Department of Transportation 2018 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This action proposes to modify Class E airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface at Atqasuk Edward Burnell Sr. Memorial Airport, Atqasuk, AK. This proposal would add exclusionary language to the legal description of the airport to ensure the safety and management of aircraft within the National Airspace System. Also, the geographic coordinates of the airport would be adjusted.

This action establishes Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface, at Washington Island Airport, Washington Island, WI. Controlled airspace is necessary to accommodate new standard instrument approach procedures developed at Washington Island Airport, for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all The Boeing Company Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, and -500 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of cracking in certain flanges, and the adjacent web, of the wing outboard flap track at certain positions, and a determination that new inspections of certain flap track flanges and webs forward of the rear spar attachment are necessary. This AD requires an inspection to determine the part number of the wing outboard flap track assembly; repetitive inspections of each affected wing outboard flap track for discrepancies, and applicable on-condition actions; and repetitive overhaul of each wing outboard flap track. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is soliciting expressions of interest for the Expedited Project Delivery Pilot Program (Pilot Program) authorized by the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST). The Pilot Program is aimed at expediting delivery of new fixed guideway capital projects, small starts projects, or core capacity improvement projects that utilize public-private partnerships, are planned to be operated and maintained by employees of an existing public transportation provider, and have a Federal share not exceeding 25 percent of the project cost. It is also aimed at increasing innovation, improving efficiency and timeliness of project implementation, and encouraging new revenue streams. The law specifies that not more than eight projects can be awarded grants under the Pilot Program. FTA intends to work with selected project sponsors to further define the steps that must be completed before a construction grant can be awarded under the Pilot Program, including expedited FTA reviews of technical capacity, local financial commitment, and project justification. This announcement is available on the FTA's website at: www.transit.dot.gov/funding/grants/expedited-project-delivery -capital- investment-grants-pilot-3005b.

This notice contains a summary of a petition seeking relief from specified requirements of Federal Aviation Regulations. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, the FAA's exemption process. Neither publication of this notice nor the inclusion or omission of information in the summary is intended to affect the legal status of the petition or its final disposition.

These amended special conditions are issued for the Boeing Model 777 series airplanes. This amendment states that the Boeing Model 777 series airplanes oblique (side-facing) seats may be installed at an angle of 18 to 45 degrees to the airplane centerline and may include a 3-point or airbag restraint system, or both, for occupant restraint and injury protection. 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.

This notice contains a summary of a petition seeking relief from specified requirements of Federal Aviation Regulations. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, the FAA's exemption process. Neither publication of this notice nor the inclusion or omission of information in the summary is intended to affect the legal status of the petition or its final disposition.

Notice is hereby given of a meeting of the Rail Energy Transportation Advisory Committee (RETAC), pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA).

This action amends the legal description of the Class E airspace at Lynchburg Regional Airport-Preston Glenn Field Airport, Lynchburg, VA. The NOTAM part-time status is removed from the Class E airspace area designated as an extension to a Class D surface area. This action does not affect the boundaries or operating requirements of the airspace.

This action amends Class D airspace and Class E surface airspace for Bowman Field Airport, Louisville, KY, by adding the Louisville International Airport Class C exclusionary language into the legal description. The exclusionary language was inadvertently omitted from the final rule published November 1, 2017. This action also makes a minor editorial change to the Louisville, KY, airspace designation and airport name.

This action proposes to establish Class E surface airspace at Tyndall Air Force Base, (AFB), FL, for the safety of aircraft landing and departing the airport when the air traffic control tower is closed. Also, this action proposes to amend Class D airspace by updating the geographic coordinates of this airport, as well as replacing the outdated term ``Airport/Facility Directory'' with ``Chart Supplement''. Controlled airspace is necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at this airport.

This action amends Class D airspace for Olive Branch Airport, Olive Branch, MS, by adding the Memphis Class B exclusionary language back into the legal description. The exclusionary language was inadvertently omitted from the final rule published July 30, 2018, amending Class D and Class E airspace at this airport.

This action establishes Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Chebeague Island Heliport, Chebeague Island, ME, to accommodate new area navigation (RNAV) global positioning system (GPS) standard instrument approach procedures serving the heliport. Controlled airspace is necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at this heliport.

This rule establishes, amends, suspends, or removes Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) and associated Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures (ODPs) 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 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 exempt eight 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 operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

FMCSA announces its decision to grant an exemption to Daimler Trucks North America (Daimler) for one of its commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. Daimler requested a 5-year exemption from the Federal requirement to hold a U.S. commercial driver's license (CDL) for Mr. Christophe Veber, Lead Engineer in Vehicle Predictive Technology for Daimler. Mr. Veber holds a valid German commercial license and wants to test-drive Daimler vehicles on U.S. roads to better understand product requirements for these systems in ``real world'' environments, and verify results. Daimler believes the requirements for a German commercial license ensure that holders of the license will likely achieve a level of safety equal to or greater than that of drivers who hold a U.S. State-issued CDL.

FMCSA announces receipt of applications from 38 individuals for an exemption from the prohibition in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) against persons with insulin-treated diabetes mellitus (ITDM) operating a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in interstate commerce. If granted, the exemptions would enable these individuals with ITDM to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

FMCSA announces receipt of applications from 12 individuals for an exemption from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in interstate commerce. If granted, the exemptions will enable these individuals to operate CMVs in interstate commerce without meeting the vision requirement in one eye.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions for 95 individuals from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) for interstate commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. The exemptions enable these individuals to continue to operate CMVs in interstate commerce without meeting the vision requirement in one eye.

FMCSA announces receipt of applications from 30 individuals for an exemption from the hearing requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in interstate commerce. If granted, the exemptions would enable these hard of hearing and deaf individuals to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

This action removes Class E airspace areas designated as an extension to a Class D surface area at Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport, Springfield, OH. This action is required as a result of an airspace review, which inadvertently overlooked the removal of the associated Class E airspace extensions when the Class D airspace was removed.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH (Airbus Helicopters) Model MBB-BK 117 A-1, MBB-BK 117A-3, MBB-BK 117 A-4, MBB-BK 117 B-1, MBB-BK 117 B-2, MBB-BK 117 C-1, and MBB-BK 117 C-2 helicopters. This proposed AD would require repetitive inspections of the tail rotor (T/R) gearbox housing. This proposed AD is prompted by a report that a crack was found in a T/ R gearbox housing. The actions of this proposed AD are intended to address an unsafe condition on these products.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Airbus Helicopters Model AS350B, AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350B3, and AS350BA helicopters with a Pall Aerospace Corporation inlet barrier filter (IBF) element. This AD requires revising the Rotorcraft Flight Manual Supplement to prohibit operating a helicopter with an IBF element in wet weather and replacing the IBF element if wet. This AD is prompted by a forced landing after an engine flameout. The actions of this AD are intended to address an unsafe condition on these products.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, and -500 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by several reports of cracks in a certain floor beam lower chord at door stop fitting No. 1 of the forward airstair door cutout. This AD requires repetitive inspections for any cracks and applicable on-condition actions. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.