Department of Transportation 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of Transportation is directing all interested persons to show cause why it should not (1) issue an order finding Caribbean Sun Airlines, Inc., fit, willing, and able, and to resume foreign scheduled air transportation of persons, property and mail, using one large aircraft.

The FAA proposes to revise an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for Pratt & Whitney JT8D-209, -217, -217C, and -219 turbofan engines with front compressor front hub (fan hub), part number (P/N) 5000501-01 installed. That AD currently requires cleaning the front compressor front hubs (fan hubs), initial and repetitive eddy current (ECI) and fluorescent penetrant inspections (FPI) of tierod and counterweight holes for cracks, removal of bushings, cleaning and ECI and FPI of bushed holes for cracks and, if necessary, replacement with serviceable parts. In addition, that AD currently requires reporting the findings of cracked fan hubs and monthly reports of the number of inspections completed. This proposed AD would require the same actions, except for the monthly reporting of the number of completed inspections. This proposed AD results from the FAA determining that it has collected a sufficient amount of data since issuing AD 97-17-04 and that therefore, it no longer needs the monthly reporting of the number of completed inspections. We are proposing this AD revision to prevent fan hub failure due to tierod, counterweight, or bushed hole cracking, which could result in an uncontained engine failure and damage to the airplane.

The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for CFM International, S.A. CFM56-5B series turbofan engines. That AD currently requires reviewing exhaust gas temperature (EGT) monitoring records to determine EGT margin deterioration, and for airplanes where both engines have greater than 80 [deg]centigrade (C) of EGT margin deterioration, borescope-inspecting the high-pressure compressor (HPC) of both engines. That AD also currently requires removing from service any engine that does not pass the borescope inspection and, if both engines pass, removing and replacing one of the engines with an engine that has 80 [deg]C or less of EGT margin deterioration. That AD also currently requires continuous monitoring of EGT margin deterioration on engines in service to prevent two engines on an airplane from having greater than 80 [deg]C of EGT margin deterioration. This proposed AD would require continuous monitoring of EGT margin deterioration, removing FADEC software version 5.B.Q and earlier versions from the engine as mandatory terminating action to the repetitive recalculating and EGT monitoring for certain engine models, and removing other certain engine models from service if the EGT margin deterioration is greater than 75 [deg]C. This proposed AD results from the need to reduce the affected engine models listed in AD 2009-01-01 from 25 to 19, the need to reduce the engine EGT margin deterioration removal threshold from greater than 80 [deg]C to greater than 75 [deg]C, the need to mandate a terminating action to the repetitive recalculating and EGT monitoring for certain engines, and the need to remove certain engines from service if the EGT margin deterioration is greater than 75 [deg]C. We are proposing this AD to prevent HPC stalls, which could prevent continued safe flight or landing.

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 issuing this notice to advise the public that a meeting of the Federal Aviation Administration Air Traffic Procedures Advisory Committee (ATPAC) will be held to review present air traffic control procedures and practices for standardization, revision, clarification, and upgrading of terminology and procedures.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the selection of projects to be funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) for the Public Transportation on Indian Reservations Program (Tribal Transit Program (TTP)), and Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 appropriations for the Tribal Transit Program, a program authorized by the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), Section 3013(c).

This action proposes to amend Class E airspace at Cedar Rapids, IA. Additional controlled airspace is necessary to accommodate new Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) at The Eastern Iowa Airport, Cedar Rapids, IA. The FAA is taking this action to enhance the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

This action proposes to establish Class E airspace at Battle Mountain Airport, Battle Mountain, NV, to accommodate aircraft using the VHF Omni-Directional Radio Range (VOR)/Distant Measuring Equipment (DME) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) at the airport. The FAA is proposing this action to enhance the safety and management of aircraft operations at Battle Mountain Airport, Battle Mountain, NV.

This notice announces actions taken by FHWA and other Federal agencies that are final within the meaning of 23 U.S.C. 139(1)(1). The actions relate to a proposed highway project, the NC 119 Relocation from I-85/40 to south of SR 1918 (Mrs. White Lane)Mebane, Alamance County, North Carolina. Those actions grant licenses, permits, and approvals for the project.

