Department of Transportation 2015 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Rolls-Royce plc (RR) RB211-535E4-37, RB211-535E4-B-37, and RB211-535E4- C-37 turbofan engines. This AD requires reducing the cyclic life limits for certain high-pressure turbine (HPT) disks, removing those disks that have exceeded the new life limit, and replacing them with serviceable parts. This AD was prompted by RR updating the life limits for certain HPT disks. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the HPT disk, which could result in uncontained disk release, damage to the engine, and damage to the airplane.

This action extends the prohibition against certain flight operations in the Simferopol (UKFV) and Dnipropetrovsk (UKDV) flight information regions (FIRs) by all United States (U.S.) air carriers; U.S. commercial operators; persons exercising the privileges of a U.S. airman certificate, except when such persons are operating a U.S.- registered aircraft for a foreign air carrier; and operators of U.S.- registered civil aircraft, except when such operators are foreign air carriers. This action also revises the FAA approval process for proposed operations authorized by other U.S. Government departments, agencies, and instrumentalities to clarify the FAA's expectations regarding requests for approval and revises the approval conditions and information about requests for exemptions to reflect the termination of statutory authorization for the FAA's premium war risk insurance program. This action also makes minor non-substantive corrections to the wording of the rule. The FAA finds this action to be necessary to address a continuing hazard to persons and aircraft engaged in such flight operations.

We are revising an earlier proposed airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc. Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 & 440) airplanes. The NPRM proposed to require revising the maintenance or inspection program to incorporate revised tasks specified in certain temporary revisions (TRs) to the airplane airworthiness limitations (AWLs). The NPRM was prompted by the need for more stringent inspection requirements for certain affected components. This action revises the NPRM by proposing to require revising the maintenance or inspection program to incorporate certain revised AWL tasks instead of TRs, and by proposing to require repairs of affected components. We are proposing this supplemental NPRM (SNPRM) to detect and correct fatigue cracking in the affected components, which could result in loss of structural integrity. Since these actions impose an additional burden over those proposed in the NPRM, we are reopening the comment period to allow the public the chance to comment on these proposed changes.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces that the renewal Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below is being forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected burden. The Federal Register notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collections of information was published on August 5, 2015.

We are superseding emergency airworthiness directive (AD) No. 2015-16-51 (Emergency AD 2015-16-51) for Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited (Bell) Model 429 helicopters. Emergency AD 2015-16-51 required inspections of each inboard and outboard tail rotor pitch link assembly for axial or radial bearing play, and if there was axial or radial bearing play, removing the tail rotor pitch link and inspecting for wear. Emergency AD 2015-16-51 was prompted by several reports of worn tail rotor pitch link spherical bearings. We are issuing this supersedure to retain the inspection requirements in Emergency AD 2015- 16-51 while revising the applicability and compliance time to clarify that all Bell Model 429 helicopters require recurring inspections regardless of hours time-in-service (TIS) accumulated on the helicopter. These actions are intended to prevent pitch link failure and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

FMCSA announces its decision to deny applications from 14 of 15 individuals seeking exemptions from the Federal cardiovascular standard applicable to interstate truck and bus drivers and the reasons for the denials. The Agency reviewed the medical information of each of the individuals who applied for an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) exemption. Because the medical information received from the cardiologist concerning one individual indicates the ICD has been disabled due to improvement of his heart function, the exemption is no longer needed to operate commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce. Based on a review of the applications and following an opportunity for public comment, FMCSA has concluded that the remaining 14 individuals in the notice did not demonstrate they could achieve a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety that would be obtained by complying with the regulation.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew an information collection. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on August 12, 2015. This collection is necessary in order to determine applicants' qualifications for certification as Aviation Medical Examiners (AMEs).

We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2015-19-02 for all The Boeing Company Model 767 airplanes. AD 2015-19-02 required revising the maintenance or inspection program to include new airworthiness limitations. This AD continues to require a maintenance or inspection program revision, but with revised language. This AD was prompted by a determination that certain language in the airworthiness limitation was not accurate in AD 2015-19-02. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct latent failures of the fuel shutoff valve to the engine and auxiliary power unit (APU), which could result in the inability to shut off fuel to the engine and APU and, in case of certain fires, an uncontrollable fire that could lead to structural failure.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Fokker Services B.V. Model F.27 Mark 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, and 700 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a design review, which revealed that no controlled bonding provisions are present on a number of critical locations inside the fuel tank or connected to the fuel tank wall; and no anti-spray cover is installed on the fuel shut-off valve (FSOV) in both wings. This AD requires installing additional bonding provisions in the fuel tank, installing an anti-spray cover on the FSOV, and revising the airplane maintenance program by incorporating fuel airworthiness limitation items and critical design configuration control limitations. We are issuing this AD to prevent an ignition source in the fuel tank vapor space, which could result in a fuel tank explosion and consequent loss of the airplane.

