Department of Transportation May 25, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

FMCSA announces its decision to exempt 16 individuals from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs). The exemptions will enable these individuals to operate commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce without meeting the prescribed vision standard. The Agency has concluded that granting these exemptions will provide a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety maintained without the exemptions for these CMV drivers.

The FHWA and WisDOT are issuing this notice to advise the public that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared for proposed transportation improvements in the United States Highway (US) 51 corridor in the city of Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin generally between US 12/18 (South Beltline Highway) and State Trunk Highway (STH) 19. The EIS is being prepared in conformance with 40 CFR 1500 and FHWA regulations.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain McDonnell Douglas airplanes, identified above. This proposed AD would require reducing the length of the sump drain collar and replacing the fuel tank sump drain lockring for fuel tanks 1, 2, and 3; and reducing the length of the drain outlet barrel for the auxiliary fuel tank, if applicable. For airplanes with an auxiliary fuel tank, this proposed AD also would require relocating the sump drain outlet to allow draining the sumps without opening the doors of the main landing gear wheel well. This proposed AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. We are proposing this AD to reduce the potential of ignition sources inside fuel tanks in the event of a lightning strike, which, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result in arcing in the fuel tank, fuel tank explosions, and consequent loss of the airplane.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier Model DHC-8-102, -103, and -106 airplanes, and DHC-8-200 and DHC-8-300 series airplanes. This proposed AD would require performing a one-time inspection for non-conforming chain links of chain assemblies of the elevator trim system and gust lock system, and corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD would also require temporary revisions to the airplane flight manuals of the affected airplanes, which describe procedures for elevator trim checks. This proposed AD results from several reports of failure of the elevator trim chain, due to hydrogen embrittlement. We are proposing this AD to prevent breakage of the elevator trim chain, which would prevent the actual position of the elevator trim tab from being annunciated to the flightcrew. Attempting to adjust the trim tab to the full nose up or full nose down position with a broken trim chain could cause reduced control during airplane rotation on the ground or a stall during flight.

The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain Boeing Model 747 airplanes. The existing AD currently requires inspections to detect disbonding, corrosion, and cracking at the longitudinal rows of fasteners in the bonded skin panels in section 41 of the fuselage, and repair, if necessary. This proposed AD would add airplanes to the applicability, and require new inspections of airplanes that may have Alodine-coated rivets installed. This proposed AD results from a report of cracking discovered in a skin lap joint that was previously inspected using the eddy current method. We are proposing this AD to prevent rapid decompression of the airplane due to disbonding and subsequent cracking of the skin panels.

The FHWA is issuing this notice to announce the implementation plan for the Highways for LIFE (HfL) Pilot Program outlined in Section 1502 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). LIFE is an acronym for ``Long-lasting, Innovative, Fast construction of Efficient and safe pavements and bridges.'' The purpose of the HfL Pilot Program is to accelerate the rate of adoption of innovations and technologies, thereby improving safety and highway quality while reducing congestion caused by construction. This will be accomplished through technology transfer, technology partnerships, information dissemination, incentive funding of up to 20 percent, but not more than $5 million on Federal- aid highway projects (eligible for assistance under Chapter 1 of title 23, United States Code) and HfL Program accountability.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of a meeting of RTCA Special Committee 186: Automatic Dependent SurveillanceBroadcast (ADS-B).

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 767-200 and -300 series airplanes. This AD requires replacing the placards on certain stowage bins with new placards, installing partial dividers in certain other stowage bins, and installing straps on stowage bins containing life rafts. For certain airplanes, this AD also requires related concurrent actions. This AD results from test data indicating that outboard overhead stowage bins are unable to withstand the 4.5g down-load standard intended to protect passengers during flight turbulence or a hard landing. We are issuing this AD to prevent the stowage bins from opening during flight turbulence or a hard landing, which could result in the contents of the stowage bins falling onto the passenger seats below and injuring passengers, or blocking the aisles, impeding the evacuation of passengers in an emergency.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Raytheon Model Hawker 800XP airplanes. This AD requires inspecting certain bus bars in the DA-A panel to ensure that the bus bars match the panel configuration and clearance is adequate between the bus bars and adjacent components, and performing corrective action if necessary. This AD results from two reports of inadequate clearance between the bus bars in the DA-A panel. We are issuing this AD to prevent insufficient electrical isolation for the electrical bus configuration and inability of the flightcrew to isolate the bus bars in an emergency situation involving a dual generator failure, which could result in extra loads on the main ship batteries and consequent loss of power to the main essential bus.