Department of Transportation 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This action establishes Class E airspace at Circle Town County Airport, Circle Town, MT to accommodate aircraft using new Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) standard instrument approach procedures at Circle Town County Airport. This improves the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) received written notice, dated July 30, 2012, from the city of Cincinnati advising that on August 29, 2012, it was permanently closing Cincinnati Blue Ash Airport (ISZ), Cincinnati, Ohio; the notice was in excess of 30 days before the closure in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 46319(a). The FAA hereby publishes the city of Cincinnati's notice of permanent closure of Cincinnati Blue Ash Airport in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 46319(b).

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of the meeting of the RTCA Program Management Committee (PMC).

This action proposes to establish Class E airspace at Spanish Peaks Airfield, Walsenburg, CO. Controlled airspace is necessary to accommodate aircraft using a new Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) standard instrument approach procedures at the airport, and to enhance the safety and management of aircraft operations.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for GA200 (Pty) Ltd Models GA200 and GA200C airplanes. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as failure of the strut bolt through the main spar. We are issuing this AD to require actions to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 707-100 long body, -200, -100B long body, and -100B short body series airplanes; Model 707-300, -300B, -300C, and - 400 series airplanes; and Model 720 and 720B series airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of stress corrosion cracking in the chord segments made from 7079 aluminum in the horizontal stabilizer rear spar, and potential early fatigue cracking in the chord segments made from 7075 aluminum. For certain airplanes, this AD requires using redefined flight cycle counts, determining the type of material of the horizontal stabilizer, rear spar, and upper and lower chords on the inboard and outboard ends of the rear spar; repetitively inspecting for cracking of the horizontal stabilizer components; and repairing or replacing the chord, or modifying chord segments made from 7079 aluminum, if necessary. For all airplanes, this AD requires inspecting certain structurally significant items, and repairing discrepancies if necessary. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct stress corrosion and/or potential early fatigue cracking in the horizontal stabilizer, which could compromise the structural integrity of the stabilizer.

NHTSA is proposing amendments to certain provisions of the early warning reporting (EWR) rule and the regulations governing motor vehicle and equipment safety recalls. The amendments to the EWR rule would require light vehicle manufacturers to specify the vehicle type and the fuel and/or propulsion system type in their reports and add new component categories of stability control systems for light vehicles, buses, emergency vehicles, and medium-heavy vehicle manufacturers, and forward collision avoidance, lane departure prevention, and backover prevention for light vehicle manufacturers. In addition, NHTSA proposes to require motor vehicle manufacturers to report their annual list of substantially similar vehicles via the Internet. As to safety recalls, we propose, among other things, to require certain manufacturers to submit vehicle identification numbers (VIN) for recalled vehicles and to daily report changes in recall remedy status for those vehicles; require online submission of recalls reports and information; and require adjustments to the required content of the owner notification letters and envelopes required to be issued to owners and purchasers of recalled vehicles and equipment.

The FAA is correcting a technical amendment published May 24, 2012 to a final rule published November 15, 2010. The final rule required design approval holders of certain existing airplanes and all applicants for type certificates of future transport category airplanes to establish a limit of validity of the engineering data that supports the structural maintenance program (hereinafter referred to as LOV). It also required that operators of any affected airplane incorporate the LOV into the maintenance program for that airplane. The technical amendment to the final rule was issued to correct errors, but within its publication, it contained inadvertent errors due to pagination in two tables. This document corrects the errors in those tables.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the Sikorsky Model S-70, S-70A, S-70C, S-70C (M), and S-70C (M1) helicopters with General Electric (GE) T700-GE-401C or T700-GE-701C engines installed. This proposed AD is prompted by a reevaluation of the method for determining the life limit for certain GE engine gas generator turbine (GGT) rotor parts and the determination that these life limits need to be based on low cycle fatigue events instead of hours time-in-service. The proposed actions are intended to establish new fatigue life limits for certain GGT rotor parts to prevent fatigue failure of a GGT rotor part, engine failure, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

FRA is issuing this Notice of Intent (Notice) to advise the public and Federal, state, and local agencies of the extension of the formal comment period for the NEC FUTURE program scoping process. The Notice of Intent to prepare a Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate potential passenger rail improvements between Washington, DC, New York City, and Boston, MA was published in the Federal Register on June 22, 2012. The formal comment period for scoping was scheduled to close on Friday, September 14, 2012. In response to requests from the public provided in public testimony at Scoping meetings held from August 13th through August 22nd at nine different venues between Washington, DC and Boston, Massachusetts, FRA has decided to extend the formal comment period until Friday, October 19, 2012.

We are revising an earlier proposed airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 737-700, -700C, -800, and - 900ER series airplanes, Model 747-400F series airplanes, and Model 767- 200 and -300 series airplanes. That NPRM proposed to require an inspection for affected serial numbers of the crew oxygen mask stowage box units; and replacement of the crew oxygen mask stowage box unit with a new crew oxygen mask stowage unit, if necessary. That NPRM was prompted by reports indicating that certain crew oxygen mask stowage box units were possibly delivered with a burr in the inlet fitting. The burr might break loose during test or operation, and might pose an ignition source or cause an inlet valve to jam. This action revises that NPRM by adding a step to identify and label certain crew oxygen mask stowage box units that have already been inspected and reworked by the supplier, and allowing operators to install new or serviceable crew oxygen mask stowage box units. We are proposing this supplemental NPRM to prevent an ignition source, which could result in an oxygen-fed fire; or an inlet valve jam in a crew oxygen mask stowage box unit, which could result in restricted flow of oxygen. Since these actions impose an additional burden over that proposed in the NPRM, we are reopening the comment period to allow the public the chance to comment on these proposed changes.

