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

This document makes a correction to the final rule published in the Federal Register on June 21, 2006 (71 FR 35760). That rule changed the airman medical certification standards to disqualify an airman based on an alcohol test result of 0.04 or greater breath alcohol concentration (BAC) or a refusal to take a drug or alcohol test required by the Department of Transportation (DOT) or a DOT agency.

Under the provisions of Title 49, U.S.C. Section 47153(c), notice is being given that the FAA is considering a request from the City of Concord to waive the requirement that approximately 7.30 acres of airport property, located at the Concord Regional Airport, be used for aeronautical purposes.

The FAA is revising an earlier proposed airworthiness directive (AD) for all Boeing Model 767 airplanes. The original NPRM would have required an inspection of each main tank fuel boost pump for the presence of a pump shaft flame arrestor, and if the flame arrestor is missing, replacement of that pump with a pump having a pump shaft flame arrestor. The original NPRM would also have required repetitive measurements of the flame arrestor's position in the pump, and corrective actions if necessary. The original NPRM resulted from reports that certain fuel boost pumps may not have flame arrestors installed in the pump shaft and reports that the pin that holds the flame arrestor in place can break due to metal fatigue. This action revises the original NPRM by proposing the replacement of the pump with a new or modified pump, which would end the repetitive measurements. This action also revises the compliance times for certain airplanes. We are proposing this supplemental NPRM to prevent the possible migration of a flame from a main tank fuel boost pump inlet to the vapor space of that fuel tank, and consequent ignition of fuel vapors, which could result in a fire or explosion.

This notice announces the dates, times, and locations of six public meetings and a national Webcast to be held in July and August 2006 concerning a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on Statewide and Metropolitan Planning Requirements. Presentations delivered at these meetings will describe the provisions of the NPRM jointly issued by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) on June 9, 2006 to provide guidance on implementing the planning provisions of Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), the Federal surface transportation law.

The Department of Transportation is directing all interested persons to show cause why it should not issue an order revoking the registration of the trade name ``Nantucket Shuttle'' issued to Hyannis Air Service, Inc. d/b/a Cape Air d/b/a Nantucket Airlines.

This proposed rule would require special awareness training for any person who flies under visual flight rules (VFR) within 100 nautical miles of the Washington, DC VHF omni-directional range/ distance measuring equipment (DCA VOR/DME). This training program is provided by the FAA on its Web site and focuses primarily on training pilots on the procedures for flying in and around the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) and the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area Flight Restricted Zone (FRZ). The intended effect of this proposed rule is to reduce the number of unauthorized flights into the airspace of the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area ADIZ and FRZ through education of the pilot community.

The FAA's Aircraft Certification Service publishes proposed non-regulatory documents that are available for public comment on the Internet at https://www.faa.gov/aircraft/draftdocs/.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A330-200, A330-300, A340-200, and A340-300 series airplanes, and Model A340-541 and A340-642 airplanes. This AD requires inspecting to determine if certain emergency escape slides/slide rafts (referred to as slide/rafts) are installed in certain crew/passenger doors; and, if so, performing a one-time inspection to determine if the electrical harnesses of the slide/rafts are properly routed, and rerouting the harnesses if necessary. This AD results from report that a slide/raft failed to deploy properly during a deployment test. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct improper routing of the electrical harnesses of certain slide/rafts, which could prevent proper deployment of the slide/rafts and delay evacuation of passengers and flightcrew during an emergency.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Honeywell International Inc. TPE331 series turboprop, and TSE331-3U model turboshaft engines. This AD requires implementing a new flight cycle counting method for first, second, and third-stage turbine rotors used in aircraft that make multiple takeoffs and landings without an engine shutdown, and removing turbine rotors from service that have reached or exceeded their cycle life limits. This new flight cycle counting method requires determining total equivalent cycles accrued. This AD results from several reports of uncontained turbine rotor separation on engines used in special-use operations. We are issuing this AD to prevent uncontained failure of the turbine rotor due to low-cycle-fatigue (LCF), and damage to the aircraft.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain transport category airplanes, identified above. This AD requires installing a bonding jumper from the boost pump volute to the fuel tank structure, and related investigative/corrective actions. This AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. We are issuing 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 Department of Transportation is directing all interested persons to show cause why it should not issue an order finding Mokulele Flight Service, Inc., fit, willing, and able, and awarding it a certificate of public convenience and necessity to engage in interstate scheduled air transportation of persons, property and mail.

FRA and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), operating administrations of DOT, have initiated a comprehensive review of design and operational factors that affect the safety of railroad tank car transportation of hazardous materials. In order to facilitate public involvement in this review, FRA and PHMSA held a public meeting on May 31 and June 1, 2006, and FRA has established a public docket to provide all interested parties with a central location to both send and review relevant information concerning improving the safety of railroad tank car transportation of hazardous materials. The docket established for this purpose is designated Docket No. FRA-2006-25169. A copy of the transcript of the May 31 and June 1, 2006 public meeting is available in the docket.