Department of Transportation December 9, 2019 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) received written notice, dated September 6, 2019, from the City of Orange City advising that on January 31, 2020, it was permanently closing Orange City Municipal Airport (ORC), Orange City, Iowa; the notice was in excess of 30 days before the closure. The FAA hereby publishes the City of Orange City's notice of permanent closure of Orange City Municipal Airport.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Airbus Helicopters Model AS332L2 and EC225LP helicopters. This proposed AD would require determining the accumulated hours time-in- service (TIS) of certain part-numbered main gearbox (MGB) suspension bar attachment bolts and fittings, applying a life limit add-on factor, and inspecting the torque of certain MGB suspension bar attachment nuts. This proposed AD is prompted by a report of torque loss on an MGB suspension bar bolt. The actions of this proposed AD are intended to address an unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Leonardo S.p.A. (Leonardo) Model A109E, A109S, A119, AW109SP, and AW119MKII helicopters. This proposed AD would require removing certain main rotor (M/R) floating ring assemblies from service. This proposed AD would also prohibit replacing any washer on any M/R floating ring assembly. This proposed AD is prompted by a report of a washer debonding from the M/R floating ring assembly. The actions of this proposed AD are intended to address an unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 787-8 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report of fatigue cracking in the lug root radius of a main landing gear (MLG) aft hanger link lug fitting. This AD requires repetitive surface high frequency eddy current (HFEC) inspections of the left and right side MLG aft hanger link lug fitting for cracking, and applicable on-condition actions. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all The Boeing Company Model 737-300, -400, and -500 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. This AD requires applying sealant to the fasteners in the fuel tanks, replacing wire bundle clamps external to the fuel tanks, and installing Teflon sleeving under the clamps. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

FMCSA announces its decision to deny United Parcel Service, Inc.'s (UPS) application for exemption from two provisions in the entry-level driver training (ELDT) final rule published on December 8, 2016. UPS requests a five-year exemption from the following provisions in the ELDT final rule: The requirement that a driver training instructor hold a Commercial Driver's License (CDL) and have two years' experience driving a commercial motor vehicle (CMV), as set forth in the definitions of ``behind-the-wheel (BTW) instructor'' and ``theory instructor;'' and the requirement to register each training location in order to obtain a unique Training Provider Registry (TPR) number applicable to that location. FMCSA has analyzed the exemption application and the public comments and determined that the applicant has not demonstrated that it would likely achieve a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level that would be achieved absent the requested exemptions.