Department of Transportation October 2018 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

FMCSA announces receipt of applications from 12 individuals for an exemption from the prohibition in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) against persons with a clinical diagnosis of epilepsy or any other condition that is likely to cause a loss of consciousness or any loss of ability to control a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) to drive in interstate commerce. If granted, the exemptions would enable these individuals who have had one or more seizures and are taking anti-seizure medication to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Austro Engine GmbH model E4 engines and for all model E4P engines. This AD was prompted by reports of considerable wear on the timing chain on these engines. This AD requires replacement of the timing chain and amending certain airplane flight manuals to limit the use of windmill restarts. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action establishes Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface, at Hoonah Airport, Hoonah, AK, to accommodate area navigation (RNAV) procedures at the airport for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations within the National Airspace System.

The Federal Aviation Administration is proposing to revise its rules concerning the operation of experimental light sport aircraft. The current regulations prohibited the use of these aircraft for flight training for compensation or hire after January 31, 2010. Allowing the use of experimental light sport aircraft for compensation or hire for the purpose of flight training would increase safety by allowing greater access to aircraft that can be used for light sport aircraft and ultralight training. The proposed rule would add language that permits training in experimental light sport aircraft for compensation or hire for the purpose of flight training through existing deviation authority.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions for five 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 exempt nine individuals from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in interstate commerce. They are unable to meet the vision requirement in one eye for various reasons. The exemptions enable these individuals to operate CMVs in interstate commerce without meeting the vision requirement in one eye.

FMCSA announces its decision to exempt 54 individuals from the prohibition in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) against persons with insulin-treated diabetes mellitus (ITDM) from operating a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in interstate commerce. The exemptions enable these individuals with ITDM to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

FMCSA announces its decision to exempt 60 individuals from the prohibition in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) against persons with insulin-treated diabetes mellitus (ITDM) from operating a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in interstate commerce. The exemptions enable these individuals with ITDM to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions for 192 individuals from its prohibition in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) against persons with insulin-treated diabetes mellitus (ITDM) from operating commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce. The exemptions enable these individuals with ITDM to continue to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew an information collection. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on August 15, 2018. The collection involves the voluntary submission of responses to survey questions. The information is collected from holders of FAA production approvals and selected suppliers and provides them an opportunity to offer their input on how well the agency is performing the administration and conduct of the Aircraft Certification Systems Quality System Audit (QSA). The information to be collected will be used to promote continuous improvement initiatives and industry dialog in the FAA oversight process.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Viking Air Limited Model DHC-3 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 pitting corrosion on the shank of the wing strut attach bolts. We are issuing this AD to require actions to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2016-24-03, which applied to certain Bombardier, Inc., Model DHC-8-400 series airplanes. AD 2016-24-03 required repetitive detailed inspections of barrel nuts and cradles, a check of the bolt torque of the preload indicating (PLI) washers, and corrective actions if necessary. This AD retains the requirements of AD 2016-24-03 and requires modifying the airplane by installing a sealing disk to a certain location and replacing certain barrel nuts. This AD was prompted by reports of cracked and corroded barrel nuts found at the mid-spar location of the horizontal-stabilizer-to-vertical-stabilizer attachment joint, and the issuance of new service information that includes a terminal modification. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This final rule announces the annual update to the listings of light duty truck lines subject to the requirements and vehicle lines exempted from the requirements in the theft prevention standard. Specifically, this final rule announces that there were no new light- duty truck (LDT) lines added because none became subject to the theft prevention standard for MY 2017. This final rule also identifies those vehicle lines exempted from parts marking requirements and removes the names of vehicle lines whose production has been discontinued more than 5 years.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all The Boeing Company Model 787 series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of an uncommanded descent and turn that occurred after an inflight switch to the spare flight management function (FMF). This proposed AD would require an inspection of the flight management system (FMS) to determine if certain operational program software (OPS) is installed and installation of new FMS OPS and a software check if necessary. For certain airplanes, this proposed AD would also require concurrent actions. We are proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We propose to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD 2018- 04-09 for Pacific Aerospace Limited Model 750XL airplanes. This proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated 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 incorrectly marked and annunciated low oil-pressure indication warnings. We are issuing this proposed AD to require actions to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This document announces the availability of the Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) and Type Rating for Airplane Airman Certification Standards (FAA-S-ACS-11) for public comment.

