Department of Transportation April 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This technical amendment corrects a final rule published in the Federal Register on July 18, 2006 (71 FR 40653), Docket No. FAA- 2006-25252, Airspace Docket No. 06-AWP-12. In that rule, the reference to FAA Order 7400.9 was published as FAA Order 7400.9N. The correct reference is FAA Order 7400.9P. Also, the corresponding dates that refer to the Order should state `` * * * September 1, 2006, and effective September 15, 2006 * * * '' instead of `` * * * September 1, 2005, and effective September 16, 2005* * * ''. This technical amendment corrects those errors.

FMCSA announces its decision to approve Isuzu Motors America, Inc.'s (Isuzu) application for an exemption for 76 of its drivers to enable them to test-drive commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in the United States without a commercial driver's license (CDL) issued by one of the States. The Isuzu CMVs are prototypes that require testing under U.S. climatic conditions prior to being placed on the U.S. market. Each of these drivers holds a CDL issued in Japan, but lacks the U.S. residency necessary to obtain a CDL issued by one of the States of the United States. FMCSA believes the knowledge and skills testing and training program that drivers must undergo to obtain a Japanese CDL ensures that these drivers will achieve a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety achieved without the exemption.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Model A330 and A340 airplanes. This proposed AD would require revising the Airworthiness Limitations Section of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness to incorporate new limitations for fuel tank systems. This proposed AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. We are proposing this AD to prevent the potential of ignition sources inside fuel tanks, which, in combination with flammable fuel vapors caused by latent failures, alterations, repairs, or maintenance actions, could result in fuel tank explosions and consequent loss of the airplane.

The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD), which applies to Airbus Model A300 B2 and B4 series airplanes equipped with General Electric CF6-50 engines. That AD currently requires deactivating both thrust reversers and revising the airplane flight manual (AFM) to require performance penalties during certain takeoff conditions to ensure that safe and appropriate performance is achieved for airplanes on which both thrust reversers have been deactivated. This new AD requires one-time inspections of the directional pilot valve (DPV), the rocker arm and associated hardware, and corrective actions if necessary; reactivation of both thrust reversers; and repetitive inspections of the DPV and the associated control mechanism of the thrust reversers for incorrect assembly or excessive wear, and corrective actions if necessary. Accomplishing all of the actions would allow the removal of the AFM limitations in the existing AD. This AD results from reports indicating that the DPV was assembled incorrectly; further investigation revealed excessive wear on certain correctly assembled DPVs and the associated control mechanism. We are issuing this AD to prevent uncommanded in-flight deployment of a thrust reverser, which could result in reduced controllability of the airplane.

The FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) revision of a current information collection. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on December 5, 2006, vol. 71, no. 233, page 70578. This information is needed to meet the requirements of Title 49, Section 40117(k), Competition Plans, and to carry out a passenger facility charge application.

The FAA is publishing notice of proposed release from aeronautical use of approximately 1.39 acres of land at the Leesburg Executive Airport, Leesburg, Virginia to the Town of Leesburg. The release will facilitate the construction of the Battlefield Parkway that will improve access to the airport and will permit the construction of a standard runway safety area for Runway 17. There are not impacts to the Airport and the land is not needed for airport development as shown on the Airport Layout Plan.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all McDonnell Douglas Model DC-8-62, DC-8-62F, DC-8-63, DC-8-63F, DC-8-72, DC-8-72F, and DC-8-73F airplanes. This proposed AD would require deactivating certain components (the sump heater, scavenge valve, and scavenge pump) of the center wing fuel tank. This proposed AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. We are proposing this AD to prevent certain conditions related to these components, which could lead to a possible ignition source in the fuel tank and a potential fire or explosion.

The Surface Transportation Board will hold an oral argument on Thursday, April 19, 2007, at 10 a.m., at its offices in Washington, DC. The argument will explore what planned activities by the above- referenced petitioner would be part of rail transportation subject to the Board's jurisdiction. All current parties of record may participate, and New England Transrail, LLC (NET) is directed to participate.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the selection of projects to be funded under Fiscal Year (FY) 2006 appropriations for the Tribal Transit Program (TTP), a program authorized by the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU).

