Department of Transportation July 10, 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This action proposes to modify Class E airspace at Everett, WA, to accommodate aircraft departing and arriving under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) at Snohomish County Airport (Paine Field), WA. A minor adjustment would also be made to the geographic coordinates of the Airport. This action, initiated by the biennial review of the Snohomish County airspace area, would enhance the safety and management of aircraft operations at the airport.

This action proposes to establish Class E airspace at the Wasatch VHF Omni-Directional Radio Range Tactical Air Navigational Aid (VORTAC) navigation aid, Wasatch, UT, to facilitate vectoring of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) aircraft under control of Salt Lake City Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC). The FAA is proposing this action to enhance the safety and management of aircraft operations within the National Airspace System.

This action amends Class E airspace at Ogallala, NE. Additional controlled airspace is necessary to accommodate new Area Navigation (RNAV) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures at Searle Field Airport. This action enhances the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) operations at the airport.

This action corrects the geographic coordinates in the airspace description of a final rule, published in the Federal Register on June 10, 2013, establishing controlled airspace at Sanibel Island Heliport, Sanibel, FL.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report of an uncommanded nose landing gear (NLG) retraction. This AD requires installing a power interruption protection circuit for the landing gear control interface unit (LGCIU). We are issuing this AD to prevent untimely unlocking and/or retraction of the NLG, which, while on the ground, could result in injury to ground personnel and damage to the airplane.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A319-112, -113, and -132 airplanes; Model A320-211, -212, -214, -231, and -232 airplanes; and Model A321-111 and -131 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report of two fatigue cracks on the left-hand and right-hand sides of the continuity fittings at the front windshield lower framing on a Model A319 series airplane. This AD requires a high frequency eddy current (HFEC) inspection for any cracking on the left- hand and right-hand sides of the windshield central lower node continuity fittings, and repair if necessary. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracking of the windshield central lower node continuity fittings, which could reduce the structural integrity of the airplane.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain DASSAULT AVIATION Model FALCON 2000, FALCON 2000EX, MYSTERE-FALCON 900, and FALCON 900EX airplanes; and all Model MYSTERE-FALCON 50 airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports that collapse of the main landing gear (MLG) could cause wing tank structure failure, which could result in fuel spillage and consequent fire hazard. This AD requires modification of the wing fuel tanks in the area of the wheel well. We are issuing this AD to prevent fuel spillage in the event of a MLG collapse, and consequent fire hazard.