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

This NPRM proposes to amend Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 109, New pneumatic and certain specialty tires, to change the test pressure for the physical dimensions test for T-type tires (temporary use spare tires) from 52 pounds per square inch (psi) to 60 psi. A 60-psi test pressure for the physical dimensions test would marginally increase the stringency of the test while harmonizing FMVSS No. 109 with international and voluntary consensus standards. This NPRM responds to a petition for rulemaking from the Tire & Rim Association.

The FAA is revising an existing airworthiness directive (AD), which applies to all Boeing Model 747-100, 747-100B, 747-100B SUD, 747- 200B, 747-200C, 747-200F, 747-300, 747SR, and 747SP series airplanes. That AD currently requires revising the FAA-approved maintenance program by incorporating new airworthiness limitations (AWLs) for fuel tank systems to satisfy Special Federal Aviation Regulation No. 88 requirements. That AD also requires the initial inspection of certain repetitive AWL inspections to phase in those inspections, and repair if necessary. This AD clarifies the intended effect of the AD on spare and on-airplane fuel tank system components. This AD results from a design review of the fuel tank systems. We are issuing this AD to prevent the potential for ignition sources inside fuel tanks caused by latent failures, alterations, repairs, or maintenance actions, which, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result in a fuel tank explosion and consequent loss of the airplane.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (Bell) Model 407 and 427 helicopters. This AD results from a mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) AD issued by the aviation authority of Canada. The MCAI AD states that, during a preflight check, it was observed that the swashplate link assembly bearing had moved in the lever race, making contact with the swashplate support. The MCAI also states that further investigation revealed that the bearing had not been staked correctly during manufacture. That condition, if not detected, could result in failure of a bearing, failure of the swashplate link assembly, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

FRA is issuing this Notice to advise other agencies and the public that FRA and the California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) will be preparing an Environmental Impact Report/ Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS) for the Altamont Corridor Rail Project proposed by the Authority and the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission (SJRRC) from Stockton to San Jose via the Altamont Pass and Tri Valley area, connecting the Northern San Joaquin Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area. The Authority and SJRRC are proposing to develop a dedicated regional rail corridor through the Altamont Pass and the Tri Valley area capable of supporting intercity and commuter rail passenger services. The project EIR/EIS will be prepared in compliance with relevant Federal and State laws, in particular the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) will serve as a cooperating agency for the preparation of the EIR/EIS.

FMCSA announces receipt of applications from 41 individuals for exemptions from the prohibition against persons with insulin- treated diabetes mellitus (ITDM) operating commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce. If granted, the exemptions would enable these individuals with ITDM to operate commercial motor vehicles in interstate commerce.

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:

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is publishing this notice to advise the public that the FAA has issued a Record of Decision (ROD) for the Final Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIS) and Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) Section 810 Evaluation for Proposed Improvement Activities at the Sitka Rocky Gutierrez Airport (SIT) on September 28, 2009. The ROD provides final agency determinations and approvals for the proposed airport improvement activities.

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 all American Champion Aircraft Corp. Models 7ECA, 7GCAA, 7GCBC, 7KCAB, 8KCAB, and 8GCBC airplanes, manufactured prior to 1989 and equipped with folding rear seat backs. This AD requires inspection of the rear seat back hinge areas for cracking and excessive elongation of the rear seat hinge bolt hole and, if cracking or excessive elongation is found, replacement of the rear seat frame. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracking of the rear seat back hinge area and excessive elongation of the rear seat hinge bolt hole, either of which could result in failure of the seat back. This failure could lead to a rear- seated pilot or passenger inadvertently interfering with the control stick while attempting to not roll to the rear of the airplane upon seat back failure. Consequently, this failure could result in loss of control.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This proposed 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: During acceleration up to One Engine Inoperative (OEI) 30-second rating, one event of flight loss of full automatic control occurred on an Arriel 2S1 engine. The selection of OEI 30-second rating on engine 1 was triggered by the automatic detection of an OEI situation further to a transient deceleration of engine 2. The transient deceleration of engine 2 was caused by the untimely reset of its DECU. Once this reset was completed, engine 2 resumed its nominal operation. Afterwards the aircraft then continued its flight safely with its engine 1 operating in manual control mode. The loss of full automatic control of engine 1 was caused by loss of steps of the stepper motor controlling the fuel metering valve inside the Hydromechanical Unit (HMU). It has been found that high accelerations, notably up to OEI 30-second rating, increase the risk of loss of steps of the HMU stepper motor. Therefore, this event has led to the consideration of the following unsafe condition at aircraft level: In- flight loss of full automatic control of the engine induced by the loss of steps of the stepper motor during acceleration up to OEI 30-second rating, further to an actual OEI situation on the other engine (such as a power loss event).

