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

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) that supersedes AD 2003-13-04, which applies to certain Pilatus Aircraft Ltd (Pilatus) Model PC-6 airplanes. AD 2003-13-04 currently requires you to inspect the integral fuel tank wing ribs for cracks and the top and bottom wing skins for distortion, repair any cracks or distortion before further flight, and do a fuel tank ventilating system installation. Since we issued AD 2003-13-04, the FAA determined the action should also apply to all the models of the PC-6 airplanes listed in the type certificate data sheet of Type Certificate (TC) No. 7A15 that were produced in the United States through a licensing agreement between Pilatus and Fairchild Republic Company (also identified as Fairchild Industries, Fairchild Heli Porter, or Fairchild-Hiller Corporation). In addition, the intent of the applicability of AD 2003- 13-04 was to apply to all the affected serial numbers of the airplane models listed in TC No. 7A15. This AD retains all the actions of AD 2003-13-04, adds those Fairchild Republic Company airplanes to the applicability of this AD, and lists the individual specific airplane models. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracks in the ribs of the inboard integral fuel tanks in the left and right wings, which could lead to wing failure during flight with consequent loss of control of the airplane.

This final rule implements the Motorcyclist Safety grant program authorized under section 2010 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) for fiscal years 2006 through 2009. Eligibility for the section 2010 grants is based on six statutorily-specified grant criteria. To receive an initial section 2010 grant, a State must demonstrate compliance with at least one of the six grant criteria. To receive a grant in subsequent fiscal years, a State must demonstrate compliance with at least two of the six grant criteria. This final rule establishes the requirements a State must meet and the procedures it must follow to receive a section 2010 Motorcyclist Safety grant, beginning in fiscal year 2006.

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'' denote a modification request. These applications have been separated from the new application for special permits to facilitate processing.

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.

These special conditions are issued for certain Dassault Aviation Model Falcon 900EX and Falcon 2000EX airplanes. These airplanes will have an advanced enhanced flight visibility system (EFVS). The EFVS is a novel or unusual design feature which consists of a head up display (HUD) system modified to display forward-looking infrared (FLIR) imagery. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. 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.

The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an environmental impact statement will be prepared, in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Transportation and the District of Columbia Department of Transportation, for potential transportation improvements in the 14th Street Bridge Corridor, from South Capitol Street in Washington, DC to Virginia Route 27 in Arlington, VA, including the 14th Street Bridge over the Potomac River.

The FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve a current information collection. This information is needed to identify and track regulated entities required to implement antidrug and alcohol misuse prevention programs as well as those companies that opt to implement programs. A notice for this collection appeared in the Federal Register on July 12, 2006, Vol. 71, No. 133, pgs. 39385-39386 with two incorrect titles attached to it: ``Operating Requirements: Commuter and On-Demand Operation'' and ``FAA Research and Development Grants''. The correct title is ``Final Rule Amending the Antidrug and Alcohol Misuse Prevention Programs for Personnel Engaged in Specified Aviation''.

This action revokes the Class D airspace area for Elko Municipal-J.C. Harris Field, Elko, NV. The FAA is taking this action due to the closure of the Elko Municipal Airport Traffic Control Tower (ATCT).

This notice announces actions taken by the FHWA that are final within the meaning of 23 U.S.C. 139(1)(1). The actions relate to a proposed highway project, Interstate 495 (i.e., Capital Beltway), I-95/ I-395/I-495 Interchange to the American Legion Bridge, in the County of Fairfax, State of Virginia. Those actions grant approvals for the project.

This action proposes to revise Class E airspace at Iliamna, AK. One Standard Instrument Approach Procedure (SIAP) is being amended for the Iliamna Airport. Adoption of this proposal would result in revision of existing Class E airspace upward from 700 feet (ft.) and 1,200 ft. above the surface at Iliamna Airport, Village of Iliamna, AK.

This action proposes to revise Class E airspace at St. Mary's, AK. Three Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) are being amended and one SIAP is being developed for the St. Mary's Airport. Adoption of this proposal would result in revision of existing Class E airspace upward from the surface and 700 feet (ft.) above the surface at St. Mary's Airport, St. Mary's, AK.

