Department of Transportation November 17, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13, (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) this notice announces that the Information Collection Request, abstracted below, is being forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget for notice and request for comments of currently approved (Exemption from Passenger Tariff-Filing Requirements in Certain Instances, and Mandatory Electronic Filing of Residual Passenger Tariffs). A Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period was published on September 9, 2008, Volume 73, Number 175, Pages 52445-52447. The agency did not receive any comments to its previous notice.

The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain Boeing Model 737-100, -200, - 200C, -300, -400, and -500 series airplanes. The existing AD currently requires repetitive inspections of the intercostal webs, attachment clips, and stringer splice channels for cracks; and corrective action if necessary. This proposed AD would reduce the repetitive inspection intervals from 25,000 flight cycles to 6,000 flight cycles, and expand the inspection area for Model 737-200C series airplanes to include the area aft of the forward entry door. This proposed AD results from additional reports of fatigue cracks. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct fatigue cracking of the intercostals on the forward and aft sides of the forward entry door, which could result in loss of the forward entry door and rapid decompression of the airplane.

The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to all BAE Systems (Operations) Limited (Jetstream) Model 4101 airplanes. The existing AD currently requires operators to determine the number of flight cycles accumulated on each component of the main landing gear (MLG) and the nose landing gear (NLG), and to replace each component that reaches its life limit with a serviceable component. The existing AD also requires operators to revise the Airworthiness Limitations (AWL) section of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness (ICA) in the aircraft maintenance manual to reflect the new life limits for structurally significant items. This proposed AD would require a new revision of the AWL section of the ICA to incorporate revised life limits for structurally significant items, operational and functional tests of certain systems, and instructions to retain critical ignition source prevention features during configuration changes. This proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another country. We are proposing this AD to prevent failure of certain structurally significant items, including the MLG and the NLG, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the airplane; and to prevent fuel vapor ignition sources, which could result in fuel tank explosion and consequent loss of the airplane.

Pursuant to section 14(a)(2)(A) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463, 5 U.S.C. App. 2), and 5 U.S.C. 552b(c), and in accordance with section 102-3.65, title 41 of the Code of Federal Regulations, notice is hereby given that the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee (COMSTAC) has been renewed for a 2- year period beginning November 15, 2008. The primary purpose of the Committee is to provide information, advice, and recommendations to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) on matters concerning the U.S. commercial space transportation industry. The primary goals of the Committee are to evaluate economic, technological, and institutional developments relating to the industry; to provide a forum for the discussion of problems involving the relationship between industry activities and government requirements; and to make recommendations to DOT on issues and approaches for Federal policies and programs regarding the industry. The Committee will operate in accordance with the rules of the Federal Advisory Committee Act and the Department of Transportation, FAA Committee Management Order (1110.30C).

The FTA and Matanuska-Susitna Borough are issuing this notice to advise the public that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared for the proposed Hatcher Pass Recreational Area Trails and Transit Facilities project in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska. The project would construct access roads, parking areas, and pedestrian facilities for two day-use areas that would provide an opportunity for skiing and other recreational opportunities for local and regional residents. The EIS will be prepared in accordance with regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), as well as provisions of the recently enacted Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). The purpose of the Notice of Intent (NOI) is to alert interested parties regarding the plan to prepare the EIS, to provide information on the nature of the proposed project, to invite participation in the EIS process, including comments on the scope of the EIS proposed in this notice, and to announce that public scoping meetings will be conducted.

This establishes, amends, suspends, or revokes Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) and associated Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures for operations at certain airports. These regulatory actions are needed because of the adoption of new or revised criteria, or because of changes occurring in the National Airspace System, such as the commissioning of new navigational facilities, adding new obstacles, or changing 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.

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 aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as:

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 aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as: