Department of Transportation November 4, 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Pursuant to Section 9(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), and in accordance with Title 41, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 102-3.65, and following consultation with the Committee Management Secretariat, General Services Administration, notice is hereby given that the ACTE will be established for a 2-year period. The Committee will provide advice and recommendations to the Secretary of Transportation on comprehensive, interdisciplinary issues related to transportation equity from a variety of stakeholders involved in transportation planning, design, research, policy, and advocacy. Specifically, the ACTE will inform the Department about efforts to (1) institutionalize the U.S. DOT Opportunity principles into Agency programs, policies, regulations, and activities; (2) strengthen and establish partnerships with other governmental agencies, including other Federal agencies and State, tribal, or local governments, regarding opportunity issues; (3) promote economic and related forms of opportunity by empowering communities to have a meaningful voice in local and regional transportation decisions; and (4) sharpen enforcement tools to ensure compliance with nondiscrimination programs, policies, regulations, and activities. The U.S. DOT Opportunity principles are to: (1) Support transportation projects that connect people to economic and related forms of opportunity and revitalize communities; (2) Ensure that current and future transportation projects connect and strengthen communities; and (3) Develop transportation facilities that meaningfully reflect and incorporate the input of all the people and communities they touch. Additionally, the establishment of the ACTE is necessary for the Department to carry out its mission and in the public interest. The Committee will operate in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act and the rules and regulations issued in implementation of that Act.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) received a request from the North County Transit District (NCTD) in California for a Buy America non-availability waiver for the procurement of specified replacement parts for Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) rail vehicles. The 12 DMU rail vehicles were manufactured by Siemens as a part of their Desiro series and were placed in revenue service in 2008. Mid-life maintenance and replacement overhauls of vehicle parts are now required in order to ensure safe and continuous transit service. In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 5323(j)(3)(A), FTA is providing notice of the waiver request and seeks public comment before deciding whether to grant the request.

FAA is rescinding the draft FAA Order 5500.1B, Passenger Facility Charge published on August 5, 2016, and withdrawing its request for public review and comment.

This action establishes Class E airspace at Camden, AL to accommodate new Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) serving Camden Municipal Airport. Controlled airspace is necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

This action proposes to establish Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Hot Springs County Airport, Thermopolis, WY, to support the development of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations under standard instrument approach and departure procedures at the airport, for the safety and management of aircraft within the National Airspace System.

This action amends Class E airspace at Albany Municipal Airport, Albany, OR. Advances in Global Positioning System (GPS) mapping accuracy and a reliance on precise geographic coordinates to define airport and airspace reference points have made this airspace redesign necessary for the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Models PC-6, PC-6-H1, PC-6-H2, PC-6/350, PC-6/ 350-H1, PC-6/350-H2, PC-6/A, PC-6/A-H1, PC-6/A-H2, PC-6/B-H2, PC-6/B1- H2, PC-6/B2-H2, PC-6/B2-H4, PC-6/C-H2, and PC-6/C1-H2 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 wear and cracks on the stabilizer-trim attachment and structural components. We are issuing this AD to require actions to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Turbomeca S.A. Arriel 2B turboshaft engines. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of an uncommanded in-flight shutdown (IFSD) on a single-engine helicopter, caused by a low returning spring rate of the needle of the hydro-mechanical metering unit (HMU). This proposed AD would require removing any pre-modification (mod) TU 158 HMU and replacing with a part eligible for installation. We are proposing this AD to prevent failure of the HMU, failure of the engine, IFSD, and loss of the helicopter.

We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2006-20-11 for certain The Boeing Company Model 757-200, -200CB, and -200PF series airplanes. AD 2006-20-11 required initial and repetitive detailed or high frequency eddy current (HFEC) inspections for cracks around the rivets at the upper fastener row of the skin lap splice of the fuselage, and repair of any crack found. This new AD no longer allows the detailed inspections and instead requires repetitive external HFEC inspections for cracking of the skin lap splices of the fuselage, and repair if necessary. This AD was prompted by an evaluation done by the design approval holder (DAH) indicating that the fuselage skin lap splice is subject to widespread fatigue damage (WFD). We are issuing this AD to detect and correct fatigue cracking at certain skin lap splice locations of the fuselage, which could result in reduced structural integrity and rapid decompression of the airplane.