Department of Transportation November 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA is withdrawing a previously published direct final rule that would have allowed launch operators that conduct certain amateur rocket launches to voluntarily apply for a commercial space transportation license or experimental permit. The FAA is withdrawing this action because of the adverse comments it received.

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 the 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.

This action proposes special conditions for the Embraer S.A., Model EMB-550 airplane. This airplane will have a novel or unusual design feature(s) associated with hydrophobic coatings. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These proposed 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.

These special conditions are issued for the Boeing Model 757 series airplanes. These airplanes as modified by Flight Structures, Inc. will have novel or unusual design features associated with seats that include non-traditional, large, non-metallic panels that would affect survivability during a post-crash fire event. 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.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc. Model CL-600-2C10 (Regional Jet Series 700, 701, & 702) airplanes, Model CL-600-2D15 (Regional Jet Series 705) airplanes, Model CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900) airplanes, and Model CL- 600-2E25 (Regional Jet Series 1000) airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report that certain wing-to-fuselage attachment nuts do not conform to the certification design requirements for dual locking features. This AD requires repetitive inspections to determine that cotter pins are installed at affected wing-to-fuselage attachment joints and replacement if necessary. We are issuing this AD to prevent loss of wing-to-fuselage attachment joints, which could result in the loss of the wing.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Model A330-243, -243F, -341, -342, and -343 airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of cracking of air intake cowls on Rolls-Royce Trent engines, worn and detached attachment links, and fractured thermal anti-ice (TAI) piccolo tubes. This AD requires inspecting piccolo tubes, piccolo tube mount links, the aft side of the forward bulkhead, and outer boundary angles (OBA) for cracks, fractures, and broken links, and corrective actions if necessary. We are issuing this AD to prevent degraded structural integrity of the engine nose cowl in case of forward bulkhead damage in conjunction with a broken piccolo tube, and damage to the engine due to operation in icing conditions with reduced TAI performance.

This action proposes special conditions for the Turbomeca Ardiden 3K model engines. This engine model will have a novel or unusual design feature which is a 30-minute all engines operating (AEO) power rating for hovering at increased power (HIP). This rating is primarily intended for high-power hovering operations that are normal mission functions. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These proposed special conditions contain the additional safety standards that the FAA considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards.

The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that the Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed State Route 75/282 Transportation Corridor Project in the city of Coronado in San Diego County, California (Federal Register Vol. 72, No 10; FR Doc E7-491) will be withdrawn.

As authorized by 46 U.S.C. 12121, the Secretary of Transportation, as represented by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), is authorized to grant waivers of the U.S.-build requirement of the coastwise laws under certain circumstances. A request for such a waiver has been received by MARAD. The vessel, and a brief description of the proposed service, is listed below.

As authorized by 46 U.S.C. 12121, the Secretary of Transportation, as represented by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), is authorized to grant waivers of the U.S.-build requirement of the coastwise laws under certain circumstances. A request for such a waiver has been received by MARAD. The vessel, and a brief description of the proposed service, is listed below.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain serial number Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. (P&WC) PW206B, PW206B2, PW206C, PW207C, PW207D, PW207D1, PW207D2, and PW207E turboshaft engines. This proposed AD was prompted by the discovery that certain power turbine (PT) disks were made to specific heat codes that may not achieve the maximum in-service life. This proposed AD would require re-identification of the PT disk to a part number (P/N) with a lower life limit. We are proposing this AD to prevent possible uncontained PT disk failure and loss of helicopter control.