This notice of proposed rulemaking is being issued in response to a petition from Bruno Independent Living Aids to expand and update existing exemptions to the ``make inoperative'' prohibition with respect to the Federal motor vehicle safety standard on head restraints. These exemptions are included in a regulation that provides exemptions for the ``make inoperative'' provision for, among other things, vehicle modifications to accommodate people with disabilities. NHTSA is proposing two substantive changes to the regulation. The first is to expand the exemption from the minimum height requirements listed in the head restraint standard to include the right front passenger position in addition to the driver position. The second is to update the exemption to include relevant provisions of a new version of the head restraint standard. Additionally, this document proposes to update an existing reference in the exemption to reflect the current numbering in the Code of Federal Regulations. Finally, we are denying other requests to expand the exemption to certain other requirements of the head restraint standard.

This document denies two petitions for reconsideration of an April 30, 2008, final rule that made certain modifications to 49 CFR part 565, Vehicle Identification Number Requirements, to enable the 17 character vehicle identification number (VIN) system that has been in place for nearly 30 years to continue to function for at least another 30 years. One of the petitions for reconsideration involved the effective date, which NHTSA believes was resolved by the publication of a correction notice on May 16, 2008. The second petition asked for changes to the VIN system so that, among other things, a person looking at the VIN of a motorcycle will be able to tell whether the vehicle was manufactured in the 30 year period beginning with the 1980 model year or in the 30 year period beginning with the 2010 model year. The agency is denying the petition because the issues it raises were outside of the scope of the rulemaking.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Hawker Beechcraft Corporation Model G58 airplanes. This proposed AD would require inspecting the installation of stand-off hardware between the heater fuel line and the heater over-temperature sensor wires for minimum clearance and installing acceptable stand-off hardware if stand-off hardware is missing or inadequate. This proposed AD would also require inspecting the brake reservoir line and the fuel heater power wire for damage and minimum clearance, replacing any damaged wires and/or lines, and installing stand-off hardware if minimum clearance is not met. This proposed AD results from reports received of a power wire shorting out on the brake reservoir tube. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct inadequate clearance of the brake reservoir tubing and the heater fuel pump wiring, which could result in chafing and shorting out of the electrical wiring and chafing of the tubing carrying flammable fluids. This condition could lead to a fire in the nose wheel well.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (type certificate previously held by Raytheon Aircraft Company) Models B300 and B300C airplanes. This proposed AD would require you to inspect the terminal board on the circuit card rack assembly to determine if the correct bus bar is installed. This proposed AD would also require you to replace the bus bar if necessary and inspect the left and right pitot heat annunciators for proper operation. This proposed AD results from reports of the left and right pitot heat annunciators not illuminating for an inoperative pitot heat condition. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct installation of an incorrect bus bar, which could result in failure of the pitot heat annunciators to illuminate. This failure could lead to the pilot being unaware that moisture has frozen on the pitot tube(s) and cause erroneous flight instrument indication.

The FHWA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval for renewal of an existing information collection that is summarized below under Supplementary Information. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

This action establishes Class E airspace at Elim, AK, to accommodate new Area Navigation (RNAV) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) at Elim Airport. The FAA is taking this action to enhance safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at Elim Airport.

These special conditions are issued for the Embraer model EMB- 505 airplane. This airplane will have a novel or unusual design feature(s) associated with operation of the airframe ice protection system. 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.

This action proposes to amend Class E airspace at Huntingburg, IN. Additional controlled airspace is necessary to accommodate new Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) at Huntingburg Airport, Huntingburg, IN. The FAA is taking this action to enhance the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations for SIAPs at Huntingburg Airport.

This action proposes to establish Class E airspace at Koyukuk, AK. New Area Navigation (RNAV) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs), and an Obstacle Departure Procedure (ODP) at Koyukuk Airport have made this action necessary to enhance safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations.

This action proposes to establish Class E airspace at Shaktoolik, AK. New Area Navigation (RNAV) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs), and an Obstacle Departure Procedure (ODP) at Shaktoolik Airport have made this action necessary to enhance safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations.

The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways (MUTCD) (also referred to as ``the Manual'') is incorporated by reference within our regulations, approved by the Federal Highway Administration, and recognized as the national standard for traffic control devices used on all public roads. The purpose of this final rule is to revise standards, guidance, options, and supporting information relating to the traffic control devices in all parts of the MUTCD to expedite traffic, promote uniformity, improve safety, and incorporate technology advances in traffic control device application. The MUTCD, with these changes incorporated, is being designated as the 2009 Edition of the MUTCD.

The FAA publishes a monthly notice, as appropriate, of PFC approvals and disapprovals under the provisions of the Aviation Safety and Capacity Expansion Act of 1990 (Title IX of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990) (Pub. L. 101-508) and Part 158 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR Part 158). This notice is published pursuant to paragraph d of Sec. 158.29.