Department of Transportation 2019 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This action modifies Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Charleston, Mississippi County Airport in Charleston, MO. This action is due to the decommissioning of the Charleston non-directional radio beacon (NDB).

This action amends Class E airspace for the Cambridge- Dorchester Regional Airport, Cambridge, MD, by correcting the airspace designation header in the 7400.11 to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database. This does not affect the boundaries or operating requirements of the airspace.

This action provides notice of the statutory exception for limited recreational operations of unmanned aircraft. It also describes the agency's incremental implementation approach for the exception and how individuals can operate recreational unmanned aircraft (commonly referred to as drones) today under the exception.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its findings on the noise compatibility program submitted by the City and County of San Francisco, Airport Commission (Airport Commission), San Mateo County, California under the provisions of 49, United States Code (U.S.C.) (the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act, hereinafter referred to as ``the Act'') and 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 150 (hereinafter referred to as ``Part 150''). These findings are made in recognition of the description of Federal and nonfederal responsibilities in Senate Report No. 96-52 (1990). On January 29, 2016, the FAA determined that the noise exposure map updates submitted by the Airport Commission under Part 150 were in compliance with applicable requirements. On April 1, 2019, the FAA approved the San Francisco International Airport, Airport Noise Compatibility Program (NCP) Update. The 3 (three) measures recommended in the NCP Update were approved. No program elements relating to new or revised flight procedures for noise abatement were proposed by the airport operator.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus SAS Model A330-200 Freighter, A330-200, and A330-300 series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by an analysis conducted on Airbus SAS Model A330-200 Freighter, A330-200, and A330-300 series airplanes that identified structural areas that are susceptible to widespread fatigue damage (WFD). This proposed AD would require reinforcement modifications of various structural parts of the fuselage, and applicable related investigative and corrective actions if necessary, as specified in an European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which will be incorporated by reference. We are proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA proposes to rule and invites public comment on the interim release of the aeronautical use only provision for land at the Lake Louise Airport, Lake Louise, Alaska.

Drivers 18, 19 and 20 years old may currently operate commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in intrastate commerce. On July 6, 2018, FMCSA published a Federal Register notice announcing the details of the Commercial Driver Pilot Program, that allows certain 18- to 20- year-olds with military training to operate CMVs in interstate commerce. This document requests comments on a possible second pilot program to allow non-military drivers aged 18, 19, and 20 to operate CMVs in interstate commerce. FMCSA requests comments on the training, qualifications, driving limitations, and vehicle safety systems that FMCSA should consider in developing options or approaches for a second pilot program for younger drivers.

The FAA proposes to revise its standards for pressurized compartment loads such that partitions located immediately adjacent to a decompression hole need not be designed to withstand certain decompression conditions. This action is necessary because, in some cases, it is not practical to design partitions in certain airplane compartments to withstand a large decompression event that occurs within that compartment. Even though individual partition failure would be allowed, continued safe flight and landing would still be required.

FMCSA announces receipt of applications from 27 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.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions for 110 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.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for a previously approved information collection. These forms include Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424), Federal Financial Report (SF-425), Request for Advance or Reimbursement (SF- 270) and Outlay Report and Request for Reimbursement for Construction Programs (SF-271). We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. A Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following information collection was published on March 11, 2019, in the Federal Register (84 FR 8783, page(s) 8783-8784). No comments were received.

PHMSA is seeking nominations for individuals to serve as members on the Lithium Battery Safety Advisory Committee (the Committee). This is a safety advisory committee mandated by section 333(d) of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 and established in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) of 1972. The committee will facilitate communication among manufacturers of lithium ion and lithium metal cells and batteries, manufacturers of products incorporating both large and small lithium ion and lithium metal batteries, air carriers, and the Federal Government. This communication will promote the safe transportation of lithium ion and lithium metal cells and batteries and improve the effectiveness and economic and social impacts of related regulation. No later than 180 days after the establishment of the Committee, the Committee shall submit to the Secretary and the appropriate committees of Congress a report that describes and evaluates the steps being taken in the private sector and by international regulatory authorities to implement and enforce requirements relating to the safe transportation of bulk shipments of lithium ion cells and batteries. The Committee will also identify any areas of regulatory requirements for which there is consensus that greater attention is needed.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve a revision of a previously approved information collection: Rail Fixed Guideway Systems; State Safety Oversight.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below is being forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. A Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following information collection was published May 16, 2018. The agency did not receive any comments.

