Department of Transportation March 18, 2010 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This action provides the graphic chart for the proposed rule published in the Federal Register of March 3, 2010, regarding the modification of Class B airspace, Charlotte, NC. This correction adds the chart that was inadvertently omitted from the NPRM.

The FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve a new information collection. The data from this research are critically important for establishing the scientific basis for air tour management policy decisions in the National Parks as mandated by the National Parks Air Tour Management Act of 2000 (NPATMA).

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for IAE V2500-A1, V2522-A5, V2524-A5, V2525-D5, V2527-A5, V2527E-A5, V2527M-A5, V2528-D5, V2530-A5, and V2533-A5 turbofan engines. This AD requires a onetime fluorescent penetrant inspection of certain vortex reducers for cracks. This AD results from reports of fractured vortex reducers found at shop visits. We are issuing this AD to inspect for cracks in the vortex reducer. Cracks in the vortex reducer could result in an uncontained failure of the high-pressure (HP) compressor stage 3-8 drum and subsequent damage to the airplane.

The FAA is revising 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 AD requires the same actions, except for the monthly reporting of the number of completed inspections. This 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 issuing this AD 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.

This action will establish Class E airspace at Battle Mountain, NV, to accommodate aircraft using the VHF Omni-Directional Radio Range (VOR)/Distant Measuring Equipment (DME) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) at Battle Mountain Airport. This will improve the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operation at the airport.

This action will establish Class E airspace at Hailey, ID, to accommodate aircraft using the Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) Standard Instrument Approach Procedure (SIAP) at Friedman Memorial Airport. This will improve the safety of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

This rule 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.