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

This document confirms the effective date of the direct final rule which revises Class E Airspace at Marshalltown, IA.

This document confirms the effective date of the direct final rule which revises Class E airspace at Canby, MN.

The Board proposes, and seeks comment on, three changes to its released rates authorization, to enhance the protection of consumers whose household goods are damaged or lost by motor common carriers.

The FAA is revising an earlier proposed airworthiness directive (AD) for all Boeing Model 777-200, -300, and -300ER series airplanes. The original NPRM would have required, for the drive mechanism of the horizontal stabilizer, repetitive detailed inspections for discrepancies; repetitive lubrication of the ballnut and ballscrew; repetitive measurements of the freeplay between the ballnut and the ballscrew; and corrective action if necessary. The original NPRM resulted from a report of extensive corrosion of a ballscrew in the drive mechanism of the horizontal stabilizer on a Boeing Model 757 airplane, which is similar in design to the ballscrew on Model 777 airplanes. This action revises the original NPRM by adding airplanes to the applicability. We are proposing this supplemental NPRM to prevent an undetected failure of the primary load path for the ballscrew in the horizontal stabilizer and subsequent wear and failure of the secondary load path, which could lead to loss of control of the horizontal stabilizer and consequent loss of control of the airplane.

The Board proposes, and seeks comment on, three changes to its released rates authorization, to enhance the protection of consumers whose household goods are damaged or lost by motor common carriers.

The FAA has assigned the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC) to disposition certain technical comments through the Transport Airplane and Engine Issues Group (TAEIG) and its Design for Security Harmonization Working Group (DSHWG). This notice is to inform the public of this ARAC activity.

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:

This SNPRM would change the description for the proposed modification of VOR Federal Airway V-133, previously published in the Federal Register on June 16, 2006 (71 FR 34854). This action would improve the efficient use of the navigable airspace assigned to the Chicago, Cleveland, and Indianapolis Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCC).

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 March 26, 2007, Vol. 72, No. 57, page 14163. This is a labeling requirement to put the manufacture date and pollution compliance status on engine identification plates.

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 March 26, 2007, vol. 72, no. 57, page 14165. 49 USC Section 44718 states that the Secretary of Transportation shall require notice of structures that may affect navigable airspace, air commerce, or air capacity.

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 March 26, 2007, Vol. 72, No. 57, page 14163-14164. Data collected serves as input to the FAA revenue passenger database which is used to classify airports and allocate Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funds to airports as required by law.

The FAA invites public comment 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 March 23, 2007, vol. 72, no. 56, page 13855. 14 CFR Part 125 prescribes requirements for leased aircraft, Aviation Service Firms, and Air Travel Clubs.

These special conditions are issued for the Boeing Model 777- 300ER airplane. This airplane as modified by the Boeing Commercial Airplane Company will have a novel or unusual design feature associated with the use of lithium ion battery technology in on-board systems. 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 (EIS) will be prepared for the proposed improvement of USH 14/STH 11 between Janesville, in Rock County, and IH 43 near Darien, in Walworth County, Wisconsin.

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for MD Helicopters, Inc. (MDHI) Model 369A, 369D, 369E, 369F, 369FF, 369H, 369HE, 369HS, 369HM, 500N, and OH-6A helicopters that requires inspecting each landing gear fairing support assembly (support assembly), replacing or reworking certain forward and aft landing gear assemblies, and creating an access hole to facilitate inspections and a recurring inspection. A terminating action for the requirements of this AD is also provided. This amendment is prompted by five reports of landing gear strut (strut) failures. The actions specified by this AD are intended to detect a crack that could result in the failure of a strut and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter during landing.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proposing revisions to amateur rocket regulations and activities to preserve the level of safety associated with amateur rocketry. Current regulations are outdated and do not reflect current industry practice. This action would update our regulations and guidance for amateur rocket activities. We propose to change the amateur rocket classifications, the way we collect information from operators of advanced amateur rocket launches, and the format of the regulations. In addition, we propose to address and correct minor inconsistencies in the present rules. We would take this action to update our regulations and align them with advances in the amateur rocket industry. We would also codify certain operating restrictions that are already widely used but are important enough to be required universally.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by an airworthiness authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as some stringer reinforcements (F900DX) and some rivets (F900DX/F2000EX) missing from the skin panels on each side of the fuselage between frames 9 and 10 on certain Falcon 900DX and Falcon 2000EX EASy aircraft; this situation affects the structural integrity of the fuselage. We are issuing this AD to require actions to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This 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:

This amendment amends Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) for operations at certain airports. These regulatory actions are needed 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.

This document proposes superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for the specified Eurocopter France (ECF) model helicopters. That AD currently requires a onetime inspection for end play in the pitch control rod assembly double bearing (bearing) using the tail rotor (T/R) hub control plate, and before further flight, replacing the bearing if end play is present. This action would require checking the T/R gearbox (TGB) oil level before the first flight of the day and maintaining the oil at the maximum level for certain helicopters. Also, this action would require, during each required inspection or at certain specified intervals, ensuring the oil is at the maximum level for certain other model helicopters. Also, this action would require inspecting the magnetic plug for chips at specified intervals. Depending on the quantity of chips found, this action would require either replacing the TGB before further flight or further inspecting for axial play in the T/R hub pitch change control spider (spider). If axial play is found in the spider, before further flight, this AD would require replacing the bearing. This proposal is prompted by the finding that metal chips were not detected on the magnetic plug due to insufficient oil flow because the oil in the TGB was being maintained at the minimum level. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to detect metal chips on the magnetic plug, to prevent damage to the bearing resulting in end play, loss of T/R pitch control, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

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. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments was published on April 3, 2007.

FMCSA announces its decision to exempt 24 individuals from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs). The exemptions will enable these individuals to operate commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce without meeting the prescribed vision standard. The Agency has concluded that granting these exemptions will provide a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety maintained without the exemptions for these CMV drivers.