Department of Transportation February 3, 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) directs the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Secretary of the Interior to provide incentives for commercial air tour operators in Grand Canyon National Park that convert to quiet aircraft technology. The FAA holds a limited number of flight allocations that are authorized under 14 CFR part 93, Subpart U, ``Special Flight Rules in the Vicinity of Grand Canyon National Park.'' The FAA, in consultation with the National Park Service (NPS), intends to provide these allocations to commercial air tour operators that currently hold allocations in proportion to the number of quiet aircraft technology operations that are flown by respective operators in the first six months of calendar year 2014. This is a one-time release of FAA-held allocations that will be available to operators for quiet aircraft technology flights during the 2014 air tour season and beyond. The FAA and NPS are continuing to make progress on additional quiet aircraft technology incentives for commercial air tour operators in Grand Canyon National Park.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Fokker Services B.V. Model F.28 Mark 0070 and 0100 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports that the bracket of the rod in the carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) main landing gear (MLG) outboard door had detached. In addition, we received reports of broken recessed heads on titanium attachment bolts of the operating rod brackets on the modified CFRP MLG outboard doors. This proposed AD would require a detailed inspection of the CFRP MLG outboard door for play or cracks in the recessed countersunk heads of the operating rod bracket attachment bolts; replacement of the bolt if necessary; and, for certain airplanes, modification of the CFRP MLG outboard doors and attachment to the MLG. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct the affected MLG from moving to the down and locked position, which could result in MLG collapse during landing or roll-out, and consequent damage to the airplane and injury to passengers.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A310 series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of an electrical arc and a hydraulic haze in the wheel bay of the left-hand main landing gear (MLG), possibly resulting from chafing between a hydraulic high pressure hose and electrical wiring of the green electrical motor pump (EMP). This proposed AD would require modification of the electrical routing and replacement of the union elbows. We are proposing this AD to prevent chafing of hydraulic pressure hoses and electrical wiring of the green EMPs, which, in combination with a system failure, could cause an uncontrolled and undetected fire in the MLG bay.

This rulemaking amends and harmonizes minimum altitudes for use of autopilots for transport category airplanes; it also enables the operational use of advanced autopilot and navigation systems by incorporating the capabilities of current and future autopilots, flight guidance systems, and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) guidance systems while protecting the continued use of legacy systems at current autopilot minimum use altitudes. Additionally, this final rule implements a performance-based approach, using the certified capabilities of autopilot systems as established by the Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) or as approved by the Administrator.

This action establishes Class E airspace and modifies Class D airspace and Class E airspace at Salinas, CA, to accommodate aircraft departing and arriving under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) at Salinas Municipal Airport. This action also removes Class E airspace designated as surface area. Adjustments to the geographic coordinates of the airport also are made in the respective Class D airspace and Class E airspace areas. This action, initiated by the biennial review of the Salinas airspace area, enhances the safety and management of aircraft operations at the airport.