in preparing the Draft EIS. To maximize the opportunities for public participation in this environmental process, the FAA and NPS will also publish notices in the major local newspapers in the vicinity of the study area.

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.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Fokker Model F27 Mark 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, and 700 airplanes. This proposed AD would require revising the Limitations section of the airplane flight manual regarding the use of continuous ignition, fuel filter heating, and resetting circuit breakers during flight in certain conditions such as icing. This proposed AD results from reports of power loss on one or both engines in icing conditions. We are proposing this AD to advise the flightcrew that continuous ignition will not reduce the probability of power loss, and what action they must take to avoid this hazard. Loss of power in one or more engines during flight, if not prevented, could result in loss of control of the airplane.

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.

This action modifies Class E airspace at Koyuk, AK to provide adequate controlled airspace to contain aircraft executing one new Standard Instrument Approach Procedure (SIAP) and two new SIAPs. This rule results in revised Class E airspace upward from 1,200 ft. above the surface at the Koyuk Alfred Adams Airport, Koyuk, AK.

These special conditions are issued for the Airbus A380-800 airplane. This airplane will have novel or unusual design features when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport category airplanes. Many of these novel or unusual design features are associated with the complex systems and the configuration of the airplane, including its full-length double deck. For these design features, the applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards regarding discrete gust requirements. These special conditions contain the additional safety standards that the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards. Additional special conditions will be issued for other novel or unusual design features of the Airbus Model A380-800 airplane.

Organizations that are approved to conduct aircraft maintenance are certified and regulated under CFR 14, Title 49, FAR part 145, or international equivalent (Henceforth referred to as part 145). The information collected will be used to assess what companies have done, are doing or are planning to do regarding the human factors elements of part 145. A partial list of subjects includes training, error management, fatigue management, and additional human factors metrics. Additionally, respondents will be asked to describe their organization's support of their human factors program. This will involve collecting data from companies world-wide. The FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval of this new information collection. A notice for public comment was published in the Federal Register on 7/6/ 2005, vol. 70, 128, page 39000.

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

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Model Airbus Model A330-200, A330-300, A340-200, and A340-300 series airplanes. This AD requires inspecting for damage to certain actuators of the low-pressure shut-off valve (LPSOV), and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. This AD results from a report of damage to the LPSOV pedestal. We are issuing this AD to ensure that, in the event of an engine fire, the LPSOV actuator functions properly to delay or block the fuel flow to the engine and prevent an uncontrollable fire.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Turbomeca Arriel 1B, 1D, 1D1, and 1S1 turboshaft engines. This AD requires initial and repetitive position checks of the gas generator 2nd stage turbine blades on all Turbomeca Arriel 1B, 1D, 1D1, and 1S1 turboshaft engines, and initial and repetitive replacements of 2nd stage turbines on 1B, 1D, and 1D1 engines only. This AD results from reports of the release of gas generator 2nd stage turbine blades while in service, with full containment of debris. We are issuing this AD to prevent inflight engine shutdown and subsequent forced autorotation landing or accident.

The FTA, in cooperation with the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (SEWRPC), is issuing this notice to advise the public that a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) will be prepared for the proposed initiation of commuter rail or bus services between Kenosha, Racine and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The FTA is the lead Federal agency under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). The project is being conducted by SEWRPC which is acting as the manager and fiscal agent for the DEIS and associated alternatives analysis study on behalf of an Intergovernmental Partnership of the Cities and Counties of Kenosha, Milwaukee, and Racine, and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, and SEWRPC. The FTA and SEWRPC invite interested individuals, organizations, and Federal, State, and local agencies to participate in refining the alternatives to be evaluated and identifying any significant social, economic, and environmental issues related to the alternatives. Comments on the appropriateness of the alternatives and impact-related issues are encouraged. Specific suggestions on additional alternatives to be examined and issues to be addressed are welcomed and will be considered in the final study scope. Scoping of these alternatives and their potential impacts will be accomplished through meetings and correspondence with interested persons, organizations, and Federal, State, regional, and local agencies.

This final rule amends requirements in the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) pertaining to the examination, testing, certification, and transportation of lighters and lighter refills. This action will clarify regulatory requirements and, where appropriate, decrease the regulatory burden, while continuing to provide for the safe transportation of lighters and lighter refills in commerce.

This document corrects a docket number in an NPRM that was published in the Federal Register on October 17, 2005 (70 FR 60244). The NPRM applies to Eurocopter France Model EC155B and B1 helicopters. The NPRM proposed to require inspecting an electrical cable bundle for wear and, if necessary, installing an airworthy cable bundle and modifying the routing of the electrical cable bundles.