This action withdraws the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) published in the Federal Register on April 16, 2012, proposing amendments to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard FMVSS No. 124, Accelerator Control Systems. The NPRM proposed to make two amendments to the standard: add a new brake-throttle override (BTO) requirement to address unintended acceleration situations and amend the return-to-idle requirements to include electronic throttle control (ETC) systems. After further analysis of the comments received and other considerations, the agency has decided to withdraw the rulemaking proposal because: the widespread adoption of the BTO system makes FMVSS changes unnecessary and a broader understanding of safe design of vehicle electronic control systems is needed to make an informed decision on regulating return-to-idle on ETC systems.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Bombardier, Inc., Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 & 440) airplanes; Model CL-600-2C10 (Regional Jet Series 700, 701 & 702) airplanes; Model CL-600-2D15 (Regional Jet Series 705) airplanes; Model CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900) airplanes; and Model CL-600-2E25 (Regional Jet Series 1000) airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report that during Automatic Flight Control System (AFCS) ALTS CAP or (V) ALTS CAP mode the flight guidance/autopilot does not account for engine failure while capturing an altitude. This proposed AD would require revising the airplane flight manual (AFM) to include a limitation and abnormal operating procedure for the AFCS. We are proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Bombardier, Inc., Model CL-600-2B16 (601-3A, 601-3R, and 604 Variants) airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report that main landing gear (MLG) side stay actuators have been assembled using nonconforming split ball bearings. This proposed AD would require verification of the serial numbers of the installed MLG side stay actuator assemblies, and replacement of the affected parts. We are proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

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 Information to be collected is necessary to insure the safety of the flying public. Documentation of maintenance repair actions record who, what, when, where and how of the task performed. All maintenance actions as well as documentation are required. This collection focuses on the Form 337 which is collected by the FAA. Other records for preventative maintenance, and logbook entries are not collected by the FAA serve as a responsibility of the owner to maintain in case of verification of airworthiness when seeking approvals or sale of the aircraft. This insures proper certification of personnel; proper tooling is utilized and accurate measures to insure safety. Total form 337s submitted in 2017 is 54,237. Total aircraft registrations on file is 289,490. It is estimated by the numbers collected one in every five aircraft have a 337 form submitted for major alteration and repairs performed. Each 337 takes approximately 1 hour.

Spartan Motors USA, Inc (Spartan), has determined that certain model year (MY) 2015-2019 Spartan Specialty MM and K2 motorhome chassis do not fully comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 121, Air Brake Systems. Spartan filed a noncompliance report dated December 18, 2017, subsequently petitioned NHTSA on January 15, 2018, for a decision that the subject noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety. This document announces receipt of petition and offers the opportunity for public comment.

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 reports that frame web and frame integral inboard chord cracking is occurring on multiple airplanes in multiple locations below the passenger floor. This AD requires repetitive detailed, general visual, and high frequency eddy current (HFEC) inspections of the section 43 lower lobe frames at certain stations; an inspection to determine if certain repairs are installed; and applicable on-condition actions. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action modifies the Class E surface area and Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Mount Vernon Airport, Mount Vernon, IL. This action is due to an airspace review caused by the decommissioning of the Mount Vernon VHF omnidirectional range (VOR), which provided navigation information to the instrument procedures at this airport, as part of the VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) Program. The geographic coordinates and name of the airport are also being updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database. Airspace redesign is necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at this airport.

The FAA is correcting an airworthiness directive (AD) that published in the Federal Register. That AD applies to all Airbus SAS Model A318 series airplanes; Model A319 series airplanes; Model A320- 211, -212, -214, -216, -231, -232, and -233 airplanes; and Model A321- 111, -112, -131, -211, -212, -213, -231, and -232 airplanes. As published, that AD contains an incomplete compliance time for the initial inspection for certain airplanes. This document corrects that error. In all other respects, the original document remains the same.