Department of Transportation August 3, 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA is correcting an interim final rule titled ``Revisions to the Civil Penalty Inflation Adjustment Tables'' that it published in the Federal Register on July 5, 2016. That interim final rule was the catch-up inflation adjustment to civil penalty amounts that may be imposed for violations of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations, as required by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015. In that document, there were several errors that need to be corrected before the rule becomes effective. This document addresses those errors.

These special conditions are issued for the Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation (Gulfstream) Model GVII-G500 airplane. This airplane 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 flight-control system that governs the pitch, yaw, and roll axes of the airplane. 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.

These special conditions are issued for the Boeing Model 767- 300F airplane. This airplane, as modified by the FedEx Express Corporation (FedEx), will have a novel or unusual design feature associated with an advanced, enhanced flight vision system (EFVS). The EFVS consists of a head-up display (HUD) system modified to display forward-looking infrared (FLIR) imagery. 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.

These special conditions are issued to The Boeing Company (Boeing) for their Model 777-300ER airplane. This airplane has novel or unusual design features associated with single-occupant oblique (side- facing) seats equipped with inflatable restraints. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for occupants of seats installed at an angle of greater than 18 degrees, but substantially less than 90 degrees, to the vertical plane containing the centerline of the airplane, nor for inflatable restraints or related airbag devices. 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.

Cooper Tire & Rubber Company (Cooper), has determined that certain MULTI-MILE Grand Tour LS passenger vehicle tires do not fully comply with paragraph S5.5.1(b) of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 139, New Pneumatic Tires Radial Tires for Light Vehicles. Cooper filed a report dated May 24, 2016, pursuant to 49 CFR part 573, Defect and Noncompliance Responsibility and Reports. Cooper then petitioned NHTSA under 49 CFR part 556 for a decision that the subject noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Model A318-111 and -112 airplanes; Model A319-111, -112, -113, - 114, and -115 airplanes; Model A320-211, -212, and -214 airplanes; and Model A321-111, -112, -211, -212, and -213 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of cracks on the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock pivot fittings of a CFM56 engine's thrust reverser (T/R). This proposed AD would require repetitive inspections for cracking and corrosion of the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock pivot fittings of a CFM56 engine's T/R, and corrective actions if necessary. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct such cracking and corrosion, which could lead to T/R malfunction and, in a case of rejected takeoff at V1 on a wet runway, a consequent runway excursion, possibly resulting in damage to the airplane and injury to occupants.

The FAA is correcting an airworthiness directive (AD) that published in the Federal Register. That AD applies to certain Airbus Model A330-200 Freighter series airplanes; Model A330-200 and A330-300 series airplanes; Model A340-200 and A340-300 series airplanes; Model A340-500 series airplanes; and Model A340-600 series airplanes. Table 1 to paragraph (j) of the regulatory text contains typographical errors regarding certain part numbers (P/Ns). This document corrects those errors. In all other respects, the original document remains the same.

In this decision, the Board grants in part a petition for rulemaking filed by the National Industrial Transportation League seeking revised reciprocal switching regulations. The Board proposes new regulations governing reciprocal switching in Docket No. EP 711 (Sub-No. 1), which would allow a party to seek a reciprocal switching prescription that is either practicable and in the public interest or necessary to provide competitive rail service.