Department of Transportation June 5, 2018 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

FMCSA announces that the Small Business in Transportation Coalition (SBTC) has requested an exemption from the electronic logging device (ELD) requirements for all motor carriers with fewer than 50 employees, including, but not limited to, one-person private and for- hire owner-operators of commercial motor vehicles used in interstate commerce. SBTC believes that the exemption would not have any adverse impacts on operational safety as motor carriers and drivers would remain subject to the hours-of-service (HOS) regulations as well as the requirements to maintain paper RODS. FMCSA requests public comment on SBTC's application for exemption.

The Secretary of Transportation, as represented by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), is authorized to grant waivers of the U.S.-build requirement of the coastwise laws under certain circumstances. A request for such a waiver has been received by MARAD. The vessel, and a brief description of the proposed service, is listed below.

The Secretary of Transportation, as represented by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), is authorized to grant waivers of the U.S.-build requirement of the coastwise laws under certain circumstances. A request for such a waiver has been received by MARAD. The vessel, and a brief description of the proposed service, is listed below.

This action modifies Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Bishop International Airport, Flint, MI, and establishes separate Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Owosso Community Airport, Owosso, MI. This action is necessary due to the closure of the Athelone Williams Memorial Airport, Davison, MI, which is included in the Flint, MI, airspace description; the cancellation of the instrument approach procedures at the Genesys Regional Medical Center, Grand Blanc, MI, also included in the Flint, MI, airspace description; and updates the Bishop International Airport airspace and the Owosso Community Airport airspace to comply with FAA Order 7400.2L, Procedures for Handling Airspace Matters. The geographic coordinates of the Bishop International Airport and Prices Airport, Linden, MI, are also being updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.

This action amends Class D airspace and establishes Class E airspace designated as a surface area at University of Oklahoma Westheimer Airport, Norman, OK. The University of Oklahoma Westheimer Airport requested establishment of this airspace. This action also amends Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at the University of Oklahoma Westheimer Airport contained within the Oklahoma City, OK, airspace legal description, by removing the Oklahoma Westheimer Airport ILS localizer and realigning the southwest segment. Additionally, the name of the University of Oklahoma Westheimer Airport is being updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database in the Class D airspace legal description. This action is necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at this airport.

This action proposes to amend Class D airspace at San Marcos Regional Airport, Austin, TX; establish Class E airspace designated as a surface area at Georgetown Municipal Airport, Georgetown, TX, and San Marcos Regional Airport; and amend Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at San Marco Regional Airport and Lockhart Municipal Airport, Lockhart, TX. The FAA is proposing this action at the request of Austin Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT)/ Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) to establish part-time Class E airspace designated as a surface area at Georgetown Municipal Airport and San Marcos Regional Airport and to review the associated airspace for the safety and management of instrument flight rule (IFR) operations at these airports. The name of San Marcos Regional Airport would be updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database, and the outdated term ``Airport/Facility Directory'' would be replaced with the term ``Chart Supplement''.

This action proposes to amend Class D airspace, Class E airspace designated as a surface area, and Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Chippewa Valley Regional Airport, Eau Claire, WI. The FAA is proposing this action as a result of an airspace review caused by the decommissioning of the Eau Claire nondirectional radio beacon (NDB)/outer compass locator (LOM). The name and geographic coordinates of the Chippewa Valley Regional Airport and the name of the May Clinic Health System-Eau Claire Heliport would also be updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.

This rule amends, suspends, or removes Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) and associated Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures for operations at certain airports. These regulatory actions are needed because of the adoption of new or revised criteria, or because of changes occurring in the National Airspace System, such as the commissioning of new navigational facilities, adding new obstacles, or changing air traffic requirements. These changes are designed to provide for the safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace and to promote safe flight operations under instrument flight rules at the affected airports.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 767-300 and -300F series airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of fatigue cracking on airplanes with Aviation Partners Boeing winglets installed. This AD requires high frequency eddy current (HFEC) inspections for cracking of the lower outboard wing skin, and repair or modification if necessary. This AD also requires one of three follow-on actions: Repeating the HFEC inspections, modifying certain internal stringers and oversizing and plugging the existing fastener holes of the lower wing, or modifying the external doubler/tripler and doing repetitive post-modification inspections. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A350-941 airplanes. This AD requires a detailed inspection of the four retaining pins in the main landing gear support structure (MLGSS) trunnion block, left- and right-hand sides, and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. This AD was prompted by a determination that short retaining pins may have been installed at the incorrect location of the MLGSS forward pintle. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2014-02-01, which applied to certain Bombardier, Inc., Model CL-600-2C10 (Regional Jet Series 700, 701, & 702), Model CL-600-2D15 (Regional Jet Series 705), and Model CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900) airplanes. AD 2014-02-01 required repetitive inspections of the rudder travel limiter (RTL) return springs and primary actuator, and corrective actions if necessary; and replacement of certain RTL return springs. This AD requires an inspection of the RTL return springs for signs of chafing; an inspection of the casing of the primary actuator for signs of chafing or missing paint; replacement of the RTL return springs; and an inspection of the lugs of the RTL limiter arm assembly for cracks, and modification or replacement, as applicable; and applicable corrective actions. This AD also adds airplanes to the applicability. This AD was prompted by reports that when installing the RTL return springs, the RTL limiter arm assembly lug(s) can become deformed. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.