Department of Transportation June 28, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA withdraws a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that proposed a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain EMBRAER Model EMB-145, -145ER, -145MR, -145LR, -145XR, -145MP, and -145EP airplanes. The proposed AD would have required modifying the routing of wire harness W407 near the fire extinguishing tube in the area of each engine, and installing new supports for related wiring. Since the proposed AD was issued, we have received new data indicating that the identified unsafe condition does not exist. Accordingly, the proposed AD is withdrawn.

The FAA publishes a monthly notice, as appropriate, of PFC approvals and disapprovals under the provisions of the Aviation Safety and Capacity Expansion Act of 1990 (Title IX of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990) (Pub. L. 101-508) and part 158 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 158). This notice is published pursuant to paragraph d of Sec. 158.29.

The FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve a current information collection. The FAA requires the information in the interest of aviation safety to protect aircraft operations from the potential hazardous effects of laser emissions.

The FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve a current information collection. The information collected is needed for the applicant's noise certification compliance report in order to demonstrate compliance with 14 CFR part 36.

This notice sets forth the FAA's proposed decision on the transferability of interim operating authority under the National Parks Air Tour Management Act.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is requesting public comment on a proposal to decommission all 54 Direction Finders (DF) and the associated DF approaches in all states other than Alaska. DF's have been used sparingly over the last nine years and the equipment is beyond its useful lifecycle. Improved radar coverage, pilot education and technologies such as area navigation (RNAV) and global positioning satellite (GPS) have reduced the utilization of DF steers and have essentially made DF's obsolete. A Federal Safety Risk Management Panel (SRMP) has determined that if pilots need orientation assistance, that our existing orientation methods, VOR, ADF, and GPS are reliable and meet the needs of our aviation community. Decommissioning would coincide with the Flight Services service provider's plan to consolidate the 58 flight service stations to 20 facilities.

This document proposes to modify Class E airspace at Chamberlain, SD. Standard Instrument Approach Procedures have been developed for Chamberlain Municipal Airport, Chamberlain, SD. Controlled airspace extending upward from 700 feet or more above the surface of the earth is needed to contain aircraft executing these approaches. This action would increase the area of the existing controlled airspace for Chamberlain, SD.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 757-200 series airplanes. This AD requires a one- time deactivation of the auxiliary fuel system, repetitive venting and draining of the auxiliary fuel tank sumps, and revising the Limitations section of the airplane flight manual to limit the maximum cargo weight. This AD results from a re-evaluation of the floor structure and cargo barriers conducted by the STC holder. We are issuing this AD to prevent structural overload of the auxiliary fuel tank support structure, which could cause the floor beams to fail, damaging the primary flight controls and the auxiliary power unit fuel lines that pass through the floor beams, resulting in loss of control of the airplane. We are also issuing this AD to prevent structural overload of the cargo barriers, which could cause the barriers to fail, allowing the cargo to shift, resulting in damage to the auxiliary fuel tanks, residual fuel leakage, and consequent increased risk of a fire.

FRA is issuing comprehensive, minimum standards for locomotive crashworthiness. These crashworthiness standards are intended to help protect locomotive cab occupants in the event of a locomotive collision. Examples of locomotive collision scenarios considered in this rulemaking include collisions with another locomotive, the rear of another train, a piece of on-track equipment, a shifted load on a freight car on an adjacent parallel track, and a highway vehicle at a rail-highway grade crossing. Locomotive crashworthiness must be demonstrated by complying with either the final rule's new performance standards or an FRA-approved design standard.