The Federal Transit Administration invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval to renew the following information collection: Pre-Award and Post-Delivery Review Requirements. The information to be collected for this program is necessary to certify that pre-award and post-delivery reviews will be conducted when using FTA funds to purchase revenue service vehicles.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), FMCSA announces its plan to submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) its request to revise a currently-approved information collection (IC) entitled, ``Request for Revocation of Authority Granted,'' docketed as OMB Control Number 2126-0018. This information collection notifies the FMCSA of a voluntary request by a motor carrier, freight forwarder, or property broker to amend or revoke its registration of authority granted. FMCSA will seek OMB's review and approval of this revised IC and invites public comment on this request. The Paperwork Reduction Act requires the publication of this notice.

We propose to supersede Airworthiness Directives (AD) 93-07-11 and AD 94-04-16, which apply to certain Mitsubishi Heavy Industries MU- 2B Series airplanes. AD 93-07-11 and AD 94-04-16 currently require you to reduce the maximum deflection of the elevator nose-down trim to a 1- degree to 3-degree range. When the above AD actions were issued, there was no associated elevator trim indicator change. Without such change, the trim reaches the maximum nose-down limit and the indicator still shows additional nose-down trim available. In attempting to force additional nose-down trim, pilots have manually jammed the trim system preventing subsequent electric trim changes until the pilot manually freed the trim wheel. Consequently, this proposed AD would retain the actions from AD 93-07-11 and AD 94-04-16 and add the action of modifying the elevator trim indicator scale dial to be consistent with the reduced elevator trim capability. We are proposing this AD to prevent the above scenarios from occurring with consequent loss of control.

This technical amendment corrects a final rule published in the Federal Register on July 24, 2006 (71 FR 41727), Docket No. FAA- 2005-23157, Airspace Docket No. 05-ANM-15. In that rule, the reference to FAA Order 7400.9 was published as FAA Order 7400.9O. The correct reference is FAA Order 7400.9P. Also, the corresponding date that refers to the date the Order was signed was omitted. The final rule should state ``* * * dated September 1, 2006 * * *'' (prior to the effective date), instead of ``* * * updated yearly * * *'' This technical amendment corrects those errors.

This amendment establishes, amends, suspends, or revokes Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) and/or Weather Takeoff Minimums for operations at certain airports. These regulatory actions are needed because of the adoption of new or revised criteria, or because of changes occurring in the National Airspace System, such as the commissioning of new navigational facilities, addition of new obstacles, or changes in air traffic requirements. These changes are designed to provide safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace and to promote safe flight operations under instrument flight rules at the affected airports.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Boeing Model 777 airplanes. This AD requires a one-time inspection to determine the part number of the left and right air supply and cabin pressure controllers (ASCPCs) and installation of new ASCPC software if necessary. This AD results from a report of an ASCPC failure during flight. We are issuing this AD to prevent an ASCPC failure that could stop airflow into the airplane, inhibit the cabin altitude warning message, and cause an incorrect display of cabin altitude. These failures could result in depressurization of the airplane without warning.

The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD), which applies to certain Airbus Model A318-100, A319-100, A320- 200, A321-100, and A321-200 series airplanes; and Model A320-111 airplanes. That AD currently requires modification of the electrical bonding of all structures and systems installed inside the center fuel tank. This new AD requires modification of additional bonding points inside the center fuel tank. This AD results from a report that additional bonding points need to be modified in order to prevent electrical arcing in the center fuel tank. We are issuing this AD to prevent electrical arcing in the center fuel tank due to inadequate bonding, which could result in an explosion of the center fuel tank and consequent loss of the airplane.

This draft letter of interpretation addresses a request by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) that the FAA rescind a letter of interpretation dated June 6, 2006 regarding ``known icing conditions''. Because of the controversy surrounding this issue, the FAA is publishing a draft of its response to seek public comment.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13, (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) this notice announces that the Information Collection Request, abstracted below, is being forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget for extension of currently approved Report of Passengers Denied Confirmed Space. Earlier, a Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period was published on January 19, 2007 (72 FR 2591). The agency did not receive any comments to its previous notice.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FMCSA announces its plan to submit the Information Collection Request (ICR) described below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The ICR describes a proposed collection activity and its expected cost and burden. The Federal Register notice allowing for a 60-day comment period on the ICR was published on June 19, 2006 (71 FR 35324). Four comments were received in response to the notice. Two individuals supported the proposed information collection and two commented on matters outside of the scope of the proposed information collection. These comments are addressed in the ICR that will be submitted to OMB.