We propose to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain The Boeing Company Model 737-200, -200C, - 300, -400 and -500 series airplanes. The existing AD currently requires a one-time mid-frequency eddy current (MFEC) inspection, a low frequency eddy current (LFEC) inspection, and a detailed inspection for damage or cracking of stringer S-4L and S-4R lap joints and stringer clips between body station (BS) 540 and BS 727, and follow-on inspections and repair if necessary. Since we issued that AD, we have received reports of cracking of the lap joint lower row. This proposed AD would instead require repetitive external eddy current inspections for cracking of certain fuselage crown lap joints and corrective actions; internal eddy current and detailed inspections for cracking of certain fuselage crown lap joints, and repair if necessary; and detailed inspections of certain stringer clips, and replacement with new stringer clips if necessary. This proposed AD would also add airplanes to the applicability. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct cracking of the fuselage lap joints, which could result in sudden decompression of the airplane.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Model A330-200, -300 and -200 Freighter series airplanes; and all Model A340-200 and -300 series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a determination that the bonding lead from a certain isolation valve to a frame was too close to an electrical harness, which might cause chafing between the electrical harness and the associated bonding lead. This chafing could lead to a short circuit of the isolation valve and consequent non-closure of the isolation valve, which would prevent the air-flow to be shut-off in case of fire. This proposed AD would require modifying the bonding lead installation of the isolation valve. We are proposing this AD to prevent such chafing, which could result in non-closure of the isolation valve in the event of a fire and consequent damage to the airplane and injury to its occupants.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) BR700-710 series turbofan engines. This proposed AD was prompted by service experience that demonstrated premature wear of the splined coupling on the fuel pump. This proposed AD would require replacement of the affected fuel pump splined couplings. We are proposing this AD to prevent failure of the engine and loss of the airplane.

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.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Diamond Aircraft Industries GmbH Model H-36, HK 36 R, HK 36 TS, and HK 36 TTS airplanes. 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 installation of an unsuitable self-locking nut on the bell crank of the elevator push rod that can cause failure of the elevator, resulting in loss of control. We are issuing this proposed AD to require actions to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (Type Certificate previously held by Raytheon Aircraft Company; Beech Aircraft Corporation) Model 400A airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report that the wiring for the 5-volt direct current (DC) system is undersized and does not have adequate circuit protection for the smaller gauge wire. This proposed AD would require installing an in-line fuse in the 5-volt DC system for each of the five instrument lighting control power supplies. We are proposing this AD to prevent failure of the wiring, which could result in smoke in the cockpit, loss of cockpit lighting, and potential damage to surrounding wiring for other cockpit equipment such as the stick shaker function or angle-of-attack indicators.

The FHWA, on behalf of Caltrans, is issuing this notice to announce actions taken by Caltrans that are final within the meaning of 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1). The actions relate to a proposed highway project, State Route 91 from the cities of Anaheim and Yorba Linda to the City of Riverside, in the counties of Orange and Riverside, State of California. Those actions grant licenses, permits, and approvals for the project.

FHWA is informing the public of their intention to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval for a new information collection, which is summarized below under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Model BAe 146 and Avro 146-RJ series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report that certain ceramic terminal blocks, through which the wiring for the engine fire extinguishers, fire detection circuits, and engine and intake anti-ice system are routed, have been found to have moisture ingress which can degrade the insulation resistance of the ceramic terminal blocks. This proposed AD would require a one-time insulation resistance test of ceramic terminal blocks, and if necessary, replacement of the blocks. We are proposing this AD to prevent latent failure of the number 2 fire bottle, which, in the event of an engine fire, could result in failure of the fire bottle to discharge when activated and possibly preventing the flightcrew from extinguishing an engine fire.

Through this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPR), the Board is proposing a rule establishing additional disclosure requirements for notices and petitions for exemption where the underlying lease or line sale includes an interchange commitment.

By this notice, the FHWA is advising the public of final agency actions subject to 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1). The actions relate to a proposed project to improve the Brent Spence Bridge over the Ohio River, as well as improvements to Interstate Routes 71 and 75 and interchanges in the City of Cincinnati, Hamilton County, State of Ohio and City of Covington, Kenton County, Commonwealth of Kentucky, including a new bridge over the Ohio River. This notice covers those Federal agency actions to grant licenses, permits, and approvals for the project.