Department of Transportation December 19, 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This action proposes special conditions for the Airbus Model A350-900 series airplanes. These airplanes will have a novel or unusual design feature(s) that will incorporate a nitrogen generation system (NGS) for all fuel tanks that actively reduce flammability exposure within the fuel tanks significantly below that required by the fuel tank flammability regulations. Among other benefits, the NGS significantly reduces the potential for fuel vapor ignition caused by lightning strikes. 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 777- 200, -300, and -300ER series airplanes. These airplanes as modified by the ARINC Aerospace Company will have a novel or unusual design feature, specifically the installation of rechargeable lithium ion batteries and battery system that will be used on an International Communications Group (ICG) ePhone cordless cabin handset. 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.

These special conditions are issued for the Bombardier Inc. Models BD-500-1A10 and BD-500-1A11 series airplanes. These airplanes will have a novel or unusual design feature associated with side stick controllers for pitch and roll control instead of conventional wheels and columns. 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.

The FHWA is extending the deadline and comment period for materials related to the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) Comprehensive Truck Size and Weight Limits Study, which were referenced in a notice published on November 29, 2013, at 78 FR 71707. The original meeting notice asked for comments by January 3, 2014. The extension is based on input received from DOT stakeholders that the January 3, 2014 closing date does not provide sufficient time for submission of comments to the Department. The FHWA agrees that the deadline and the comment period should be extended. Therefore, the closing date for submission of comments on the materials is extended to January 17, 2014. Late-filed comments received after this date will be considered to the fullest extent practicable until January 31, 2014. This will provide others interested in commenting additional time to submit comments while maintaining the schedule required to deliver this study to Congress within the required timeframe.

This action proposes to amend the description of Area C and Area O of the Salt Lake City Class B airspace area by raising the floor of a small portion of Class B airspace between the Salt Lake City Class B surface area and the Hill Air Force Base (AFB) Class D airspace area. This action proposes to raise the Class B airspace floor in the northeast corner of Area C from 6,000 feet mean seal level (MSL) to 7,500 feet MSL, and redefine the new boundary segment using the power lines underlying the area. This would benefit and enhance non- participating VFR aircraft operations being flown north and south through the Salt Lake Valley over Interstate 15.