Department of Transportation September 25, 2017 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This action modifies the restricted areas at Fort Gordon, GA to further subdivide the vertical limits of the airspace. The designated altitudes for R-3004A and R-3004B are realigned and a new subarea, designated R-3004C, is established above R-3004B. The FAA is taking this action to allow for more efficient use of the airspace during periods when military activities only require restricted airspace below 3,500 feet MSL. The modifications are fully contained within the existing lateral and vertical boundaries of the restricted airspace.

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration is issuing an emergency waiver order to persons conducting operations under the direction of Environmental Protection Agency Region 6 within the Hurricane and Tropical Storm Harvey disaster and emergency areas of Texas and Louisiana. This Waiver Order is effective September 1, 2017, and shall remain in effect for 30 days from the date of issuance.

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration is issuing an emergency waiver order to persons conducting operations under the direction of Environmental Protection Agency Region 4 or United States Coast Guard 7th District within the Hurricane Irma emergency area of Georgia. This Waiver Order is effective September 10, 2017, and shall remain in effect for 30 days from the date of issuance.

This action proposes to modify Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Fitch H. Beach Airport, Charlotte, MI. The FAA is proposing this action due to the decommissioning of the Lansing VHF omnidirectional range (VOR) and collocated tactical air navigation (TACAN), which provided navigation guidance for the instrument procedures to this airport. The VOR/TACAN is being decommissioned as part of the VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) Program. This action would enhance safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at this airport. Additionally, the geographic coordinates of the airport would be adjusted to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.

We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2008-12-04, which applied to certain The Boeing Company Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, and -900 series airplanes. AD 2008-12-04 required various repetitive inspections to detect cracks along the chem-milled steps of the fuselage skin, and to detect missing or loose fasteners in the area of a certain preventive modification or repairs; replacement of the time-limited repair with a permanent repair, if applicable; and applicable corrective actions which would end certain repetitive inspections. This AD reduces the post-modification inspection compliance times, limits installation of the preventive modification to airplanes with fewer than 30,000 total flight cycles, and adds repetitive inspections for modified airplanes. This AD was prompted by an evaluation by the design approval holder (DAH) that indicated that the upper skin panel at the chem-milled step above the lap joint is subject to widespread fatigue damage (WFD) if the modification was installed after 30,000 total flight cycles. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Airbus Helicopters Model EC225LP helicopters. This AD requires modifying the emergency lubrication system (EMLUB). This AD was prompted by two incidents of emergency ditching after there was a warning of a loss of oil pressure and a false EMLUB failure. The actions of this AD are intended to address an unsafe condition on these products.