Department of Transportation August 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. 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 is proposing several changes to our pilot, flight instructor, and pilot school certification rules. The proposals include requiring pilot-in-command (PIC) proficiency checks for pilots who act as PIC of single piloted, turbojet-powered airplanes; allowing pilot applicants to apply for a private pilot certificate and an instrument rating concurrently; and making allowance in the rule to provide for the issuance of standard U.S. pilot certificates on the basis of an international licensing agreement between the FAA and a foreign civil aviation authority. The FAA has recently entered into such an agreement with the civil aviation authority of Canada. The FAA is also proposing to allow pilot schools to use Internet-based training programs without requiring schools to have a physical ground training facility. The FAA is proposing to allow pilot schools and provisional pilot schools to apply for a combined private pilot certification and instrument rating course. The FAA is also proposing to revise the definition of ``complex airplane.'' Because of changing technology in aviation, the results of successful research, and an international agreement, the FAA has determined these proposed changes to the pilot, flight instructor, and pilot school certification rules are necessary to ensure pilots are adequately trained and qualified to operate safely in the National Airspace System. The FAA has determined these proposals are needed to respond to changes in the aviation industry and to further reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens.

We are revising an earlier proposed airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain Hawker Beechcraft Corporation Models 1900, 1900C, and 1900D airplanes. The earlier NPRM would have required a one- time visual inspection and repetitive ultrasonic inspections of the left and right main landing gear (MLG) actuators for leaking and/or cracks with replacement of the actuator if leaking and/or cracks are found. The earlier NPRM resulted from reports of leaking and cracked actuators. This proposed AD would require the same actions as the earlier NPRM. Since the earlier NPRM, we have identified a MLG overhauled actuator part number and a MLG actuator approved by parts manufacturer approval (PMA) by identicality. We propose to expand the applicability to include airplanes equipped with these additional part numbers. Because this imposes an additional burden over that proposed in the earlier NPRM, we are reopening the comment period to allow the public the chance to comment on these additional MLG actuators.

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Manual for Condition Evaluation of Bridges, 1994, second edition (also referred to as ``the Manual''), together with the 2001 and 2003 Interim Revisions, is incorporated by reference in 23 CFR part 650, subpart E, approved by the Federal Highway Administration, and recognized as a national standard for bridge inspections and load rating. The purpose of this notice is to update the incorporation by reference language to incorporate the most recent version of the AASHTO Manual, now known as The Manual for Bridge Evaluation, First Edition, 2008.

We propose to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 91-18-19, which applies to certain Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (Hawker) (Type Certificate Numbers 3A15, 3A16, and A23CE formerly held by Raytheon Aircraft Company; formerly held by Beech Aircraft Corporation) Models 58, 58A, 58P, 58PA, 58TC, 58TCA, 95-B55, 95-B55A, A36, A36TC, B36TC, E55, E55A, F33A, and V35B airplanes. AD 91-18-19 currently requires you to do a one-time inspection of the pilot and copilot shoulder harnesses for an incorrect washer and replace any incorrect washer with the correct washer. Since we issued AD 91-18-19, we have found that the applicability of AD 91-18-19 was incorrectly stated when the Model A36TC airplane was omitted from the Applicability section. Consequently, this proposed AD would retain the actions and the serial number (SN) applicability of AD 91-18-19 and realign the SN applicability for Models A36TC and B36TC airplanes. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct an incorrect washer installed in the pilot and copilot shoulder harnesses. This failure could result in a malfunctioning shoulder harness. Such a failure could lead to occupant injury.

The FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) revision of a current information collection. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on June 8, 2009, vol. 74, no. 108, page 27233-27234. Runway incursions are a risk to the public traveling in aircraft. Feedback from these surveys is used in the prevention of runway collisions and in the medication of the severity and frequency of runway incursions.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its findings on the noise compatibility program submitted by the Westfield Airport Commission under the provisions of Title I of the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act of 1979 (Pub. L. 96-193) and 14 CFR part 150. These findings are made in recognition of the description of federal and non-federal responsibilities in Senate Report No. 96-52 (1980). On August 3, 2009, the Airports Division Manager approved the Westfield-Barnes Airport noise compatibility program. All of the proposed program elements were approved.