This action proposes to establish Class E airspace at Kokhanok, AK. Two new Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) and a new Departure Procedure (DP) are being published for the Kokhanok Airport. Adoption of this proposal would result in creation of new Class E airspace upward from 700 feet (ft.) and 1,200 ft. above the surface at Kokhanok Airport, Village of Kokhanok, AK.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Twin Commander Aircraft Corporation (Twin Commander) Models 690, 690A, and 690B airplanes. This AD requires you to inspect, visually and using fluorescent dye penetrant, the support structures for the inboard and center aileron hinge fittings on both wings for cracks and replace any cracked support structure. This AD requires you to reinforce the support structures for the inboard and center aileron hinge fittings on both wings. This AD results from reports that cracks were found in the support structures for the inboard and center aileron hinge fittings on both wings. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracks in the support structures for the inboard and center aileron hinge fittings on both wings, which could result in aileron failure. This failure could lead to reduced controllability or loss of control of the airplane.

The FAA adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for some Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) MU-2B series airplanes. This AD requires you to verify that the current flight idle blade angles are set at 12 degrees. If not already set at that angle, set the flight idle blade angles to 12 degrees. This AD results from a recent safety evaluation that used a data-driven approach to analyze the design, operation, and maintenance of the MU-2B series airplanes in order to determine their safety and define what steps, if any, are necessary for their safe operation. Part of that evaluation was the identification of unsafe conditions that exist or could develop on the affected type design airplanes. We are issuing this AD to prevent incorrect flight idle blade angle settings. This unsafe condition, if not corrected, could lead to an asymmetric thrust situation in certain flight conditions, which could result in airplane controllability problems.

The FRA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared for the proposed DesertXpress high-speed train project. The project includes passenger stations, a maintenance facility, and a new railroad line along the I- 15 corridor between Victorville, California and Las Vegas, Nevada. FRA is issuing this notice to solicit public and agency input into the development of the scope of the EIS and to advise the public that outreach activities conducted by the FRA will be considered in the preparation of the EIS. Federal cooperating agencies for the EIS are the Surface Transportation Board (STB), the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Alternatives to be evaluated and analyzed in the EIS include (1) take no action (No-Project or No-Build); and, (2) construction of a privately financed steel-wheel-on-steel-rail high-speed train, including a proposed station in Victorville and a station in Las Vegas, and a maintenance facility in Victorville. Several alternative routings would be considered in the EIS.

This document denies a petition for rulemaking and defect determinations submitted by Mr. James E. Hofferberth to prevent the installation by States of seat belts in large school buses and declare school buses equipped with seat belts to be safety defects. After reviewing the petition, NHTSA concludes that there is no justification for changing its longstanding position that States may require seat belts at passenger seating positions in large public school buses. We also conclude that there is no basis to declare that school buses equipped with seat belts have safety-related defects, or to recall existing school buses installed with seat belts. The petitioner did not provide any data that NHTSA has not considered in the past.

This notice announces a public meeting of the FAA's Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC) to discuss transport airplane and engine (TAE) issues.

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) described below is being forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval for a new information collection related to the evaluation of a five-year demonstration/research program on voluntary reporting of close calls and near misses in the rail environment. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected burden. The Federal Register notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on May 10, 2006 (71 FR 27313) and the comment period ended on July 9, 2006. The 60-day notice produced no comments.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Model BAe 146 airplanes. This proposed AD would require inspecting the three-phase circuit breakers and three-phase circuit breaker panels for discrepancies; and fixing any discrepancy and replacing unserviceable units with new units, if necessary. This proposed AD results from reports of three-phase circuit breakers overheating on in-service airplanes. We are proposing this AD to prevent failure of a three-phase circuit breaker. Such failure could prevent an electrical load from being isolated from its electrical supply, which could result in smoke or fire in the flight deck.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 757-200 and -300 series airplanes. This proposed AD would require changes to existing wiring; installation of new circuit breakers, relays, relay connectors, and wiring; and replacement of certain circuit breakers with higher-rated circuit breakers. For certain airplanes, this proposed AD also requires modification of wiring of the control module assembly for the electrical systems. This proposed AD results from an in-flight entertainment (IFE) systems review. We are proposing this AD to ensure that the flightcrew is able to turn off electrical power to the IFE system through utility bus switches in the flight compartment. The flightcrew's inability to turn off power to the IFE system during a non-normal or emergency situation could result in the inability to control smoke or fumes in the airplane flight deck or cabin.