Department of Transportation April 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is announcing the availability of revised Advisory Circular (AC) 187-1B, Flight Standards Service Schedule of Charges Outside the United States, which transmits an updated schedule of charges for services of FAA Flight Standards aviation safety inspectors outside the United States. The FAA updated this advisory circular in accordance with the procedures listed in Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations part 187, appendix A.

This notice contains a summary of certain petitions seeking relief from specified requirements of 14 CFR. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, this aspect of FAA's regulatory activities. Neither publication of this notice nor the inclusion or omission of information in the summary is intended to affect the legal status of any petition or its final disposition.

This action confirms the effective date of the direct final rule that establishes Class E airspace at Huntsville Municipal Airport, Huntsville, Arkansas, published in the Federal Register February 15, 2008 (73 FR 8794) Docket No. FAA-2008-0004.

This action will establish Class D airspace at New Braunfels, Texas. Establishment of an air traffic control tower at New Braunfels Municipal Airport has made this action necessary for the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) aircraft operations at New Braunfels Municipal Airport, New Braunfels, Texas.

This document announces receipt by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that 2005 Jeep Liberty multipurpose passenger vehicles that were not originally manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS) are eligible for importation into the United States because (1) they are substantially similar to vehicles that were originally manufactured for sale in the United States and that were certified by their manufacturer as complying with the safety standards, and (2) they are capable of being readily altered to conform to the standards.

The FAA is revising an earlier proposed airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 757-200 and 757-300 series airplanes. The original NPRM would have required installing a bonding jumper between a ground and the clamp on the tube of the forward and aft gray water composite drain masts. The original NPRM resulted from a report of charred insulation blankets and burned wires around the forward gray water composite drain mast found during an inspection of the forward cargo compartment on a Model 767-300F airplane. For certain airplanes, this action revises the original NPRM by adding a new inspection of existing aft bonding jumper assemblies that might be too short, repair if necessary, and replacement of the bonding jumper assembly with a new, longer bonding jumper assembly if necessary. We are proposing this supplemental NPRM to prevent a fire near a composite drain mast and possible disruption of the electrical power system due to a lightning strike on a composite drain mast, which could result in the loss of several functions essential for safe flight.

This action will establish Class E airspace at Pagosa Springs, CO. Controlled airspace is necessary to accommodate aircraft using a new Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) Standard Instrument Approach Procedure (SIAP) at Stevens Field. This will improve the safety of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) aircraft executing the new RNAV GPS SIAP at Stevens Field, Pagosa Springs, CO.

The FAA hereby provides notice of intent to release certain airport properties 58 acres at the Lakeland Linder Regional Airport, Lakeland, Florida from the conditions, reservations, and restrictions as contained in a Quitclaim Deed agreement between the FAA and the City of Lakeland, dated September 1947 and the supplemental Quitclaim Deed agreement, dated April 1948. The release of property will allow the City of Lakeland to dispose of the property for other than aeronautical purposes. The property is located in the City of Lakeland, Polk County, Florida. The parcel is currently designated as aeronautical and non- aeronautical use. The property will be disposed of for the purpose of industrial use. The fair market value of the property has been determined by appraisal to be $3,190,000. The airport will receive fair market value for the property, which will be subsequently reinvested in another eligible airport improvement project. Documents reflecting the Sponsor's request are available, by appointment only, for inspection at the Office of the Airport Director, Lakeland Linder Regional Airport and the FAA Airports District Office.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain McDonnell Douglas Model 717-200 airplanes. This proposed AD would require inspecting the drive assembly of the aft elevator standby loop for interference between the clevis and bolt of the bellcrank assembly, correct orientation of the pull-pull cable clevis bolt, and excessive freeplay of the bellcrank assembly bearing, and corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD would also require modifying the pull-pull cable clevis in the drive assembly of the aft elevator standby loop for certain airplanes. This proposed AD results from a report of an aborted takeoff due to a control column disconnect. We are proposing this AD to prevent binding of the bolt that connects the cable 264A clevis to the bellcrank assembly against the adjacent (upper) clevis of the pull-pull cable assembly. This binding condition could result in slow airplane rotation or a control column disconnect during takeoff and a runway excursion if takeoff must be aborted.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above that would supersede an existing AD. 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:

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 747 airplanes and Model 767 airplanes. This proposed AD would require revising the airplane flight manual to advise the flightcrew to use certain procedures during descent in certain icing conditions. This proposed AD results from reports of several in- flight engine flameouts, including multiple dual engine flameout events and one total power loss event, in ice-crystal icing conditions. We are proposing this AD to ensure that the flightcrew has the proper procedures to follow in certain icing conditions. These certain icing conditions could cause a multiple engine flameout during flight without the ability of the engines to be relit, and consequent forced landing of the airplane.

In accordance with the procedures governing the application for, and the processing of, special permits from the Department of Transportation's Hazardous Material Regulations (49 CFR part 107, subpart B), notice is hereby given that the Office of Hazardous Materials Safety has received the application described herein. Each mode of transportation for which a particular special permit is requested is indicated by a number in the ``Nature of Application'' portion of the table below as follows: IMotor vehicle, 2Rail freight, 3Cargo vessel, 4Cargo aircraft only, 5Passenger-carrying aircraft.

