Department of Transportation July 19, 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for MDHI Model 500N, 600N, and MD900 helicopters to require determining the cure date for each NOTAR fan blade tension-torsion strap (T-T strap), establishing a calendar-time retirement life for certain T-T straps, reducing the retirement life of certain T-T straps, marking each T-T strap with the expiration date, creating a component record card for each T-T strap, and revising the airworthiness limitations section of the maintenance manual to reflect the changes to the retirement life. This proposal is prompted by a report from the T-T strap manufacturer that, over a period of time, moisture may reduce the strength of a T-T strap. The proposed actions are intended to prevent failure of a T-T strap, loss of directional control and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew an information collection. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on May 9, 2012, vol. 77, no. 90, page 27271. The information collected on the FAA Form 8120-11 is used by those who wish to report suspected unapproved parts to the FAA for review.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew for three-year clearance an information collection that has been granted emergency clearance. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on May 9, 2012, vol. 77, no. 90, page 27271-27272. The commercial air tour operational data provided to the FAA and NPS will be used by the agencies as background information useful in the development of air tour management plans and voluntary agreements for purposes of meeting the mandate of the National Parks Air Tour Management Act (NPATMA) of 2000.

In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, the Department of Transportation proposes to update and reissue a Department of Transportation system of records notice titled Department of Transportation/Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration007 Pre- Employment Screening Program. The updated system of records consists of information that is created and used by the Department's Pre-Employment Screening program to provide commercial drivers and persons conducting pre-employment screening services for the motor carrier industry electronic access to driver history reports extracted from the Department's Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS). As a result of biennial review of this system, the Privacy Office has made the five major modifications to the systems of records. The category of records identified as ``Financial Transaction Records'' in the previously published System of Records Notice for this system has been removed as the Department does not maintain these records. The ``Access Transaction Records'' record category also has been revised to clarify the types of information maintained about the two categories of users permitted to request access to records for the purposes of pre- employment screening. The routine uses have been updated to clarify disclosure of Pre-Employment Screening Program (PSP) records to industry service providers directly involved in the hiring of commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers on behalf of motor carriers and/ or CMV drivers and the routine use concerning the sharing of CMV driver access transaction records with Validation Authorities (e.g. Lexis- Nexis). The system owner information has been modified to omit the contact information for the MCMIS and Freedom of Information Act systems of records and, instead, include only contact information for the PSP system of records. Additionally, this Notice includes non-substantive changes to simplify the formatting and text of the previously published Notice. This updated system will be included in the Department of Transportation's inventory of record systems.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Piper Aircraft, Inc. (type certificate previously held by The New Piper Aircraft Inc.) Models PA-18 and PA-19 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by incidents of inadvertent magneto switch shut off in flight. This proposed AD would require moving all magneto switches that are now or are at any time located on the left cabin panel, adjacent to the front seat, to the instrument panel. We are proposing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

This action extends the closing and award dates for a Notice of Funding Availability for the Small Business Transportation Resource Center that was published on June 15, 2012, 77 FR 36034. USDOT OSDBU is extending the closing date to allow eligible entities time to adequately submit a proposal.

This action removes Class E airspace listed at Lloydsville, PA, for Latrobe Hospital Heliport (old name), and incorporates Excela Health Latrobe Hospital Heliport (new name) onto Class E airspace at Latrobe, PA. Also, this action amends Class D and E airspace at Latrobe, PA, as new Standard Instrument Approach Procedures have been developed at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport. The geographic coordinates for both the heliport and the airport are updated. This action enhances the safety and airspace management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations in the Latrobe, PA, area. This action also recognizes the airport name change to Arnold Palmer Regional Airport.

This action amends the legal descriptions of Jet Routes J-45 and J-79, and VHF omnidirectional range (VOR) Federal airways V-3, V-51, V-159, V-225, V-295 and V-537, in the vicinity of Vero Beach, FL. The FAA is taking this action because the name of the Vero Beach, FL, VOR Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) facility, which is included in the descriptions of the above routes, is being changed to the Treasure VORTAC.

This action amends Class E airspace at Grinnell Regional Airport, Grinnell, IA, by removing reference to the Grinnell NDB from the legal description, and amends the geographic coordinates of the airport. The Grinnell NDB has been decommissioned and is not needed as part of the airspace description. This action does not change the boundaries or operating requirements of the airspace.