Department of Transportation June 16, 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

FRA announces the thirty-ninth meeting of the RSAC, a Federal advisory committee that develops railroad safety regulations through a consensus process. The RSAC meeting topics will include opening remarks from the FRA Administrator and presentations on the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (RSIA) Hazardous Materials Personal Protective Equipment Initiative, RSIA Highway-Rail Grade Crossings and Trespass Initiatives, and RSIA forthcoming rulemaking regarding maintenance-of-way employees. Status reports will be provided by the Passenger Safety, Track Safety Standards, and Medical Standards Working Groups. Status updates will be provided on the RSIA Positive Train Control Task, Hours of Service Task, and the Railroad Bridge Task. The Committee may also be asked to accept another RSIA-mandated task concerning critical incident programs. This agenda is subject to change, including the possible addition of further proposed tasks under the RSIA.

This action proposes special conditions for installing an Autopilot Stabilization Augmentation System (AP/SAS) in the Robinson Helicopter Company (Robinson) Model R66 helicopter. This helicopter will have novel or unusual design features associated with installing a complex AP/SAS that has potential failure modes with more severe adverse results than those envisioned by the existing applicable airworthiness standards. The applicable airworthiness standards do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. This proposed special condition contains the added safety standards the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to the existing airworthiness standards.