Department of Transportation June 6, 2017 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

FMCSA confirms its decision to renew exemptions for 10 individuals from the requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) that interstate commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers have ``no established medical history or clinical diagnosis of epilepsy or any other condition which is likely to cause loss of consciousness or any loss of ability to control a CMV.'' The exemptions enable these individuals who have had one or more seizures and are taking anti-seizure medication to continue to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions for 11 individuals from the requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) that interstate commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers have ``no established medical history or clinical diagnosis of epilepsy or any other condition which is likely to cause loss of consciousness or any loss of ability to control a CMV.'' The exemptions enable these individuals who have had one or more seizures and are taking anti-seizure medication to continue to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

FMCSA announces its decision to grant Daimler Trucks North America's (Daimler) application for an exemption to allow a Daimler employee to drive commercial motor vehicles (CMV) in the United States without having a commercial driver's license (CDL) issued by one of the States. The driver, Martin Zeilinger, will test-drive Daimler vehicles on U.S. roads to better understand product requirements for these vehicles in ``real world'' environments and verify results. He holds a valid German commercial license but lacks the U.S. residency necessary to obtain a CDL issued by one of the States. FMCSA believes that the process for obtaining a German commercial license is comparable to or as effective as the U.S. CDL requirements and ensures that this driver will likely achieve a level of safety that is equivalent to or greater than the level of safety that would be obtained in the absence of the exemption.

FMCSA proposes a pilot program to allow temporary regulatory relief from the Agency's sleeper berth regulation, for a limited number of commercial drivers who have a valid commercial driver's license (CDL), and who regularly use a sleeper berth to accumulate their required 10 hours of non-duty work status. During the pilot program, participating drivers would have the option to split their sleeper berth time within parameters specified by FMCSA. Driver metrics would be collected for the duration of the study, and participants' safety performance and fatigue levels would be analyzed. This pilot program seeks to produce statistically reliable evidence on the question whether split sleeper berth time affects driver safety performance and fatigue levels. The Agency proposes criteria for participating drivers and carriers, outlines procedural steps and a data collection plan, and requests comments on these elements.

FMCSA announces receipt of applications from 42 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.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew the exemptions of 134 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.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for NavWorx, Inc. (NavWorx), Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) Universal Access Transceiver Units (unit). This AD requires removing, disabling, or modifying the ADS-B unit. This AD was prompted by a design change that results in the unit communicating unreliable position information. The actions in this AD are intended to address an unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA proposes to rule and invite public comment on the release of land at the Colorado Springs Airport under the provisions of Section 125 of the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR 21).

This action amends Class E airspace at Bar Harbor, ME, by removing the part-time status of the Class E surface airspace at Hancock County-Bar Harbor Airport. The boundaries and operating requirements of these airspace areas remain the same. This action also updates the airport's geographic coordinates and corrects the airport name in the airspace designation.

This action proposes to establish Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Marion General Hospital Heliport, Columbia, MS, to accommodate new area navigation (RNAV) global positioning system (GPS) standard instrument approach procedures (SIAPs) serving Marion General Hospital Heliport. Controlled airspace is necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the heliport.

We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2011-26-03, which applied to certain The Boeing Company Model 777-200, -200LR, - 300, and -300ER series airplanes. AD 2011-26-03 required installing Teflon sleeving under the clamps of certain wire bundles routed along the fuel tank boundary structure, and cap sealing certain penetrating fasteners of the main and center fuel tanks. This AD requires certain inspections for certain airplanes, corrective actions if necessary, and installation of Teflon sleeves under certain wire bundle clamps. This AD was prompted by a report indicating that additional airplanes are affected by the identified unsafe condition. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc., Model BD-100-1A10 airplanes. This AD was prompted by several reports of nose wheel steering failures in service. This AD requires a part verification and replacement of certain steering manifolds. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Dassault Aviation Model FALCON 900EX airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a determination that new or more restrictive maintenance requirements and/or airworthiness limitations are necessary. This proposed AD would require revising the maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive maintenance requirements and/or airworthiness limitations. We are proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We propose to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2016-09- 12, which applies to certain The Boeing Company Model 787-8 and 787-9 airplanes. AD 2016-09-12 currently requires repetitive inspections of the bilge barriers located in the forward and aft cargo compartments for disengaged decompression panels, and reinstalling any disengaged panels. Since we issued AD 2016-09-12, a terminating modification has been developed to address the unsafe condition. This proposed AD would retain the actions required by AD 2016-09-12 and require replacing the existing decompression panels with new panels and straps, which would terminate the repetitive inspections. This proposed AD also removes airplanes from the effectivity. We are proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We are adopting 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 AD was prompted by reports of cracks in certain pivot fittings of a CFM56 engine's thrust reverser (T/R). This AD requires repetitive inspections for cracking and corrosion of certain pivot fittings of a CFM56 engine's T/R, and corrective actions if necessary. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.