Department of Transportation January 2, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

FMCSA previously announced its decision to renew the exemptions from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for 27 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.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for various transport category airplanes. This proposed AD would require deactivation of Southeast Aero-Tek, Inc., auxiliary fuel tanks. This proposed AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer, which identified potential unsafe conditions for which the manufacturer has not provided corrective actions. We are proposing this AD to prevent the potential of ignition sources inside fuel tanks, which, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result in fuel tank explosions and consequent loss of the airplane.

The FAA is revising an earlier proposed airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800 and -900 series airplanes. The original NPRM would have required sealing the fasteners on the front and rear spars inside the main fuel tank and on the lower panel of the center fuel tank, inspecting the wire bundle support installation in the equipment cooling system bays to identify the type of clamp installed and determine whether the Teflon sleeve is installed, and doing related corrective actions if necessary. The original NPRM resulted from a design review of the fuel tank systems. This action revises the compliance time for the corrective actions specified in the original NPRM. We are proposing this supplemental NPRM to prevent arcing at certain fuel tank fasteners in the event of a lightning strike or fault current event, which, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result in a fuel tank explosion and consequent loss of the airplane.

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. These novel or unusual design features are associated with connectivity of the passenger domain computer systems to the airplane critical systems and data networks. For these design features, the applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for protection and security of airplane systems and data networks against unauthorized access. 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.

This supplemental NPRM revises an earlier proposed airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain General Electric Company (GE) CF6-45 and CF6-50 series turbofan engines. That proposed AD would have required inspecting and reworking certain forward and aft centerbodies of the long fixed core exhaust nozzle (LFCEN) assembly. That proposed AD resulted from reports of separation of the forward and aft centerbodies of the LFCEN assembly due to high-imbalance engine conditions. This supplemental NPRM revises the proposed AD to add one engine model, and by replacing the LFCEN instead of repairing the centerbodies. This proposed AD results from the engine manufacturer issuing new service information. We are proposing this AD to prevent the forward and aft centerbody of the LFCEN assembly from separating, leading to additional damage to the airplane.

The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for certain fuel injected reciprocating engines manufactured by Lycoming Engines. That AD currently requires inspection, and replacement if necessary, of externally mounted fuel injector fuel lines. This proposed AD would require the same actions but would add additional engine models, would clarify certain compliance time wording, and would exempt engines that have a Maintenance and Overhaul Manual with an Airworthiness Limitations Section that requires inspection, and replacement if necessary, of externally mounted fuel injector lines. This proposed AD results from Lycoming Engines revising their Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) to add new engine models requiring inspection, and from the need to clarify a repetitive inspection compliance time. We are proposing this AD to prevent failure of the fuel injector fuel lines that would allow fuel to spray into the engine compartment, resulting in an engine fire.

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) Model 430 helicopters that requires replacing a certain servo actuator-to-actuator support attachment bolt (bolt) with an airworthy bolt. This action also requires establishing a retirement life for certain bolts and recording the retirement life on a component history card or equivalent record. This amendment is prompted by further evaluation of certain fatigue- critical parts, resulting in establishing a life limit of 5,000 hours for the affected bolts. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent fatigue failure of the bolt and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

The MUTCD (also referred to as ``the Manual'') is incorporated by our regulations, approved by the Federal Highway Administration, and recognized as the national standard for traffic control devices used on all public roads. The purpose of this notice of proposed amendments is to revise standards, guidance, options, and supporting information relating to the traffic control devices in all parts of the MUTCD. The proposed changes are intended to expedite traffic, promote uniformity, improve safety, and incorporate technology advances in traffic control device application. These proposed changes are being designated as the next edition of the MUTCD.