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

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to all Boeing Model 747SP, 747SR, 747-100, -100B, -100B SUD, -200B, -200C, -200F, and -300 series airplanes, that requires modification of the escape slide/raft pack assembly and cable release sliders, as applicable. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent improper deployment of the escape slide/raft or blockage of the passenger/crew doors in the event of an emergency evacuation, which could result in injury to passengers or crewmembers. This action is intended to address the identified unsafe condition.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain MT-Propeller Entwicklung GmbH variable pitch and fixed pitch propellers with serial numbers (SNs) below 95000, which have not been overhauled since April 1994. This AD requires overhauling the propeller blades of these propellers within 30 days after the effective date of the AD. This AD also requires performing initial and repetitive visual inspections of affected propeller blades. This AD also requires removing all propeller blades from service with damaged erosion sheath bonding or loose erosion sheaths and installing any missing or damaged polyurethane protective strips. This AD results from reports of stainless steel leading edge erosion sheaths separating from propeller blades and reports of propeller blades with damaged or missing polyurethane protective strips (PU-protection tape) due to insufficient inspection procedures in older MT-Propeller Entwicklung GmbH Operation & Installation Manuals. We are issuing this AD to prevent erosion sheath separation leading to damage of the airplane.

The Surface Transportation Board has instituted a proceeding to seek public comments on proposed changes to its stand-alone cost methodology, on whether to continue to permit movement-specific adjustments to its Uniform Railroad Costing System in rail rate reasonableness cases, and on the proper standards for reopening and vacating a prior rate decision that is based upon a stand-alone cost analysis. These changes are intended to resolve major issues common to all rail rate complaints seeking relief under the agency's stand-alone cost test.

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 requesting public comment on the Pease Development Authority's request to dispose of approx. 69 acres of Airport property. The property is located on the North end of the Tradeport along Arboretum Drive and is known as the Newington Town Forest. The vacant land is on the National Register of Historic Places and cannot be developed. The land will be deeded to the Town of Newington, New Hampshire for continued use as the Town Forest. The property was acquired from the United States of America via Quitclaim Deed dated October 15, 2003. The disposition of proceeds from the disposal of airport property will be in accordance with FAA's Policy and Procedures Concerning the Use of Airport Revenue, published in the Federal Register on February 15, 1999.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of a meeting of the RTCA Program Management Committee.

Pursuant to section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463, 5 U.S.C. App. 2), and 5 U.S.C. 552b (c), notice is hereby given of a meeting of the Risk Management Working Group of the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee (COMSTAC). The meeting agenda will include a briefing by a representative from The Aerospace Corporation on the issue of indemnification for commercial launch activities, and will take place on Monday, March 20, 2006, from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. at FAA Headquarters, 800 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and the expected burden. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period was published on July 11, 2005 (70 FR 39851-39852).

The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for General Electric Company (GE) CF34-1A, -3A, -3A1, -3A2, -3B, and -3B1 turbofan engines. That AD currently requires a onetime inspection, and if necessary replacing certain fan disks for electrical arc-out indications. That AD also reduces the life limit of certain fan disks. This AD requires the same actions and adds one disk part number (P/N) and serial number (SN) to the affected fan disks. This AD results from an error in the first part number and serial number listed in Table 1 of the original AD. We are issuing this AD to prevent rupture of the fan disk due to cracks that initiate at an electrical arc-out, which could result in an uncontained failure of the engine.

Before a Federal agency can collect certain information from the public, it must receive approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Under procedures established by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), before seeking OMB approval, Federal agencies must solicit public comment on proposed collections of information, including extensions and reinstatements of previously approved collections. This document describes one collection of information for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval.

