Department of Transportation October 12, 2010 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA published a proposed rule on September 14, 2010, to amend its existing flight, duty and rest regulations applicable to certificate holders and their flightcrew members. The FAA has received requests from stakeholders to provide a forum during the comment period where they can pose clarifying questions and receive answers to them. In response to these requests, the FAA is issuing this notice, which includes the procedures for handling clarifying questions to the proposed rule.

This document contains a correction to final regulations published in the Federal Register on Tuesday, September 21, 2010, (75 FR 57396) that revised the list of vehicles not originally manufactured to conform to the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) that NHTSA has decided to be eligible for importation.

This action will remove Class E airspace at St. George, UT, as the airport will be closing, eliminating the need for controlled airspace. This action will establish Class E airspace for the new St. George Municipal Airport located to the south of the original airport. Controlled airspace is necessary to accommodate aircraft using a new Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS), VHF Omni- Directional Radio Range/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME), Localizer Type Directional Aid/Distance Measuring Equipment (LDA/DME) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) at the new airport. This will improve the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

This action revises Class E airspace at Tanana, AK. The amendment of Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) at Ralph M. Calhoun Memorial Airport has made this action necessary to enhance safety by ensuring that sufficient airspace exists for air traffic management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations.

This action revises Class E airspace at Unalakleet, AK. The amendment and development of two (each) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs), and the development of one Obstacle Departure Procedure (ODP) at the Unalakleet Airport have made this action necessary to enhance safety by ensuring that sufficient Class E airspace exists for air traffic management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations.

This proposed rule addresses air ambulance and commercial helicopter operations, part 91 helicopter operations, and load manifest requirements for all part 135 aircraft. From 2002 to 2008, there has been an increase in fatal helicopter air ambulance accidents. To address these safety concerns, the FAA is proposing to implement operational procedures and require additional equipment on board helicopter air ambulances. Many of these proposed requirements currently are found in agency guidance publications and would address National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) safety recommendations. Some of these safety concerns are not unique to the helicopter air ambulance industry and affect all commercial helicopter operations. Accordingly, the FAA also is proposing to amend regulations pertaining to all commercial helicopter operations conducted under part 135 to include equipment requirements, pilot training, and alternate airport weather minima. The changes are intended to provide certificate holders and pilots with additional tools and procedures that will aid in preventing accidents.