Department of Transportation 2015 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 777-200 and -300 series airplanes equipped with Rolls-Royce Trent 800 series engines. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of multiple cases of heat damage to the strut aft fairing heat shield primary seal, as well as heat and wear damage to the heat shield insulation blankets. This proposed AD would require repetitive inspections for heat damage to the strut aft fairing lower spar web structure (a flammable fluid zone barrier and fire wall) and heat shield primary seal, and heat and wear damage to heat shield insulation blankets; and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD would also provide optional terminating action for the repetitive inspections. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct heat damage to the strut aft fairing lower spar web structure and heat shield primary seal, as well as heat and wear damage to the heat shield insulation blankets, which could lead to through- cracks in the aft fairing web structure and heating of the aft fairing web structure, and consequent uncontrolled fire in the aft fairing, fuel tank ignition or possible departure of the engine, and subsequent loss of the airplane.

PHMSA is amending the pipeline safety regulations to make miscellaneous changes that update and clarify certain regulatory requirements. These amendments address several subject matter areas including the performance of post-construction inspections, leak surveys of Type B onshore gas gathering lines, qualifying plastic pipe joiners, regulation of ethanol, transportation of pipe, filing of offshore pipeline condition reports, and calculation of pressure reductions for hazardous liquid pipeline anomalies. The changes are addressed on an individual basis and, where appropriate, made applicable to the safety standards for both gas and hazardous liquid pipelines. Editorial changes are also included.

FAA evaluated five separate courses of action with regard to the airworthiness approvals for securing ELTs with hook and loop fasteners. This notice summarizes the inadequacies of hook and loop fasteners as a means for securing ELTs, and avoids placing an undue burden on aircraft owners while acknowledging the voluntary efforts of ELT manufacturers to improve designs.

The FAA proposes to rule and invite public comment on the release of land from aeronautical use at the Grand Junction Regional Airport under the provisions of Section 125 of the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR 21), now 49 U.S.C. 47107(h)(2).

FMCSA announces its decision to renew the exemptions from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for 11 individuals. FMCSA has statutory authority to exempt individuals from the vision requirement if the exemptions granted will not compromise safety. The Agency has concluded that granting these exemption renewals will provide a level of safety that is equivalent to or greater than the level of safety maintained without the exemptions for these commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers.

FMCSA confirms its decision to exempt 69 individuals from its rule prohibiting persons with insulin-treated diabetes mellitus (ITDM) from operating commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce. The exemptions enable these individuals to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

This action proposes to amend Class E Airspace at Eufaula, AL as the Eufaula VORTAC has been decommissioned, requiring airspace redesign at Weedon Field Airport. This action would enhance the safety and airspace management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

This action proposes to amend Class E Airspace at Ashland, VA as new Standard Instrument Approach Procedures have been developed at Hanover County Municipal Airport. This action would enhance the safety and airspace management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport. This action also would update the geographic coordinates of airport.

We are revising an earlier proposed Airworthiness Directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A330 series airplanes. The NPRM proposed to require revising the maintenance program or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate certain maintenance requirements and airworthiness limitations. The NPRM was prompted by a determination that more restrictive maintenance requirements and airworthiness limitations are necessary. This action revises the NPRM by proposing to supersede AD 2007-05-12, AD 2009-18-20, and AD 2010-15-02 in addition to those ADs already identified in the NPRM, as well as to require more restrictive limitations and to add Airbus Model A330-323 airplanes to the applicability. We are proposing this supplemental NPRM (SNPRM) to address the aging effects of aircraft systems. Such aging effects could change the characteristics of those systems, 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 of the airplane or reduce the controllability of the airplane. 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.

This notice contains a summary of a petition seeking relief from specified requirements of 14 CFR. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, this aspect of FAA's regulatory activities. Neither publication of this notice nor the inclusion or omission of information in the summary is intended to affect the legal status of the petition or its final disposition.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew the exemptions from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for 11 individuals. FMCSA has statutory authority to exempt individuals from the vision requirement if the exemptions granted will not compromise safety. The Agency has concluded that granting these exemption renewals will provide a level of safety that is equivalent to or greater than the level of safety maintained without the exemptions for these commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers.

The Secretary of Transportation, as represented by the Maritime Administration, is authorized to make determinations permitting the use of foreign-flag anchor handling vessels in certain cases (and for a limited period of time) if no U.S.-flag vessels are found to be suitable and reasonably available. A request for such a determination regarding anchor handling vessels with a minimum ice class A3 has been received by the Maritime Administration. If the Maritime Administration determines that U.S.- flag vessels are not suitable and reasonably available for the proposed service, a determination will be granted allowing for the conditional use of these vessels, within a set time frame. Those interested in providing the names of suitable and available vessels for the proposed service should refer to the docket number, and identify the U.S.-flag vessels available.

Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) has planned runway resurfacing and Runway Safety Area (RSA) construction at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) beginning in March of 2015 until mid-2018. During this timeframe, a runway will be either shortened or closed, which could increase delays throughout much of the period of construction. In response to the varying capacity changes and forecasted scheduled demand over the duration of the project, the FAA announces the designation of LAX as a Level 2 airport under International Air Transport Association (IATA) Worldwide Slot Guidelines effective June 28, 2015. The focus hours are daily from 0600 through 2259 local time (13000559 UTC). The deadline for carriers to submit schedule information for the later part of the Summer 2015 scheduling season (June 28 through October 24, 2015) is March 20, 2015. The submission deadline for the Winter 2015 scheduling season will be May 21, 2015, which coincides with the IATA submission deadline. The FAA intends for the Level 2 designation to be temporary and does not anticipate this designation to extend beyond the completion date of construction.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew the exemptions from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for 7 individuals. FMCSA has statutory authority to exempt individuals from the vision requirement if the exemptions granted will not compromise safety. The Agency has concluded that granting these exemption renewals will provide a level of safety that is equivalent to or greater than the level of safety maintained without the exemptions for these commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers.

The FAA proposes to rule and invite public comment on the release of land at the Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport under the provisions of Section 125 of the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR 21), now 49 U.S.C. 47107(h)(2).

This notice grants the petition of Greenkraft, Inc. (Greenkraft) for a temporary exemption from the headlamp requirements of FMVSS No. 108 for the company's 1061 and 1083 model trucks for headlamps complying with European regulatory requirements. The exemption is limited to 120 vehicles. The agency has considered Greenkraft's petition for exemption and has determined that the exemption would facilitate the development or field evaluation of a low-emission motor vehicle and would not unreasonably reduce the safety level of that vehicle if the vehicle is used in a manner consistent with the conditions discussed in this notice.

This action proposes special conditions for the Bombardier Aerospace Models BD-500-1A10 and BD-500-1A11 series airplanes. These airplanes will have a novel or unusual design feature when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport category airplanes. This design feature is a fly-by-wire electronic flight control system that provides an electronic interface between the pilot's flight controls and the flight control surfaces for both normal and failure states. The system generates the actual surface commands that provide for stability augmentation and control about all three airplane axes. 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.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a determination that, in specific flight conditions, the allowable load limits on the vertical tail plane could be reached and possibly exceeded. Exceeding allowable load could result in detachment of the vertical tail plane. This proposed AD would require modification of the pin programming flight warning computer (FWC) to activate the stop rudder input warning (SRIW) logic; and an inspection to determine the part numbers of the FWC and the flight augmentation computer (FAC), and replacement of the FWC and FAC if necessary. We are proposing this AD to prevent detachment of the vertical tail plane and consequent loss of control of the airplane.

The FAA is correcting a final rule technical amendment published on February 9, 2015 (80 FR 6899). In that final rule, which became effective on the date of publication, the FAA corrected errors in regulatory provisions addressing Automatic Dependent Surveillance- Broadcast Out equipment and use. The FAA inadvertently listed an incorrect Amendment Number for that final rule. This document corrects that error.

The following Applications for Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity and Foreign Air Carrier Permits were filed under Subpart B (formerly Subpart Q) of the Department of Transportation's Procedural Regulations (See 14 CFR 302. 201 et. seq.). The due date for Answers, Conforming Applications, or Motions to Modify Scope are set forth below for each application. Following the Answer period DOT may process the application by expedited procedures. Such procedures may consist of the adoption of a show-cause order, a tentative order, or in appropriate cases a final order without further proceedings.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amends the maintenance regulations for domestic, flag, and supplemental operations, and for commuter and on-demand operations for aircraft type certificated with a passenger seating configuration of 10 seats or more (excluding any pilot seat). The new rules require affected air carriers and operators to develop policies, procedures, methods, and instructions for performing contract maintenance that are acceptable to the FAA, and to include them in their maintenance manuals. The rules also require the air carriers and operators to provide a list to the FAA of all persons with whom they contract their maintenance. These changes are needed because contract maintenance has increased to over 70 percent of all air carrier maintenance, and numerous investigations have shown deficiencies in maintenance performed by contract maintenance providers. These rules will help ensure consistency between contract and in-house air carrier maintenance and enhance the oversight capabilities of both the air carriers and the FAA.

These special conditions are issued for the Cessna Aircraft Company, Model 650, Citation VII Airplane. This airplane as modified by Universal Avionics Systems Corporation will have a novel or unusual design feature when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport category airplanes. This design feature is for the installation of Universal Avionics InSightTM Electronic Flight Instrument System (EFIS), Engine Interface Units (EIU), UNS-1Fw Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) Flight Management System (FMS), and Terrain Awareness and Warning System (TAWS) Class A, which will use rechargeable lithium batteries and battery systems. 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.

AGC Flat Glass North America, Inc., dba AGC Automotive Americas Co. (AGC) has determined that certain glazing that it manufactured as replacement equipment for model year 2003-2008 Toyota Matrix vehicles, do not fully comply with paragraph S5.1 of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 205, Glazing Materials. AGC has filed an appropriate report dated May 23, 2013, pursuant to 49 CFR part 573, Defect and Noncompliance Responsibility and Reports.