Department of Transportation June 18, 2020 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

FMCSA announces its decision to grant Illumination Fireworks Partners, LP, and ACE Pyro, LLC (Applicants), an exemption from the requirements that drivers of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) must not drive following the 14th hour after coming on duty. The exemption will apply solely to the drivers of 60 CMVs employed by the applicants in conjunction with staging fireworks shows in celebration of Independence Day during the period of June 28-July 8, for the next five years (2020- 2024) inclusive. During this period, the CMV drivers employed by the applicants would be allowed to exclude off-duty and sleeper-berth time of any length from the calculation of the 14 hours. These drivers will not be allowed to drive after accumulating a total of 14 hours of on- duty time, following 10 consecutive hours off duty, and will continue to be subject to the 11-hour driving-time limit, and the 60 and 70-hour on-duty limits. FMCSA has determined that the terms and conditions of the exemption will likely achieve a level of safety equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety achieved without the exemption.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2007-26-51, which applies to certain Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH Model EC135 helicopters. AD 2007-26-51 requires an inspection of the tail rotor control rod (control rod) and ball pivot and, depending on findings, replacing these parts. Since the FAA issued AD 2007-26-51, the manufacturer developed a new control rod, which the FAA has determined must be installed in order to address the identified unsafe condition. This proposed AD would require an inspection of certain ball pivots, application of corrosion preventative compound on the ball pivot, and corrective action, as applicable. This proposed AD would also require replacement of the control rod with the newly developed control rod. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.