Department of Transportation February 24, 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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.

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 establishes Class E airspace at Umiat, AK to provide adequate controlled airspace to contain aircraft executing Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs). Two SIAPs are being created for the Umiat Airport along with a textual Obstacle Departure Procedure (ODP). This action establishes Class E airspace upward from 700 feet (ft.) and 1,200 ft. above the surface at Umiat Airport, Umiat, AK.

This document publishes in the Federal Register an amendment adopting airworthiness directive (AD) 2008-24-51 that was sent previously to all known U.S. owners and operators of Boeing Model 737- 600, -700, -700C, -800, and -900 series airplanes by individual notices. This AD requires accomplishing a wiring test of the autoshutoff system to verify continuity and a visual verification that the wiring is correctly installed; doing corrective actions, if necessary; and doing a functional test of the autoshutoff system, and applicable maintenance actions. This AD is prompted by a report of a failure of the left-hand fuel pump of the center wing tank to shut off after being selected ``OFF'' by the flightcrew during flight on a Boeing Model 737-700 series airplane. Subsequent to that report, the failure was found on two additional airplanes. We are issuing this AD to prevent extended dry-running of the fuel pump, which could lead to localized overheating of parts inside the fuel pump, and which could produce an ignition source inside the fuel tank.

This action amends Class E airspace at Sioux City, IA. Additional controlled airspace is necessary to accommodate Area Navigation (RNAV) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAP) at Sioux Gateway Airport/Col. Bud Day Field, Sioux City, IA. The FAA is taking this action to enhance the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) operations at Sioux Gateway Airport/Col. Bud Day Field.

This action proposes to amend Class E airspace at Fulton, MO. Additional controlled airspace is necessary to accommodate new Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) at Elton Hensley Memorial Airport, Fulton, MO. This action also would adjust the geographic coordinates of Elton Hensley Memorial Airport. The FAA is taking this action to enhance the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) aircraft operations at Elton Hensley Memorial Airport.

This action establishes Class E airspace at Tower, MN. Controlled airspace is necessary to accommodate new Area Navigation (RNAV) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) at Tower Municipal Airport, Tower, MN. This rule also updates the geographic coordinates for the airport. The FAA is taking this action to enhance the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) operations at Tower Municipal Airport.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above that will supersede an existing AD. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the 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 is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD), which applies to certain McDonnell Douglas transport category airplanes. That AD currently requires modification of the installation wiring for the electric motor-operated auxiliary hydraulic pumps in the right wheel well area of the main landing gear; repetitive inspections of the numbers 1 and 2 electric motors of the auxiliary hydraulic pumps for electrical resistance, continuity, mechanical rotation, and associated airplane wiring resistance/voltage; and corrective actions if necessary. This new AD also requires, for certain airplanes, modifying and rerouting, as applicable, certain components of the wiring of the electric motor for the auxiliary hydraulic pump located in the right wheel well. This AD results from reports of failure of the electric motor for the auxiliary hydraulic pump. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the electric motors of the hydraulic pump and associated wiring, which could result in fire at the auxiliary hydraulic pump and consequent damage to the adjacent electrical equipment and/or structure.

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.