This rule amends the requirements for siting explosives under a license to operate a launch site. It increases flexibility for launch site operators in site planning for the storage and handling of energetic liquids and explosives.

FRA proposes to require commuter and intercity passenger railroads to develop and implement a system safety program (SSP) to improve the safety of their operations. An SSP would be a structured program with proactive processes and procedures developed and implemented by commuter and intercity passenger railroads to identify and mitigate or eliminate hazards and the resulting risks on each railroad's system. A railroad would have a substantial amount of flexibility to tailor an SSP to its specific operations. An SSP would be implemented by a written SSP plan and submitted to FRA for review and approval. A railroad's compliance with its SSP would be audited by FRA.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc. Model BD-100-1A10 (Challenger 300) airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of failure of a screw cap or end cap of the auxiliary hydraulic system accumulator while on the ground, which resulted in loss of use of that hydraulic system and high-energy impact damage to adjacent systems and structures. This proposed AD would require inspecting for the correct serial number of a certain hydraulic system accumulator, and replacing affected hydraulic system accumulators with new or serviceable accumulators. We are proposing this AD to prevent failure of a screw cap or end cap and loss of the related hydraulic system, which could result in damage to airplane structure and consequent reduced controllability of the airplane.

We propose to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain The Boeing Company Model 747-400 and 747- 400F series airplanes. The existing AD currently requires installing drains and drain tubes to eliminate water accumulation in the dripshield above the M826 cardfile in the main equipment center. Since we issued that AD, we received reports of continued water damage to diode fire card 285U0072-1 in the M826 automatic fire overheat logic test system cardfile following a false FWD CARGO FIRE message, with no change in frequency, which resulted in an air turn back. This proposed AD would instead require installing drain tubes, relocating wire bundle routing, installing a new drip shield and drip shield deflectors, and replacing insulation blankets. For certain airplanes, this proposed AD would also concurrently require sealing the drain slot, installing spuds, and installing drain tubes. We are proposing this AD to prevent water from exiting over the edge of the existing drip shield and contaminating electrical components in the M826 cardfile, which could result in an electrical short and potential loss of several functions essential for safe flight.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 737-300, -400, -500, -600, -700, - 700C, -800, -900, and -900ER series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a review of the tail strobe light installation, which revealed that the tail strobe light is not electrically bonded to primary structure of the airplane. This proposed AD would require installing a new tail strobe light housing and a new disconnect bracket, and changing the wire bundles. We are proposing this AD, in case of a direct lightning strike to the tail strobe light, to prevent damage to the operation of other critical airplane systems due to electromagnetic coupling and large transient voltages, and damage to the control mechanisms or surfaces due to a fire, which could result in loss of control of the airplane.

This action removes Jet Route J-528 because the route is too short to serve a useful navigation or air traffic control purpose and is causing flight plan rejections in the air traffic control automation system.

This action corrects the geographic coordinates in the airspace description of a final rule, published in the Federal Register on July 10, 2012, amending controlled airspace at Lakehurst Naval Support Activity/Maxfield Field (Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst).

This action proposes to establish a new VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airway near Las Vegas, NV, to supplement the existing route structure for aircraft navigating in an area of marginal radar coverage. This would enhance the efficiency of the National Airspace System (NAS).

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Diamond Aircraft Industries GmbH Models DA 42, DA 42 NG, and DA 42 M-NG airplanes. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued 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 excessive voids in the adhesive joint between the center wing spars and the upper center wing skins. This condition could cause the wing to fail, which could result in loss of control of the airplane. We are issuing this AD to require actions to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all M7 Aerospace LLC Models SA226-AT, SA226-T, SA226-T(B), SA226-TC, SA227-AC (C-26A), SA227-BC (C-26A), SA227-CC, SA227-DC (C-26B), SA227-AT, and SA227-TT airplanes. This AD requires repetitively inspecting the left and right forward (main) and aft spar wing-to-fuselage attach fittings for cracks and replacing any cracked fitting. This AD also requires reporting certain inspection results to the FAA. This AD was prompted by reports of fatigue cracking in the left and right forward (main) spar wing-to-fuselage attach fittings. We are issuing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all BAE SYSTEMS (Operations) Limited Model 4101 airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports that the fire extinguisher in the toilet vanity unit needs to be mounted vertically rather than horizontally. This AD requires inspecting to determine if a certain fire extinguisher bottle is installed, and repositioning the affected fire extinguisher bottle to the vertical position. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct the orientation of the fire extinguisher bottle in the toilet vanity unit to the vertical position, which if not corrected, could result in a toilet waste bin fire spreading, and consequent damage to the airplane and injury to its occupants.

This notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) proposes three categories of changes to improve implementation of the Department of Transportation's disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE) rule. First, the NPRM proposes revisions to personal net worth, application, and reporting forms. Second, the NPRM proposes modifications to certification-related provisions of the rule. Third, the NPRM would modify several other provisions of the rule, concerning such subjects as good faith efforts, transit vehicle manufacturers and counting of trucking companies.