Department of Transportation April 2010 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) requested a modification to the motorcycle headlighting system location requirements for a single headlamp with multiple light sources. The current standard requires that the light sources contained in a single motorcycle headlamp containing multiple light sources be located on the vertical centerline of the vehicle or horizontally disposed about the vertical centerline and mounted at the same height. BMW requested that the location requirements be based on the axes of reference instead of the light sources.

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: During a recent production fuel system test, it was found that all three flapper valves located in each collector tank did not conform to the design requirements, due to the fact that a valve spring was installed on the flapper hinge pin. This valve spring should have been removed prior to installation of the valves. With the valve spring installed, the flapper valve is held closed by the valve spring, preventing gravity feed. In the event of scavenge system failure, the collector tank fuel level can no longer be maintained, potentially leading to an in-flight engine shutdown.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics invites the general public, industry and other governmental parties to comment on the continuing need for and usefulness of BTS collecting reports on the number of passengers holding confirmed reservations that voluntarily or involuntarily give up their seats when the airline oversells the flight. Comments are requested concerning whether (a) The collection is still needed by the Department of Transportation, (b) BTS accurately estimated the reporting burden; (c) there are other ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information collected; and (d) there are ways to minimize reporting burden, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

The regulatory agenda is a semiannual summary of all current and projected rulemakings, reviews of existing regulations, and completed actions of the Department. The agenda provides the public with information about the Department of Transportation's regulatory activity. It is expected that this information will enable the public to be more aware of and allow it to more effectively participate in the Department's regulatory activity. The public is also invited to submit comments on any aspect of this agenda.

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 petitions or their 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 adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for GE CJ610 series turbojet engines and CF700 turbofan engines with AFT Technologies combustion liners, part number (P/N) AFT-5016T30G02. This AD requires removing from service, AFT Technologies combustion liners, P/N AFT-5016T30G02. This AD results from a report of an AFT Technologies combustion liner that released a large section of the inner combustion liner and reports of six combustion liners with premature cracks. We are issuing this AD to prevent premature cracks in the combustion liner, which could release pieces of the inner combustion liner. A release of pieces of the inner combustion liner could cause an uncontained failure of the engine turbine and damage to the airplane.

This document proposes superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for Model HH-1K, TH-1F, TH-1L, UH-1A, UH-1B, UH-1E, UH- 1F, UH-1H, UH-1L, and UH-1P helicopters; and Southwest Florida Aviation Model SW204, SW204HP, SW205, and SW205A-1 helicopters, manufactured by Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. (BHTI) for the Armed Forces of the United States. That AD currently requires updating the product identification, extending the application of the AD to other helicopter models, continuing the existing retirement time for certain main rotor tension- torsion (TT) straps, and adding the TT strap part numbers to the applicability. This action proposes to require removing certain serial- numbered TT straps from service, reduce the retirement life for other TT straps, and establish a retirement life in terms of calendar time in addition to hours time-in-service (TIS) for certain other affected TT straps. This action would also add two model helicopters to the applicability of the AD. This proposal is prompted by fatigue cracking in certain TT straps that have stainless steel filament windings and a determination that corrosion damage, which is related to calendar time, necessitates a calendar time retirement life for certain TT straps in addition to the retirement life based on hours TIS. This proposal is also prompted by fatigue cracking in other TT straps with encased thin stainless steel plates. These proposals are based on the service history of helicopters that are the same or similar in type design to the helicopters to which this AD would apply. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent failure of a TT strap, loss of a main rotor blade, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

The FHWA, on behalf of the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), announces the availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a proposed highway project and route adoption study in San Benito and Santa Clara Counties, California.

The State of Texas has petitioned for approval of alternate requirements to certain requirements under Federal odometer law. NHTSA is issuing this final determination granting Texas's petition.

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 November 13, 2009, vol. 74, no. 218, page 58676-58677. This rulemaking established requirements for the FAA's authority to issue Experimental Permits for reusable suborbital rockets to authorize launches for the purpose of research and development, crew training and showing compliance with the regulations.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew 17 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.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Model DC-10-10, DC-10-10F, DC-10-15, DC-10-30, DC-10-30F (KC- 10A and KDC-10), DC-10-40, DC-10-40F, MD-10-10F, MD-10-30F, MD-11, and MD-11F airplanes. This proposed AD would require installing an in-line fuse in certain float level switches and sleeving the wires between the fuel tank and the in-line fuse. For certain airplanes this proposed AD would also require installing an in-line fuse in certain fuel pump pressure switches. This proposed AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. We are proposing this AD to prevent fuel tank explosions and consequent loss of the airplane.

The FHWA has forwarded the information collection request described in this notice to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to renew an information collection. We published a Federal Register Notice with a 60-day public comment period on this information collection on September 18, 2009. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

In accordance with the procedures governing the application for, and the processing of, special permits from the Department of Transportation's Hazardous Material Regulations (49 CFR Part 107, Subpart B), notice is hereby given that the Office of Hazardous Materials Safety has received the application described herein. Each mode of transportation for which a particular special permit is requested is indicated by a number in the ``Nature of Application'' portion of the table below as follows: 1Motor vehicle, 2Rail freight, 3Cargo vessel, 4Cargo aircraft only, 5Passenger-carrying aircraft.

This action confirms the effective date of a direct final rule published in the Federal Register December 7, 2009 that establishes Class E airspace at Johnson County Airport, Mountain City, TN.

This action confirms the effective date of a direct final rule published in the Federal Register December 7, 2009 that establishes Class E airspace at Jackson Muni, Jackson, AL.

The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that a Supplemental EIS will be prepared for the extension of SR 374 from SR 149 west of River Road to SR 76 in Clarksville, Montgomery County, Tennessee.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of a meeting of RTCA Special Committee 147: Minimum Operational Performance Standards for Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance Systems Airborne Equipment.

These special conditions are issued for the Cirrus Design Corporation, model SF50 airplane. This single turbofan engine airplane will have a novel or unusual design feature(s) associated with mounting the engine in the aft fuselage. 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.