Department of Transportation July 24, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

These special conditions are issued for the Boeing Model 787-8 airplane. This airplane will have novel or unusual design features when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport category airplanes. The Boeing Model 787-8 airplanes will have a flightdeck bulkhead incorporating ballistic-and intrusion-resistant features. While the regulations include standards for ballistic-and intrusion-resistant flightdeck doors, they do not yet incorporate the same standards for these features in the bulkhead. Therefore, special conditions are needed to address these design features. 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 standards. Additional special conditions will be issued for other novel or unusual design features of the Boeing Model 787-8 airplanes.

FMCSA previously announced its decision to renew the exemptions from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for 46 individuals. FMCSA has statutory authority to exempt individuals from the vision requirement if the exemptions granted will not compromise safety. The Agency has reviewed the comments submitted in response to the previous announcement and concluded that granting these exemptions will provide a level of safety that will be equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety maintained without the exemptions for these commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew the exemptions from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for 23 individuals. FMCSA has statutory authority to exempt individuals from the vision requirement if the exemptions granted will not compromise safety. The Agency has concluded that granting these exemption renewals will provide a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety maintained without the exemptions for these commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew the exemptions from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for 13 individuals. FMCSA has statutory authority to exempt individuals from the vision requirement if the exemptions granted will not compromise safety. The Agency has concluded that granting these exemption renewals will provide a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety maintained without the exemptions for these commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers.

The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD), which applies to all BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Model ATP airplanes. The existing AD currently requires revising the Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS) of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness (ICA) to incorporate life limits for certain items and inspections to detect fatigue cracking in certain structures; to incorporate new inspections to detect fatigue cracking of certain significant structural items (SSIs); and to revise life limits for certain equipment and various components. This new AD requires revising the ALS of the ICA to include revised requirements. This AD results from the determination that additional and revised inspections of the fuselage are needed. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct fatigue cracking of certain structural elements, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the airplane and consequent rapid decompression of the airplane.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 airplanes. This AD requires revising the Airworthiness Limitations section of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness to incorporate new limitations for fuel tank systems. This AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. We are issuing this AD to prevent the potential of ignition sources inside fuel tanks, which, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result in a fuel tank explosion and consequent loss of the airplane.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Bombardier Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 & 440) airplanes. This AD requires revising the Certification Maintenance Requirements and the Maintenance Review Board Report sections of the Canadair Regional Jet Maintenance Requirements Manual to include changes and additions to checks of the aileron power control units (PCUs) and a change to the interval of the backlash check of the aileron control system. This AD results from a report that data collected from in- service airplanes show that approximately 19 percent of aileron backlash checks conducted at 4,000-flight-hour intervals reveal that aileron backlash wear limits are being exceeded. We are issuing this AD to prevent exceeded backlashes in both aileron PCUs, which, if accompanied by the failure of the flutter damper, could result in aileron vibration/flutter and reduced controllability of the airplane.

The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain Boeing Model 737-800 series airplanes. The existing AD currently requires inspecting flight spoilers to determine spoiler position after every landing and after any rejected takeoff maneuver. For airplanes on which any flight spoiler is found in the up position with the speedbrake handle in the down position, the existing AD requires replacing the flight spoiler actuator with a flight spoiler actuator having a certain part number. The existing AD also requires an operational test of the speedbrake control system after any maintenance actions that operate the spoiler system, and replacement of the flight spoiler actuator if necessary. The existing AD also provides for optional terminating action for those requirements. This new AD requires the previously optional terminating action. This AD results from a report of seven flight spoiler actuator jams on Model 737-800 airplanes equipped for short field performance (SFP). The cause of the failure has been identified as interference within the actuator main control valve. We are issuing this AD to prevent operation with defective flight spoiler actuators, which could result in a flight spoiler actuator hardover, and could cause the flight spoiler surface to jam in the fully extended position. Two or more hardover failures of the flight spoiler surfaces in the up direction on the same wing, if undetected prior to takeoff, can cause significant roll and consequent loss of control of the airplane.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of a meeting of RTCA Special Committee 210, Cabin Management.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces it has terminated its review of the Noise Compatibility Program, at the request of the City of Atlanta, under the provisions of 49 U.S.C. 47504 and 14 CFR Part 150.