This notice contains a summary of a petition 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 the petition or its final disposition.

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:

This action establishes Class E Airspace at Nantucket Memorial Airport, Nantucket, MA, by establishing Class E Surface airspace designated as an extension to Class D airspace. This action will encompass the new Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) and enhance the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) around the Nantucket Memorial Airport, MA.

These special conditions are issued for the Bombardier Model CL-600-2B16 (CL-605) airplane. This airplane, as modified by Rockwell Collins Aerospace & Electronics, Inc., will have an Enhanced Flight Vision System (EFVS). The EFVS is a novel or unusual design feature which consists of a head-up display (HUD) system modified to display forward-looking infrared (FLIR) radar imagery. The airworthiness regulations applicable to pilot compartment view 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.

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.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA), in cooperation with the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) and the City of Anaheim, is planning to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement/ Environmental Impact Report (DEIS/EIR) to provide transit service over a 3.5-mile corridor between the future ARTIC on the east and The Anaheim Resort on the west. The EIS will be prepared in accordance with regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) as well as provisions of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU, 2005). The purpose of this Notice of Intent is to alert interested parties regarding the plan to prepare the DEIS, to provide information on the proposed transit project, to invite participation in the EIS process, including comments on the scope of the DEIS proposed in this notice, and to announce that public scoping meetings will be conducted.

The FHWA is issuing this notice to announce actions taken by FHWA and other Federal agencies that are final within the meaning of 23 U.S.C. Section 139(l)(1). The actions relate to the Highway 1 Soquel to Morrissey Auxiliary Lanes Project in the City of Santa Cruz, and Santa Cruz County, California. The project would include the following: Adding auxiliary lanes to Highway 1 between the interchanges of Soquel Avenue and Morrissey Boulevard for a distance of less than one mile; replacing the La Fonda overcrossing while providing wider sidewalks and new bike lanes; providing sidewalk improvements at Rooney Street and Morrissey Boulevard west of Pacheco Avenue; and installing a raised crosswalk at the south end of the La Fonda Bridge near the entrance to Harbor High School.

The FAA is revising an existing airworthiness directive (AD), which applies to all Airbus Model A300 airplanes. That AD currently requires revising the Airworthiness Limitations Section of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness to incorporate new limitations for fuel tank systems. This AD clarifies the intended effect of the AD on spare and on-airplane fuel tank system components. This AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. We are issuing this AD to prevent the potential of ignition sources inside fuel tanks, which, in combination with flammable fuel vapors caused by latent failures, alterations, repairs, or maintenance actions, could result in fuel tank explosions and consequent loss of the airplane.

This notice contains a summary of a petition 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 the petition or its final disposition.

This notice contains a summary of a petition 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 the petition or its final disposition.

The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for Hartzell Propeller Inc. ()HC-()2Y()-() series propellers with non-suffix serial number (SN) propeller hubs installed on Lycoming O-, IO-, LO-, and AEIO-360 series reciprocating engines. That AD currently requires initial and repetitive eddy current inspections (ECIs) of the front cylinder half of the propeller hub for cracks and removing cracked hubs from service before further flight. In addition, that AD allows installation of an improved design propeller hub (suffix SN ``A'' or ``B'') as terminating action to the repetitive ECI. This ad requires the same actions but changes the affected propeller series designation to ()HC-()2Y(K,R)-() series propellers with non-suffix SN propeller hubs and suffix SN letter ``E'' propeller hubs. This AD also expands the engine eligibility to include Lycoming LIO-, TO-, LTO-, AIO-, and TIO-360-series engines. This AD results from the need to make changes to the affected series designation of propellers, to expand the engine applicability, and to respond to comments received on AD 2006- 18-15. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the propeller hub causing blade separation and subsequent loss of airplane control.