Department of Transportation May 7, 2018 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Pursuant to Section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, notice is hereby given of a meeting of the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee (COMSTAC).

In accordance with the requirements of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of Title 44 of the U.S. Code (Pub. L. 104-13, the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995), this notice announces the intention of BTS to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve a new data collection: Oil and Gas Industry Safety Data. In August 2013, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) and BTS signed an Interagency Agreement to develop and implement SafeOCS, a voluntary program for confidential reporting of `near misses' occurring on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). The Oil and Gas Industry Safety Data (ISD) program, is a component of BTS's SafeOCS data sharing framework, that provides a trusted, proactive means for the oil and gas industry to report sensitive and proprietary safety information, and to identify early warnings of safety problems and potential safety issues by uncovering hidden, at-risk conditions not previously exposed from analysis of reportable accidents and incidents. Companies participating in the ISD are voluntarily submitting safety data. There is no regulatory requirement to submit such data. The ISD identifies a broader range of data categories to ensure safe performance and appropriate risk management, which adds a learning component to assist the oil and gas industry in achieving improved safety performance. BTS will be the repository for the data, and will analyze and aggregate information proffered under this program, and publish reports providing identification of potential causal factors and trends or patterns before safety is compromised, and affording continuous improvement opportunities by focusing on repairing impediments to safety.

This action modifies Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Fitch H. Beach Airport, Charlotte, MI, 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 Lansing VOR/TACAN is being decommissioned as part of the VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) Program. This action enhances safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at this airport. Additionally, the geographic coordinates of the airport are being adjusted to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database. An editorial change is also being made removing the city associated with the airport name in the airspace legal designation.

This action proposes to modify Class D airspace, Class E airspace designated as a surface area, and Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface, and remove Class E airspace designated as an extension to Class D or Class E surface area at Jackson County Airport-Reynolds Field, Jackson MI. The FAA is proposing this action due to the decommissioning of the Jackson VHF omnidirectional range (VOR) which provided navigation guidance for the instrument procedures to this airport. The VOR is being decommissioned as part of the VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) Program. The name and the geographic coordinates of the airport would also be updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database. Additionally, this action would replace the outdated term ``Airport/Facility Directory'' with the term ``Chart Supplement'' in the associated airspace legal descriptions.

This action modifies Class E airspace designated as a surface area and Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Muscatine Municipal Airport, Muscatine, IA. This action is required due to the decommissioning of the Port City VHF omnidirectional range (VOR) facility, which provided navigation guidance for the instrument procedures to this airport. The VOR has been decommissioned as part of the VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) Program.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A318 series airplanes and Model A319 series airplanes; all Model A320-211, -212, -214, -216, -231, -232, and -233 airplanes; and all Model A321-111, -112, -131, -211, -212, -213, -231, and -232 airplanes. This AD was prompted by an evaluation by the design approval holder (DAH) indicating that the holes of the upper cleat to upper stringer attachments at certain areas of the left- and right-hand wings are subject to widespread fatigue damage (WFD). This AD requires modifying the holes of the upper cleat to upper stringer attachments at certain areas of the left- and right-hand wings. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We are revising an earlier proposal for all Viking Air Limited Models DHC-2 Mk. I, DHC-2 Mk. II, and DHC-2 Mk. III airplanes. This proposed airworthiness directive (AD) results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another country to identify and address an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as cracking found in the wing rear spar web at the wing station where the flap outboard hinge is attached. This action revises the proposal by issuing an SNPRM that changes the compliance times to more closely match the compliance times in the MCAI. We are proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. Since these actions may impose an additional burden over those in the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), we are reopening the comment period to allow the public the opportunity to comment on these changes.