This document grants in full the petition of Volkswagen Group of America (VW) in accordance with Sec. 543.9(c)(2) of 49 CFR part 543, Exemption from the Theft Prevention Standard, for the Audi Q5 vehicle line beginning with model year (MY) 2009. This petition is granted because the agency has determined that the antitheft device to be placed on the line as standard equipment is likely to be as effective in reducing and deterring motor vehicle theft as compliance with the parts-marking requirements of the Theft Prevention Standard.

The Board has approved the second quarter 2008 rail cost adjustment factor (RCAF) and cost index filed by the Association of American Railroads. The second quarter 2008 RCAF (Unadjusted) is 1.077. The second quarter 2008 RCAF (Adjusted) is 0.497. The second quarter 2007 RCAF-5 is 0.471.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Honeywell International Inc. TFE731-4, -4R, -5, -5AR, -5BR, and -5R series turbofan engines, with interstage turbine transition (ITT) duct, part number (P/N) 3075292-1; 3075292-3; 3074766-1; 3077063-1; 3075655- 1; 3075655-2; 30756599-1; or 30756599-3, installed. This proposed AD would require replacing the affected ITT duct with a serviceable and redesigned ITT duct. This proposed AD results from reports of 49 low pressure turbine (LPT) blade separations. Six of those events resulted in circumferential failure of the LPT2 or LPT3 nozzle assembly, leading to deformation of the ITT duct and uncontainment of the turbine blades and fragments of the LPT nozzle assembly. We are proposing this AD to prevent uncontainment of turbine blades and fragments of the LPT nozzle assembly, which could result in damage to the airplane.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of a meeting of RTCA Special Committee 207, Airport Security Access Control Systems.

This action revises Class E airspace at Anvik, AK to provide adequate controlled airspace to contain aircraft executing Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs). Two new Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) and a textual departure procedure (DP) are being developed for the Anvik Airport. Additionally, one SIAP is being amended. This action revises existing Class E airspace upward from 700 feet (ft.) and 1,200 ft. above the surface at Anvik Airport, Anvik, AK.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of a meeting of RTCA Special Committee 186 Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B).

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of a third meeting of RTCA Special Committee 215, Aeronautical Mobile Satellite (Route) Services, Next Generation Satellite Services and Equipment.

This action revises Class E airspace at New Stuyahok, AK to provide adequate controlled airspace to contain aircraft executing Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs). Two new Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) are being developed for the New Stuyahok Airport. This action revises existing Class E airspace upward from 700 feet (ft.) and 1,200 ft. above the surface at New Stuyahok Airport, New Stuyahok, AK.

On July 6, 2007, the Alaska Railroad Corporation (ARRC) filed a petition with the Surface Transportation Board (Board) pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 10502 for authority to construct and operate a new rail line from the vicinity of North Pole to Delta Junction, Alaska. The project would involve the construction and operation of approximately 80 miles of new main line track. Figure 1 shows ARRC's existing track and the proposed rail line extension from North Pole to Delta Junction (All figures are available for viewing on the Board's Web site at www.stb.dot.gov by going to ``Environmental Matters,'' then selecting ``Key Cases'' in the dropdown; and then when the next page appears, clicking ``Alaska RailroadNorthern Rail Extension''). Because the construction and operation of this project has the potential to result in significant environmental impacts, the Board's Section on Environmental Analysis (SEA) has determined that the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is appropriate. To help determine the scope of the EIS, and as required by the Board's regulations at 49 CFR 1105.10(a)(2), SEA published in the Federal Register and mailed to the public on November 1, 2005, the Notice of Availability of Draft Scope of Study for the EIS, Notice of Scoping Meetings, and Request for Comments. SEA also prepared and distributed to the public a fact sheet that introduced ARRC's Northern Rail Extension, announced SEA's intent to prepare an EIS, requested comments, and gave notice of three public scoping meetings to over 400 citizens, elected officials, Federal, state, and local agencies, tribal organizations, and other potentially interested organizations received this information. SEA held three public scoping meetings in North Pole, Delta Junction, and Anchorage, Alaska on December 6, 7, and 8, 2005, respectively. The scoping comment period concluded January 13, 2006. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Alaska District (USACE); U.S. Coast Guard, Seventeenth Coast Guard District (USCG); Bureau of Land Management, Alaska State Office (BLM); U.S. Department of Defense, Alaskan Command (ALCOM); U.S. Department of Defense, 354th Fighter Wing, Eielson Air Force Base (354th); Federal Transit Administration, Region 10 (FTA); Federal Railroad Administration (FRA); and Alaska Department of Natural Resources (ADNR) requested and were granted cooperating agency status in preparation of the EIS. After review and consideration of all comments received, this notice sets forth the final scope of the EIS. The final scope reflects any changes to the draft scope as a result of the comments, summarizes and addresses the principal environmental concerns raised by the comments, and briefly discusses pertinent issues concerning this project that further clarify the final scope.

This action establishes Class E airspace at Kobuk, AK to provide adequate controlled airspace to contain aircraft executing Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs). Two new SIAPs and a textual departure procedure (DP) are being developed for the Kobuk Airport. This action establishes existing Class E airspace upward from 700 feet (ft.) and 1,200 ft. above the surface at Kobuk Airport, Kobuk, AK.

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