Department of Transportation April 13, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This action proposes to amend Control 1234L, Offshore Airspace Area in Alaska. Specifically, this action proposes to modify Control 1234L in the immediate vicinity of the Saint Paul Island Airport, AK, by lowering the airspace floor from 2,000 feet above ground level (AGL) to 700 AGL. Additionally, outside the vicinity of the airport this proposal lowers the airspace floor from 2,000 AGL to 1,200 feet AGL within a 73-mile radius of the St. Paul Island Airport. The FAA is proposing this action to provide additional controlled airspace for aircraft instrument operations (IFR) at the St. Paul Island Airport.

The Household Goods Carriers' Bureau Committee (Committee), on behalf of its member motor carriers, seeks authority to amend Released Rates Decision No. MC-999 by changing the index used for annual adjustments to the minimum per-pound valuation and to the charges for protecting the full value of shipments of household goods.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A319, A320, and A321 airplanes. This proposed AD would require a detailed inspection for cracks and marks on the carbon blades of the ram air turbine (RAT), and replacement of the RAT with a new or serviceable RAT if necessary. This proposed AD results from a report of three chord-wise cracks on the aft side of one carbon blade of a certain RAT. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct cracks and/or marks on the RAT carbon blades, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the carbon blade, and consequent loss of the RAT as a source of hydraulic and electrical power in an emergency.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain transport category airplanes, identified above. This proposed AD would require installing a bonding jumper from the boost pump volute to the fuel tank structure, and related investigative/ corrective actions. This proposed AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. We are proposing this AD to prevent point-contact arcing or filament heating in the fuel tank, which, in the event of a short or ground fault inside the fuel tank, could result in a fuel tank explosion and consequent loss of the airplane.

The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain Boeing Model 737 series airplanes. The existing AD currently requires inspection of the elevator tab inboard hinge support structure to detect fatigue cracking and corrective action if necessary. That AD also provides an optional terminating action. This proposed AD would add airplanes to the applicability and would require new repetitive inspections. For airplanes having elevators with laminated rear spars, this proposed AD would require repetitive inspections for interlaminar corrosion, delamination, or disbonding in the rear spar, repetitive inspections for cracking in the spar web, and repair including related investigative/corrective actions if necessary. For airplanes having elevators with solid rear spars, this proposed AD would require repetitive inspections for cracking in the spar web and repair including related investigative/corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD results from reports of cracks in the elevator rear spar web at the tab hinge bracket locations. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct cracking, corrosion, interlaminar corrosion, delamination, and disbonding in the elevator rear spar, which may reduce elevator stiffness and lead to in-flight vibration. In-flight vibration may lead to elevator and horizontal stabilizer damage and reduced controllability of the airplane.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is making available a ROD and a Written Reevaluation for new information concerning departure procedures at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Atlanta, Georgia. Point of Contact: Mr. Steve Kelley, Acting Manager, FAA Eastern Terminal Service, Airspace and Procedures, 1 Aviation Plaza, Jamaica, NY 11434-4809, (718) 553-4558.

In accordance with the requirements of 49 U.S.C. 5117(c), PHMSA is publishing the following list of special permit applications that have been in process for 180 days or more. The reason(s) for delay and the expected completion date for action on each application is provided in association with each identified application.

The FAA is revising an existing airworthiness directive (AD), which applies to certain Gulfstream Model GIV-X and GV-SP series airplanes. That AD currently requires revising the Limitations section of the airplane flight manual (AFM) by incorporating new procedures to follow in the event that the cockpit displays go blank or malfunction. This AD allows for the use of alternative AFM revisions for a certain subset of the existing applicability. This AD results from a report that all four of the cockpit flight panel display units simultaneously went blank during flight. We are issuing this AD to ensure that the flightcrew is advised of the appropriate procedures to follow in the event that the cockpit displays go blank or malfunction, which could result in a reduction of the flightcrew's situational awareness and possible loss of control of the airplane.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Fokker Model F.28 Mark 0100 airplanes. This AD requires reinforcing the fuselage at the emergency locator transmitter system's antenna area. This AD results from a report that certain structural provisions for an optional antenna are of insufficient strength. We are issuing this AD to prevent reduced structural integrity of the airplane.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 767 airplanes. This AD requires performing a test of the bonding resistance between the engine fuel feed tube fitting and the front spar, applying sealant on a hex nut inside the dry bay, and performing any applicable corrective actions. This AD results from a report that the engine fuel feed tubes were found not electrically bonded to the front spar. We are issuing this AD to prevent an ignition source from entering the fuel tank during a lightning strike event, which could cause a fuel tank explosion.