Department of Transportation September 23, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Maritime Administration's (MARAD's) intention to request extension of approval (with modifications) for three years of a currently approved information collection.

FMCSA announces its decision to exempt 23 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.

The FAA is revising an earlier NPRM for an airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain Boeing Model 767 series airplanes. The original NPRM would have superseded an existing AD that currently requires a one-time inspection for missing, damaged, or incorrectly installed parts in the separation link assembly on the deployment bar of the emergency escape system on the entry or service door, and installation of new parts if necessary. The original NPRM proposed to require replacing the separation link assembly on the applicable entry and service doors with an improved separation link assembly, and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. The original NPRM also removed certain airplanes from the applicability. The original NPRM resulted from reports that entry and service doors did not open fully during deployment of emergency escape slides, and additional reports of missing snap rings. This action revises the original NPRM by adding a new inspection for discrepancies of the unloaded spring dimensions in the separation link assembly, and corrective actions if necessary. We are proposing this supplemental NPRM to prevent failure of an entry or service door to open fully in the event of an emergency evacuation, which could impede exit from the airplane. This condition could result in injury to passengers or crewmembers.

The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain Boeing Model 747 airplanes. The existing AD currently requires repetitive inspections of the body station (BS) 2598 bulkhead, and corrective actions if necessary. The existing AD also currently requires a terminating modification for the repetitive inspections and a post-modification inspection of the modified area. This proposed AD would continue requiring those actions with revised service information. For certain airplanes, this proposed AD would require new repetitive inspections, an interim modification, and post-interim modification inspections. For certain airplanes, this proposed AD also would require replacing any previously repaired aft inner chord and reinstalling the terminating modification. This proposed AD results from reports of cracked aft inner chords on airplanes after certain requirements of the existing AD were done. We are proposing this AD to prevent fatigue cracking of the BS 2598 bulkhead structure, which could result in inability of the structure to carry horizontal stabilizer flight loads, and loss of controllability of the airplane.

In accordance with 14 CFR 11.47(c), the FAA has received petitions from the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO (AFA- CWA) and the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA). Those petitions requested an extension of the comment period for a petition from The Boeing Company. That exemption, if granted, would provide Boeing relief from certain pressurized cabin requirements in regard to uncontained engine failure for Boeing Model 747-8/8F series airplanes. The FAA finds that AFA-CWA and ALPA have substantive interest in the exemption request and show that good cause exists to extend the comment period because it is in the public's interest.

This notice issues special conditions for the Honda Aircraft Company, Model HA-420 HondaJet Airplane. This new airplane will have novel and unusual design features not typically associated with normal, utility, acrobatic, and commuter category airplanes. These design features include turbofan engines and engine location, for which the applicable regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate airworthiness standards. These special conditions contain the additional airworthiness standards that the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection abstracted below has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The nature of the information collection is described as well as its expected burden. The Federal Register notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on July 10, 2008, and comments were due by September 8, 2008. No comments were received.

Section 6005 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) established the Surface Transportation Project Delivery Pilot Program, codified at 23 U.S.C. 327. To ensure compliance by each State participating in the Pilot Program, 23 U.S.C. 327(g) mandates semiannual audits during each of the first 2 years of State participation. This final report presents the findings from the first FHWA audit of the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) under the pilot program.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is considering a proposal to change a portion of the airport from aeronautical use to non-aeronautical use and to authorize the sale of the airport property. The 21.508 acres of land, known as Parcel A on the airports Exhibit A Property Map, is situated southeast of the airport. The land was obligated under FAA Project No(s). 3-18-0103-06. There are no impacts to the airport by allowing the airport to dispose of the property. The land was previously acquired for approach protection under a larger parcel of land purchased from Ms. Lela Covert (listed as Parcel 3 in the current Exhibit A Property Map and Parcel 7 under previous Exhibit A Property Maps). These 21.508 acres of the larger parcel are not needed for approach protection or future airport development. Approval does not constitute a commitment by the FAA to financially assist in the disposal of the subject airport property nor a determination of eligibility for grant-in-aid funding from the FAA. The disposition of proceeds from the disposal of the airport property will be in accordance FAA's Policy and Procedures Concerning the Use of Airport Revenue, published in the Federal Register on February 16, 1999. In accordance with section 47107(h) of title 49, United States Code, this notice is required to be published in the Federal Register 30 days before modifying the land-use assurance that requires the property to be used for an aeronautical purpose.

Under the provisions of Title 49, U.S.C. Section 47153(c), notice is being given that the FAA is considering a request from the Greenwood-Leflore Airport to change the use of an area on the airport to non-aeronautical use.