This notice publishes the final designation of the highway- only Primary Freight Network (highway-only PFN). Section 167(d) of title 23, United States Code (U.S.C.) requires the Secretary of Transportation to establish the highway-only PFN and re-designate it every 10 years, giving consideration to certain factors. This designation meets the requirements of the law, but the Department and a multitude of public comments recognize that the highway-only PFN fails to demonstrate that freight moves through a complex and extensive network of highways, railroads, waterways, pipelines, and airways. While specific commodities are likely to be moved on a particular mode or series of modes, a complex multimodal system is required to carry the growing volume of bulk and high-velocity, high-value goods in the United States. In addition, the 27,000-mile cap required by the law does not yield a PFN representative of all the critical highway elements of the United States freight system. While the Department is designating the highway-only PFN to meet the statutory requirements of the authorizing law, the Department is concurrently and simultaneously proposing a comprehensive Multimodal Freight Network for public comment in the draft National Freight Strategic Plan to identify key infrastructure for all modes that is critical for the efficient movement of freight.

In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, the U.S. Department of Transportation proposes to rename, update, and reissue the Department of Transportation system of records currently titled, ``Department of Transportation/ALL 8 Employee Transportation Facilitation System of Records.'' This system of records allows the Department of Transportation/Office of the Secretary to collect and maintain records on Department of Transportation employees who participate in the Department's transit, carpool/vanpool, bicycle and parking benefit program, employees of other Federal agencies for whom DOT administers a Federal carpool/vanpool, and/or parking and transit benefit program. It also allows the Federal Aviation Administration to collect and maintain records on behalf of its employees who participate in transit and parking benefit programs administered by the Federal Aviation Administration. In addition to non-substantive changes to simply the formatting and text of the previously published notice, we are revising this notice to reflect System Manager's address change, and clarify the routine uses of information in the system. This updated system will be renamed and included in the Department of Transportation's inventory of record systems and referred to as ``DOT/ ALL 8Parking and Transit Benefit System.''

This action establishes Class E airspace at Vidalia, LA. Controlled airspace is necessary to accommodate new Standard Instrument Approach Procedures at Concordia Parish Airport. The FAA is taking this action to enhance the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Engine Alliance (EA) GP7270 turbofan engines. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of the installation of non-conforming honeycomb seals in the high-pressure compressor (HPC) adjacent to the HPC rotor stage 2 to 5 spool and stage 7 to 9 spool. This proposed AD would require removal and replacement of the affected HPC rotor stage 2 to 5 and stage 7 to 9 spools. We are proposing this AD to prevent failure of the HPC rotor stage 2 to 5 and stage 7 to 9 spools, which could lead to uncontained engine failure and damage to the airplane.

We propose to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2012-18- 12, for certain Airbus Model A318, A319, and A320 series airplanes. AD 2012-18-12 currently requires modifying the off-wing escape slide (OWS) enclosures on the left-hand (LH) side and right-hand (RH) side of the fuselage. Since we issued AD 2012-18-12, we have received reports that additional OWS part numbers have been affected. This proposed AD would retain the requirements of AD 2012-18-12 and expand the applicability to all Airbus Model A318, A319, and A320 series airplanes. We are proposing this AD to prevent off-wing exits on the LH and RH sides of the fuselage from becoming inoperative, which, during an emergency, could impair the safe evacuation of occupants, possibly resulting in personal injuries.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Technify Motors GmbH TAE 125-02 reciprocating engines with a dual mass flywheel installed. This AD requires installation of a start phase monitoring system and associated specified software. This AD was prompted by reports of a gearbox drive shaft breaking during starting or restarting of the engine. We are issuing this AD to prevent overload and failure of the gearbox drive shaft, which could result in failure of the engine, in-flight shutdown, and loss of control of the airplane.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended), the Department of Transportation's Office of the Secretary is forwarding the Information Collection Request (ICR) described below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval. The ICR describes the nature of the information and the expected burden. OST published a Federal Register notice with a 60- day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information on April 16, 2015. The purpose of this notice is to allow the public an additional 30 days from the date of this notice to submit comments to the recently published application to renew ICR 2105-0551, ``Reporting Requirements for Disability-Related Complaints.''

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew an information collection. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on August 12, 2015. This collection involves requirements for certain repair stations to provide documentation showing that persons handling hazmat for transportation have been trained following DOT guidelines.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew an information collection. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on August 12, 2015. The rule allows some experienced pilots who would otherwise qualify as flight instructors or check airmen, but who are not medically eligible to hold the requisite medical certificate, to perform flight instructor or check airmen functions in a simulator.

This document clarifies the applicability of the statutory requirements regarding aircraft registration to UAS, including those operating as model aircraft. In addition, the DOT announces the formation of a UAS registration task force to explore and develop recommendations to streamline the registration process for UAS to ease the burden associated with the existing aircraft registration process. This document requests information and recommendations regarding what information and registration platform would be appropriate for UAS registration and ways to minimize the burden to the regulated community. In addition, we request comment on which UAS, based on their weight or performance capabilities, warrant a continued exercise of discretion with respect to requiring registration because of the negligible risk they pose to the national airspace system (NAS).

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of the Twenty-Fifth RTCA Special Committee 217 meeting.

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

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of the Twenty-First RTCA Special Committee 222 meeting.