Department of Transportation June 28, 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13, the Department of Transportation (DOT) invites the general public, industry and other governmental parties to comment on Public Charters, 14 CFR part 380. A Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following information collection was published on March 24, 2016 (81 FR 15787). No comments were received.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew the exemptions from its rule prohibiting persons with insulin-treated diabetes mellitus (ITDM) from operating commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce for 90 individuals. FMCSA has statutory authority to exempt individuals from this rule 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 CMV drivers.

FMCSA announces receipt of applications from 58 individuals for exemption from the prohibition against persons with insulin-treated diabetes mellitus (ITDM) operating commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce. If granted, the exemptions would enable these individuals with ITDM to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

This action proposes to modify Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Tekamah Municipal Airport, Tekamah, NE. Controlled airspace is necessary to accommodate standard instrument approach procedures (SIAP) at Tekamah Municipal Airport for the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at airport.

This action establishes Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Sanderson Field Airport, Shelton, WA, to accommodate new Standard Instrument Approach Procedures developed for the airport. Controlled airspace is necessary for the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

This interim final rule updates the maximum civil penalty amounts for violations of statutes and regulations administered by SLSDC pursuant to the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Improvement Act of 2015. This final rule amends our regulations to reflect the new civil penalty amounts for violations of the Seaway Regulations and Rules under the authority of the Ports and Waterways Safety Act of 1972, as amended (PWSA).

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Airbus Helicopters Model AS 365 N3 helicopters. This AD requires inspecting the cabin and cockpit for labels, placards, or markings that provide jettison procedure instructions for cabin doors, removing any labels, placards, or markings that are in an incorrect location, and installing placards where they are missing. This AD is prompted by the determination that placards had not been installed according to specifications on newly manufactured helicopters. The actions are intended to provide exit procedures during an emergency.

We are revising an earlier proposed airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Model A318 and A319 series airplanes, A320-211, - 212, -214, -231, -232, and -233 airplanes, and A321 series airplanes. The NPRM proposed to require an inspection to identify the part number and serial number of the main landing gear (MLG) sliding tubes installed on the airplane; and inspection of affected chromium plates for damage; an inspection of affected sliding tube axles for damage; and replacement of the sliding tube if necessary. The NPRM was prompted by a report of a rupture of a MLG sliding tube axle. This action revises the NPRM by removing certain service information that does not adequately address the identified unsafe condition and revising the compliance method. We are proposing this supplemental NPRM (SNPRM) to detect and correct cracks in the axle and (partial) detachment of the axle and wheel from the sliding tube, which could result in failure of an MLG. 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.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 737-700 and -700C series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report that for airplanes with blended winglets, the nose-up pitch trim limit and associated warning for the horizontal stabilizer control system will allow take-off with incorrect trim settings. This proposed AD would require, depending on airplane configuration, replacing the pitch trim light plates on the flight deck control stand, relocating the position warning horn switches of the horizontal stabilizer, revising the software, removing the placard, and doing related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. We are proposing this AD to prevent take-off with incorrect settings of the horizontal stabilizer pitch trim system. Settings outside of the appropriate pitch trim limits could result in loss of controllability of the airplane during take-off.