Department of Transportation May 2017 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions for 66 individuals from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) for interstate commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. The exemptions enable these individuals to continue to operate CMVs in interstate commerce without meeting the vision requirement in one eye.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew the exemptions of 149 individuals from its rule prohibiting persons with insulin-treated diabetes mellitus (ITDM) from operating commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce. 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.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FMCSA announces its plan to submit the Information Collection Request (ICR) described below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for its review and approval. The FMCSA requests approval to revise and extend an existing ICR titled, ``Hazardous Materials Safety Permits.'' This ICR requires companies holding safety permits to develop communications plans that allow for the periodic tracking of the shipments. A record of the communications that includes the time of the call and location of the shipment may be kept by either the driver (e.g., recorded in the log book) or the company. These records must be kept, either physically or electronically, for at least six months at the company's principal place of business or readily available to the employees at the company's principal place of business. FMCSA received no comments in response to the 60-day Federal Register Notice published on November 10, 2016.

This action proposes to amend Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Midland International Air and Space Port Airport (formerly Midland International Airport), Midland, TX, due to the closing of Mabee Ranch Airport, decommissioning of the Mabee non-directional radio beacon (NDB), and cancellation of NDB approaches at Mabee Ranch Airport. Additionally, this proposal would establish Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Odessa Airport-Schlemeyer Field, Odessa, TX, and Midland Airpark, Midland, TX, to accommodate special instrument approach procedures developed at these airports to enhance the safety and management of standard instrument approach procedures for instrument flight rules (IFR) operations. Also, this proposal would make an editorial change to the legal descriptions by replacing Airport/ Facility Directory with the term Chart Supplement, and would change the airport name to Midland International Air and Space Port Airport.

This action proposes to modify Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Oskaloosa Municipal Airport, Oskaloosa, IA, to accommodate new standard instrument approach procedures for instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the airport. This action is necessary due to the decommissioning of the Oskaloosa non directional radio beacon (NDB), and cancellation of the NDB approach procedure, and would enhance the safety and management of IFR operations at the airport.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) model Tay 620-15 turbofan engines. This proposed AD was prompted by RRD recalculating the life limit for certain high-pressure compressor (HPC) stage 12 rotor disks. This proposed AD would require reducing the maximum approved life limit. We are proposing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

This action proposes to establish Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Ashburn, GA, to accommodate new Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) serving Turner County 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 at Johnson City, TN, to accommodate new Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) standard instrument approach procedures (SIAPs) serving Johnson City Medical Center Heliport. Controlled airspace is necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the heliport.

We propose to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2016-11- 20, which applies to certain B/E Aerospace protective breathing equipment (PBE) that is installed on airplanes. AD 2016-11-20 requires replacing part number (P/N) 119003-11 PBE units. Since we issued AD 2016-11-20, we received a report that PBE units, P/N 119003-21, within a certain serial number range are made with candle tube material determined to have a low yield strength and may be volatile upon use or disposal. This proposed AD would retain the actions required in AD 2016-11-20 and would require inspecting and replacing P/N 119003-11 and 119003-21 PBE units. We are proposing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

DRV, LLC (DRV), a wholly owned subsidiary of Thor Industries, Inc., has determined that certain model year (MY) 2003-2016 DRV trailers do not fully comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment. DRV filed a noncompliance report dated July 31, 2015, that was later revised on August 18, 2015. DRV also petitioned NHTSA on August 14, 2015, for a decision that the subject noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety.

This amendment adopts miscellaneous amendments to the required IFR (instrument flight rules) altitudes and changeover points for certain Federal airways, jet routes, or direct routes for which a minimum or maximum en route authorized IFR altitude is prescribed. This regulatory action is needed because of changes occurring in the National Airspace System. These changes are designed to provide for the safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace under instrument conditions in the affected areas.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Rolls-Royce plc (RR) RB211 Trent 768-60, 772-60, and 772B-60 turbofan engines. This AD requires fluorescent penetrant inspection (FPI) of the compressor intermediate case (CIC) for cracking. This AD was prompted by CICs that were weld repaired and have a higher probability of cracking as a result of the weld repair process. We are issuing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

We are superseding airworthiness directive (AD) 2015-11-01 for Slingsby Aviation Ltd. Models T67M260 and T67M260-T3A airplanes. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as failure of a brake master cylinder pivot pin, which could cause the rudder pedal mechanism to detach from the brake cylinder. We are issuing this AD to require actions to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc. Model DHC-8-400 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of interruptions in the airstair door operation. This AD requires repetitive inspections and modification of the handrail hardware. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Embraer S.A. Model EMB-120, -120ER, -120FC, -120QC, and -120RT airplanes. This AD was prompted by changes to the airworthiness limitations, which add life-limited landing gear parts not previously identified. This AD requires revising the maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new airworthiness limitations that add life limits for previously unidentified landing gear parts. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Model A330-223F, -223, -321, -322, and -323 airplanes. This AD was prompted by fatigue load analysis that determined the need for reduced inspection intervals and updated torque values of the bolts. This AD requires repetitive torque checks of the forward engine mount bolts, an inspection of the forward mount assembly, and replacement of the bolts or repair of the forward mount assembly as necessary. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Defense and Space S.A. Model CN-235, CN-235-100, CN-235-200, CN- 235-300, and C-295 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a reported inability to extend the external handle of the emergency door from its recess due to a jammed spring mechanism. This AD requires a one-time functional check of each emergency door handle, and corrective actions if necessary. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 737-300, -400, and -500 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by an evaluation by the design approval holder (DAH) indicating that the fuselage skin is subject to widespread fatigue damage (WFD). This AD requires modification of the lap joint and repetitive inspections for cracking of the skin at critical fastener rows. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Zodiac Seats California LLC seating systems. This AD was prompted by a determination that the affected seating systems may cause serious injury to the occupant during forward impacts when subjected to certain inertia forces. This AD requires removing affected seating systems. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.