These special conditions are issued for the Cessna Aircraft Company, model 525C (CJ4) airplane. This airplane will have a novel or unusual design feature(s) associated with the installation of lithium ion (Li-ion) batteries. Cessna Aircraft Company proposes to use a lithium-ion main battery on the new model 525C (CJ4) commuter category airplane for main battery applications, and is also considering the use of this technology in several other auxiliary battery applications in this airplane. This type of battery possesses certain failure, operational characteristics, and maintenance requirements that differ significantly from that of the nickel cadmium and lead acid rechargeable batteries currently approved in other normal, utility, acrobatic, and commuter category airplanes. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These special conditions contain the additional safety standards that the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards.

Subject to a Programmatic Agreement negotiated by the parties and environmental mitigation measures, the Board is granting exemptions under 49 U.S.C. 10502 from the prior approval requirements of 49 U.S.C. 10901 for the Port of Moses Lake (Port) in STB Finance Docket No. 34936 to construct two segments of rail line in Moses Lake, WA, one between the community of Wheeler and Parker Horn at the mouth of Crab Creek and another between Columbia Basin Railroad Company, Inc. (CBRW) trackage and the east side of the Grant County International Airport, and in STB Finance Docket No. 34936 (Sub-No. 1) to acquire a segment of rail line from CBRW that runs approximately from Parker Horn near Stratford Road to near the Grant County International Airport, which would connect the newly constructed segments. The Port plans to rehabilitate and upgrade this line segment, including the upgrade of two signalized grade crossings. The Port estimates the total mileage of its construction and acquisition proposals to be approximately 11.5 miles in length.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Learjet Model 45 airplanes. This proposed AD would require inspecting the baggage bay door fire barrier seal for inconel mesh in the fire barrier seal material; for certain airplanes, inspecting the fiberglass doublers for presence of red Room Temperature Vulcanizing (RTV) sealant; and doing related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD results from reports of incorrect external baggage door seal material and door seal sealant as well as incorrect sealant on interior baggage panels used during manufacture of the airplane. We are proposing this AD to prevent the use of door seals and sealant that do not meet flammability requirements, which could result in an uncontrollable and undetected fire within the baggage compartment.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This 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:

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This 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:

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Air Tractor, Inc. Models AT-802 and AT-802A airplanes. This AD requires installing a rudder-aileron interconnect cable system shield kit and securing any items stowed in the baggage compartment, using tie downs and/or a cargo net until the cable shield kit is installed. We are issuing this AD to prevent jamming of the rudder-aileron interconnect cables by unsecured items in the baggage compartment, which could result in failure of the rudder-aileron interconnect cable system. This failure could lead to loss of control.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 767 airplanes. This AD requires sealing certain fasteners and stiffeners in the fuel tank, changing certain wire bundle clamp configurations on the fuel tank walls, inspecting certain fasteners in the fuel tanks and to determine the method of attachment of the vortex generators, and corrective action if necessary. This AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. We are issuing this AD to prevent possible ignition sources in the auxiliary fuel tank, main fuel tanks, and surge tanks caused by a wiring short or lightning strike, which could result in fuel tank explosions and consequent loss of the airplane.

FMCSA announces its denial of 138 applications from individuals who requested an exemption from the Federal vision standard applicable to interstate truck and bus drivers and the reasons for the denials. 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 exemptions does not provide a level of safety that will be equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety maintained without the exemptions for these commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers.

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 is to advise interested persons that PHMSA will conduct a public meeting in preparation for the twenty-second meeting of the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) Dangerous Goods Panel (DGP) to be held October 5-16, 2009 in Montreal, Canada.

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 Glynn County Airport Commission to waive the requirement that a 1.5- acre parcel of surplus property, located on Glynn County airport owned and operated land adjacent to, but not contigous with, Brunswick-Golden Isles Airport, be used for aeronautical purposes.

This action will establish Class D airspace and amend Class E airspace at Southwest Oregon Regional Airport, North Bend, OR. The establishment of an air traffic control tower has made this action necessary for the safety and management of aircraft within this airspace. This action will also update the name of the airport from North Bend Municipal Airport, North Bend, OR. This action will also make a minor correction to the geographic coordinates of the North Bend VORTAC and the Emire LOM/NDB.