Department of Transportation January 2015 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of the fourth meeting of the 406 MHz Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELTs) Joint with EUROCAE WG-98 Committee.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of the fourth meeting of the RTCA Special Committee 231, TAWS.

The FAA is considering a proposal to change approximately 40 acres of airport land from aeronautical use to non-aeronautical use at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, Anchorage, Alaska. It is determined through study and master planning that the property will not be needed for aeronautical purposes for the foreseeable future as this portion of the parcel is not contiguous with the airport proper and is significantly geographically separated from the operational areas of the airport. A change to non-aeronautical use does not exclude aeronautical activities in this area in the future.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of the fourteenth meeting of the RTCA NextGen Advisory Committee.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below is being forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comments. A Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following information collection was published on November 25, 2014, 79 FR 70275-70276.

As required by the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration is proposing to amend the Hazardous Materials Regulations to adopt provisions contained in certain widely-used or long-standing special permits that have an established safety record. The proposed revisions are intended to provide wider access to the regulatory flexibility offered in special permits and eliminate the need for numerous renewal requests, thus reducing paperwork burdens and facilitating commerce while maintaining an appropriate level of safety. PHMSA conducted an extensive analysis of all active special permits and, in this rulemaking, those special permits deemed suitable are being proposed for adoption. PHMSA is inviting all interested persons to provide comments on both those special permits deemed suitable and proposed to be adopted into the HMR and those that are deemed not suitable for adoption. In addition, PHMSA is also requesting comments on a proposed requirement for special permit applicants to include regulatory text in their applications, when appropriate.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A330-300, A340-200, and A340-300 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report of substantial inner skin disbonding damage found on a rudder. This AD requires performing an inspection for damage of certain rudders, and repair if necessary. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct damage of the rudder, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the rudder.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc. Model DHC-8-400 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of two in-service incidents where one side of the main landing gear (MLG) did not achieve down-lock. This AD requires doing a detailed inspection of the apex joints of the stabilizer brace lock link in the MLG for clearance; rectifying and repairing the clearance gap, if necessary; and lubricating the apex joints of the stabilizer brace lock link in the MLG. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct insufficiently greased stabilizer brace lock linkage of the MLG and over-torqued lock linkage attachment bolts, which could lead to the failure to extend and down-lock the MLG, and could affect the safe landing of the airplane.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Model A330-201, -202, -203, -301, -302, and -303 airplanes. This AD requires a one-time ultrasonic inspection for fractures of all aft mount-pylon bolts of each engine. This AD was prompted by a report of one bolt on the aft engine mount upper beam found totally broken. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct fracture of the aft mount- pylon bolts, which could result in failure of the engine mount and consequent detachment of the engine.

This rule establishes, amends, suspends, or removes Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) and associated Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures (ODPs) for operations at certain airports. These regulatory actions are needed because of the adoption of new or revised criteria, or because of changes occurring in the National Airspace System, such as the commissioning of new navigational facilities, adding new obstacles, or changing air traffic requirements. These changes are designed to provide safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace and to promote safe flight operations under instrument flight rules at the affected airports.

This document announces the reopening of the comment period for the above-referenced NPRM, which proposed the adoption of a new airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to The Boeing Company Model 747 airplanes equipped with a main deck side cargo door (MDSCD). The NPRM proposed to require revising the airplane flight manual to incorporate limitations for carrying certain payloads. This reopening of the comment period is necessary to ensure that all interested persons have ample opportunity to submit any written relevant data, views, or arguments regarding the proposed requirements of the NPRM.

The FAA is correcting the final rule, ``Harmonization of Airworthiness StandardsGust and Maneuver Load Requirements'' (79 FR 73462), published December 11, 2014. In the rule, the FAA amended certain airworthiness regulations for transport category airplanes to eliminate regulatory differences between the airworthiness standards of the FAA and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). It does not add new requirements beyond what manufacturers currently meet for EASA certification and does not affect current industry design practices. This final rule revises the pitch maneuver design loads criteria; revises the gust and turbulence design loads criteria; revises the application of gust loads to engine mounts, high lift devices, and other control surfaces; adds a ``round-the-clock'' discrete gust criterion and a multi-axis discrete gust criterion for airplanes equipped with wing-mounted engines; revises the engine torque loads criteria; adds an engine failure dynamic load condition; revises the ground gust design loads criteria; revises the criteria used to establish the rough air design speed; and requires the establishment of a rough air Mach number. This document corrects errors in the rule by ensuring that certain letters in the included equations have the right formatting and therefore the correct meaning.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all The Boeing Company Model 717-200 airplanes; Model DC-10-10, DC-10-10F, DC- 10-15, DC-10-30, DC-10-30F (KC-10A and KDC-10), DC-10-40 and DC-10-40F airplanes; Model MD-10-10F and MD-10-30F airplanes; Model DC-9-81 (MD- 81), DC-9-82 (MD-82), DC-9-83 (MD-83), and DC-9-87 (MD-87) airplanes; Model MD-88 airplanes; and Model MD-90-30 airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of latent air data transducer degradation. This AD requires revising the maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate special compliance items (SCIs). We are issuing this AD to prevent erroneous air data information, which could lead to a mid- air collision within reduced vertical separation minimum (RVSM) airspace.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecnam srl Model P2006T 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 cracking found in the engine exhaust pipe. 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 Viking Air Limited Models DHC-2 Mk. I, DHC-2 Mk. II, and DHC-2 Mk. III 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 failed locknuts on the horizontal stabilizer attach bracket. We are issuing this AD to require actions to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (SLSDC) and the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC) of Canada, under international agreement, jointly publish and presently administer the St. Lawrence Seaway Regulations and Rules (Practices and Procedures in Canada) in their respective jurisdictions. Under agreement with the SLSMC, the SLSDC is amending the joint regulations by updating the Seaway Regulations and Rules in various categories. The changes will update the following sections of the Regulations and Rules: Seaway Navigation, and Radio Communications. Because these changes to the joint regulations are either technical amendments or corrections, the SLSDC finds that a notice-and-comment period would be unnecessary and impractical. The rule will become effective on March 31, 2015 in Canada and in order to avoid confusion among the users of the Seaway, the rule will become effective on the same date in the United States.

As authorized by 46 U.S.C. 12121, the Secretary of Transportation, as represented by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), is authorized to grant waivers of the U.S.-build requirement of the coastwise laws under certain circumstances. A request for such a waiver has been received by MARAD. The vessel, and a brief description of the proposed service, is listed below.

As authorized by 46 U.S.C. 12121, the Secretary of Transportation, as represented by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), is authorized to grant waivers of the U.S.-build requirement of the coastwise laws under certain circumstances. A request for such a waiver has been received by MARAD. The vessel, and a brief description of the proposed service, is listed below.

FTA has placed guidance in the docket and on its Web site, in the form of a circular, to assist recipients of financial aid under the 49 U.S.C. 5337 State of Good Repair (``SGR'') Grants Program. The circular provides instructions and guidance on program administration and the grant application process.

This document requests public comment on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) plan to update its New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). If this plan is implemented, NHTSA would recommend to consumers various vehicle models that are equipped with automatic emergency braking (AEB) systems, which can enhance the driver's ability to avoid or mitigate rear-end crashes. For many years, NCAP has provided comparative information on the safety of new vehicles to assist consumers with vehicle purchasing decisions. NCAP was upgraded beginning with model year 2011 vehicles to include recommended crash avoidance technologies in its program. Including this information in NCAP allows consumers to compare not only the level of crash protection afforded by certain vehicles they are considering to purchase, but also the types of advanced crash avoidance technologies that are recommended by the agency to help them avoid crashes.