Department of Transportation December 2, 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

FRA is issuing this notice to advise the public that it intends to grant the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) and California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) waivers from FRA's Buy America requirement for the non-domestic final assembly of up to four (two for Amtrak; two for the Authority) ``prototype'' Tier III high-speed rail (HSR) trainsets in connection with the procurement of HSR trainsets. These waivers apply only to the final assembly of up to two prototype HSR trainsets each for Amtrak and the Authority. Each waiver is subject to the following condition: Before issuing a ``Notice To Proceed'' to any selected supplier, Amtrak and the Authority each must certify and provide support to FRA that its selected supplier still has not established domestic manufacturing facilities capable of assembling the prototypes and delivering them within a reasonable time. All components used in the prototypes must still be domestically manufactured or separate waivers for components requested and granted before assembly of the prototypes can commence.

The FAA proposes to rule and invite public comment on the release of land at the Dubois Regional Airport, Reynoldsville, Pennsylvania under the provision 49 U.P.C. 47125(a).

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Rolls-Royce plc (RR) RB211-524 turbofan engines with certain part number (P/N) low-pressure turbine (LPT) stage 3 turbine blades installed. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of LPT stage 3 turbine blade failures, release of blades, and subsequent in-flight shutdowns. This proposed AD would require implementation of a life limit for certain P/N LPT stage 3 turbine blades and replacement of affected blades that reach or exceed the life limit. We are proposing this AD to prevent failure of LPT stage 3 turbine blades and subsequent release of blade debris, which could lead to failure of one or more engines, loss of thrust control, and damage to the airplane.

The FAA publishes a monthly notice, as appropriate, of PFC approvals and disapprovals under the provisions of the Aviation Safety and Capacity Expansion Act of 1990 (Title IX of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990) (Pub. L.101-508) and Part 158 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 158). This notice is published pursuant to paragraph d of Sec. 158.29.

This action withdraws the NPRM published in the Federal Register on December 20, 2013. In that action, the FAA proposed to establish Class E airspace at the Tucumcari VORTAC, Tucumcari, NM. The FAA has determined that withdrawal of the NPRM is warranted as a result of objections raised during the comment period.

This action amends Class E Airspace at Apalachicola, FL, as Apalachicola Municipal Airport has been renamed Apalachicola Regional Airport. This action also updates the geographic coordinates of the airport.

We are superseding airworthiness directive (AD) 98-07-07 for all Rolls-Royce plc (RR) RB211-535E4 and RB211-535E4-B turbofan engines. AD 98-07-07 required removing certain part number (P/N) low- pressure (LP) fuel filter-to-high-pressure (HP) fuel pump tube assemblies and installing flexible LP fuel filter-to-HP fuel pump tube assemblies. This AD expands the applicability of AD 98-07-07 to include the RB211-535E4-C-37 turbofan engine and requires removal from service of additional P/N LP fuel filter-to-high-pressure HP fuel pump tube assemblies. This AD was prompted by reports of fuel leaks that have resulted in a number of engine in-flight shutdowns. We are issuing this AD to prevent loss of fuel supply to the engine, which could lead to an in-flight shutdown of one or more engines, loss of thrust control, and damage to the airplane.

We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2013-20-06 for all Airbus Model A340-211, -212, -213, -311, -312, -313, -541, and -642 airplanes. AD 2013-20-06 required revising the maintenance program to incorporate certain maintenance requirements and airworthiness limitations. This new AD requires revising the maintenance or inspection program to incorporate certain other maintenance requirements and airworthiness limitations. This AD was prompted by a determination that existing maintenance requirements are not adequate to address the aging effects of aircraft systems. We are issuing this AD to address the aging effects of aircraft systems. Such aging effects could change the characteristics of systems' life-limited components leading to an increased potential for failure, which, in isolation or in combination with one or more other specific failures or events, could result in failure of certain life limited parts, which could reduce the structural integrity or the controllability of the airplane.