Department of Transportation 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

On October 6, 2005, the FAA published the ``Enhanced Airworthiness Program for Airplane Systems/Fuel Tank Safety (EAPAS/ FTS)'' proposed rule. This proposal includes a discussion about our intent to coordinate the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness (ICA) for fuel tank system and electrical wiring interconnection systems (EWIS) to avoid redundancies in those ICA. It also discusses our intent to align the compliance dates for operators to include those ICA in their maintenance programs. The purpose of this document is to advise industry that while we still intend to avoid redundancies in the fuel tank system and EWIS ICA, it is no longer practical to align the compliance dates to incorporate those ICA into operator maintenance programs. As a result, the December 16, 2008 compliance date in the fuel tank safety operational rules remains firm, and industry should proceed with the necessary plans to meet this date.

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.

This action revokes the Bishop Nondirectional Radio Beacon (NDB) as an Alaskan low altitude reporting point. The FAA has determined that this reporting point should be removed from the National Airspace System (NAS), since the Bishop NDB was de- commissioned and is no longer in service.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces that it is reviewing a proposed noise compatibility program that was submitted for McClellan-Palomar Airport under the provisions of 49 U.S.C. 47501 et seq. (the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act, hereinafter referred to as ``the Act'') and 14 CFR Part 150 by the County of San Diego. This program was submitted subsequent to a determination by FAA that associated noise exposure maps submitted under 14 CFR Part 150 for McClellan-Palomar Airport were in compliance with applicable requirements, effective April 26, 2005, which was published in the Federal Register, Volume 70, No. 89, page 24671, on May 10, 2005. The proposed noise compatibility program will be approved or disapproved on or before December 17, 2006.

Pursuant to Section 176(c) of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, the FAA announces the availability of the Final General Conformity Determination for Operations of Southwest Airlines Co. (Southwest) at Denver International Airport (DEN). FAA has determined that emissions from Southwest's operations at DEN conform to the Colorado State Implementation Plan (SIP). In accordance with the requirements of 40 CFR 93.156 (b), the Draft Conformity Determination, Proposed Operations of Southwest Airlines Co. at Denver International Airport, Denver, CO was made available for public review beginning April 21, 2006. Notice of the draft determination was published in the Rocky Mountain News, Denver, Colorado on April 21, 2006, and copies of the draft determination were made available at DEN. The Notice of Draft General Conformity Determination was published in the Federal 1Register on April 27, 2006 (71 FR 24903). No comments were submitted during the public comment period, which ended on May 30, 2006. Consequently, the Final General Conformity Determination consists of the Draft General Conformity Determination, with the following typographical corrections. The corrections are needed to clarify terms describing aircraft operations and to correct the reference to the maximum foreseeable aircraft activity used to predict aircraft emissions, as documented in Table 1. 1. Page 24903, last sentence on this page under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION shall be revised to read: ``At that time Southwest indicated an interest in increasing service to as many as 50 or 60 daily landing/take-off cycles (LTOs) at DEN, but agreed to maintain * * *'' 2. Page 24904, second sentence of the last paragraph under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION shall be revised to read: ``This General Conformity Determination addresses FAA's proposed Federal action to amend Southwest's operation specifications (OpSpecs) to accommodate future aircraft activity as high as 60 daily LTOs at DEN * * *'' 3. Page 24904, fourth sentence of the 1st paragraph under Aircraft and Supporting Equipment Emissions shall be revised to read: ``Under the Proposed Action scenario, aircraft emissions were quantified based on this maximum foreseeable level and conservatively assumed to occur every day of the year for a total of 21,900 LTOs per year.''

This document proposes adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the specified Eurocopter France (Eurocopter) model helicopters. This proposal would require replacing a certain hydraulic drive belt (drive belt). Also proposed is reducing the lubrication time interval for a certain hydraulic pump drive shaft (drive shaft). This proposal is prompted by in-flight failures of the drive belt and the drive shaft. The actions specified by this proposed AD are intended to prevent in-flight failure of the drive belt or drive shaft, loss of hydraulic power to the flight control system, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain Boeing Model 767-200, -300, and -300F series airplanes. The existing AD currently requires an inspection of visually accessible areas for indications of overheating of the heater tape attached to the potable water fill and drain lines in the forward and aft cargo compartments, exposed foam insulation or missing or damaged protective tape around the potable water fill and drain lines, and debris or contaminants on or near the potable water fill and drain lines. That AD also requires corrective action, as necessary. This proposed AD would require repetitive inspections of the forward and aft cargo compartments, as applicable, for discrepancies of the potable water supply and gray water drain lines; and applicable corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD also would require replacing the heater tapes on the potable water supply and gray water drain lines of the forward and aft cargo compartments, as applicable, with new ribbon heaters, which would end the repetitive inspections. This proposed AD results from a report of a fire in the aft cargo compartment. We are proposing this AD to prevent overheating of the heater tape on potable water fill and drain lines, which may ignite accumulated debris or contaminants on or near the potable water fill and drain lines, resulting in a fire in the airplane.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Model A300 and A310 airplanes and A300-600 series airplanes. This proposed AD would require inspecting for discrepancies of all electrical bundles located in the leading and trailing edges of the wings, and performing corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. We are proposing this AD to prevent an ignition source, which, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result in a fuel tank explosion and consequent loss of the airplane.

This notice announces the availability of proposed guidance on the application of section 6002 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) (Pub. L. 109-59, 119 Stat. 1144) to projects funded by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), or both. Section 6002 of SAFETEA-LU adds requirements and refinements to the environmental review process for highway and public transportation capital projects. The proposed guidance describes how FTA and FHWA propose to implement the new requirements within the environmental review process required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other Federal laws. The FTA and FHWA request public comments on this proposed guidance.