The Federal Aviation Administration is requesting public comment on a request by the City of Murfreesboro, to release approximately 1.28 acres of land at the Murfreesboro Municipal Airport from federal obligations. The request consists of 1.28 acres of parcel ``1'' as shown on the Approved Exhibit A property map. The parcel is situated westward from the terminal area, lying along the south side of the main access road to the airport from Memorial Boulevard (US Highway 231). Parcel ``1'' was acquired by the City of Murfreeboro by Deed dated May 26, 1947, which included 237.25 acres of the original airport. This request will release 1.28 acres of this property from federal obligations.

This action for NOA-18-01 corrects the designation for one of the consensus standards. NOA-18-01 announced the availability and requests comments on two new and two revised consensus standards relating to the provisions of the Sport Pilot and Light-Sport Aircraft rule.

This document corrects information in the proposed rule published in the August 24, 2018 issue of the Federal Register entitled The Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient (SAFE) Vehicles Rule for Model Years 2021-2026 Passenger Cars and Light Trucks. Specifically, a table in the Paperwork Reduction Act section is corrected; two minor changes are made to one amendatory instruction in NHTSA's regulatory text, and the coefficients specifying the proposed carbon dioxide standards in EPA's regulatory text have been corrected to reflect EPA's proposal to exclude credits for direct A/C emissions for purposes of compliance with carbon dioxide standards after model year 2020, as explained in Section III of the proposed rule. This document contains only clerical corrections and makes no updates to either the proposal or to the analysis underlying the proposal. For the reader's information, an updated Preliminary Regulatory Impact Assessment (PRIA) will also be made available concurrent with this notice; that document will include descriptions starting on the second page detailing the corrections to various tables and figures therein.

These amended special conditions are issued for the Boeing Model 777 series airplanes. These special conditions are for oblique (side-facing) seats, installed in Boeing Model 777 series airplanes, at an angle of 18 to 45 degrees to the airplane centerline and which may include a 3-point or airbag restraint system, or both, for occupant restraint and injury protection. This amendment adds a note and one special condition to the Special Conditions section. This airplane will have novel or unusual design features when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport category airplanes. These design features are oblique (side-facing) single-occupant passenger seats equipped with or without airbag devices or 3-point restraints. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These special conditions contain the additional safety standards that the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards.

These special conditions are issued for the Bombardier, Inc., (Bombardier) BD-700-2A12 and BD-700-2A13 airplanes, marketed respectively as Global 7000 and Global 8000. These airplanes, as modified by Bombardier, will have novel or unusual design features when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport-category airplanes. These design features are multiple-place side-facing seats with active leg-flail restraint devices and shoulder-belt airbags. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These special conditions contain the additional safety standards that the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards.

The FAA published a document in the Federal Register on October 5, 2018, requesting comments on a petition for exemption seeking relief from specified requirements of Federal Aviation Regulations. The document contained one incorrect reference to the petitioner.

We are publishing a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited (Bell) Model 429 helicopters. This AD was sent previously to all known U.S. owners and operators of these helicopters as Emergency AD 2018-16-51, dated July 26, 2018, which superseded Emergency AD 2018-15-51, dated July 20, 2018. This AD requires inspecting the tail rotor (T/R) gearbox installation, inspecting the T/R gearbox retaining hardware and support attachment point areas, and replacing each nut. This AD is prompted by two reports of T/R gearbox assemblies loosely attached to the gearbox support. The actions of this AD are intended to address an unsafe condition on these products.

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.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew CRST Expedited (CRST) exemption from the regulation that requires a commercial learner's permit (CLP) holder to be accompanied by a commercial driver's license (CDL) holder with the proper CDL class and endorsements, seated in the front seat of the vehicle while the CLP holder performs behind-the- wheel training on public roads or highways. Under the terms and conditions of this exemption, a CLP holder who has documentation of passing the CDL skills test may drive a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) for CRST without being accompanied by a CDL holder in the front seat of the vehicle. The exemption enables CLP holders to drive as part of a team with the same regulatory flexibility as CRST team drivers with CDLs. FMCSA has analyzed the exemption application and the public comments and has determined that the exemption, subject to the terms and conditions imposed, will achieve a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level that would be achieved absent such exemption.