On January 7, 2005, the FAA published Special Federal Aviation Regulation No. 103 establishing the procedures and some standards by which an air traffic controller in a flight service station, enroute or terminal facility, or at the David J. Hurley Air Traffic Control System Command Center may request a waiver of the mandatory separation age. The FAA requested comments on the SFAR. This action confirms that SFAR No. 103 remains in effect as adopted and disposes of the comments.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is issuing this notice to advise the public of the approval of a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) on an Environmental Assessment for proposed Federal actions at Quad City International Airport, Moline, Illinois. The FONSI specifies that the proposed federal actions and local development projects are consistent with existing environmental policies and objectives as set forth in the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and will not significantly affect the quality of the environment. A description of the proposed Federal actions is: (a) To issue an environmental finding to allow approval of the Airport Layout Plan (ALP) for the development items listed below; (b) approval of the Airport Layout Plan (ALP) for the development items listed below; and (c) establish eligibility of the Metropolitan Airport Authority of Rock Island County to compete for Federal funding for the development projects depicted on the Airport Layout Plan. The specific items in the local airport development project include: Construction, lighting and marking of a 500 foot long by 150 foot wide extension to Runway 5 that includes grading and drainage; Construction, lighting and marking of parallel and connecting taxiways to the Runway 5 extension; Construction of Taxiway Q; Widening of Taxiway F; Expansion of the General Aviation Ramp; Installation of a CAT II/III ILS to Runway 9 that includes an Approach Lighting System with sequenced Flashing Lights (ALSF-2), Touchdown Zone Lighting (TDZL) and Runway Centerline Lighting; Creation of a Standard CAT II/III Instrument Approach Procedure (SIAP) for Runway 9; Installation of a Mid-Field Runway Visual Range (RVR) Sensor; Relocation of the Runway 5 Visual Approach Decent Indicator (VADI); Construction of detention areas to mitigate approximately 0.6 acres of potential floodplain encroachment; and Approval of the Quad City International Airport's Layout Plan (ALP). Copies of the environmental decision and the Final EA are available for public information review during regular business hours at the following locations: 1. Quad City International Airport, 2200 69th Avenue, Moline, IL 61265. 2. Division of Aeronautics-Illinois Department of Transportation, One Langhorne Bond Drive, Capital Airport, Springfield, IL 62707. 3. Chicago Airport District Office, Room 320, Federal Aviation Administration, 2300 East Devon Avenue, Des Plaines, Illinois 60018.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its findings on the noise compatibility program submitted by the Boise Air Terminal/Gowen Field under the provisions of Title 49 of the United States Code (49 U.S.C.), the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act, hereinafter referred to as ``the Act,'' and Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 150. These findings are made in recognition of the description of federal and nonfederal responsibilities in Senate Report No. 96-52 (1980). On August 23, 2005, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) determined that the noise exposure maps submitted by the Boise Air Terminal/Gowen Field under Part 150 were in compliance with applicable requirements. On February 8, 2006, the FAA approved the Boise Air Terminal/Gowen Field noise compatibility program. Thirty of thirty-two recommendations of the program were approved.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Boeing Model 747-200F, 747-200C, 747-400, 747-400D, and 747-400F series airplanes. This AD requires repetitive inspections for cracking of certain fuselage internal structure, and repair if necessary. This AD results from fatigue tests and analysis that identified areas of the fuselage where fatigue cracks can occur. We are issuing this AD to prevent loss of the structural integrity of the fuselage, which could result in rapid depressurization of the airplane.

The Maritime Administration (MARAD) is considering transferring the Nuclear Ship NS Savannah from its present location in the James River Reserve Fleet in Virginia to either Charleston, South Carolina; Wilmington, North Carolina; Hampton Roads, Virginia; or Baltimore, Maryland, to complete decommissioning of the ship's nuclear reactor. Prior to making this decision, MARAD requests public comments and may hold several informational public meetings and/or teleconferences on the proposal.

Section 5207 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) established the Surface Transportation Environment and Planning Cooperative Research Program (STEP). The general objective of the STEP is to improve understanding of the complex relationship between surface transportation, planning and the environment. SAFETEA-LU provides $16.875 million per year for fiscal years (FY) 2006-2009 to implement this new cooperative research program. Due to obligation limitations, rescissions, and congressional designation of Title V Research in SAFETEA-LU, it is anticipated that approximately $11.9 million of the $16.875 million authorized will be available each fiscal year. The purpose of this notice is to: (1) Announce the creation of an FHWA Web site to provide information regarding the STEP; and (2) to solicit public input on the implementation strategy for this program.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection Requirements (ICRs) abstracted below have been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICRs describes the nature of the information collections and their expected burdens. The Federal Register notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collections of information was published on December 20, 2005 (70 FR 75533).

This action revokes Colored Federal Airway B-12, modifies three Colored Federal Airways B-4, R-50 and G-7, and establishes Colored Federal Airway R-4 in Alaska. These amendments 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).

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Rolls-Royce plc (RR) RB211 Trent 500, 700, and 800 series turbofan engines. This AD requires inspecting all engines to determine those that are equipped with a suspect oil filler cap assembly. This AD also requires, within seven days of the effective date of this AD, an initial and repetitive check of oil cap security following oil servicing of multiple-engine airplanes having more than one suspect oil filler cap assembly installed. Finally, this AD requires replacing affected oil filler cap assemblies. This AD results from four in- service oil loss events since March 2005, following failures to properly install the oil tank filler cap after oil servicing. We are issuing this AD to prevent oil loss that could result in multiple engine in-flight shutdowns during a flight.