Department of Transportation October 26, 2020 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

FRA announces the charter renewal of the RSAC, a Federal Advisory Committee established by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act to provide information, advice, and recommendations to the FRA Administrator on matters relating to railroad safety. This charter renewal will be effective for two years from the date it is filed with Congress.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Sikorsky Aircraft Model S-61L, S-61N, S-61NM, and S-61R helicopters and Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation Model S-61A, S-61D, S- 61E, and S-61V restricted category helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by the manufacturer determining that there may be arm assemblies in service that have accumulated 15,000 or more hours time- in-service (TIS), which exceeds the service life limit for this component. This proposed AD would require reviewing the mixer unit component log card or equivalent record and, depending on the number of hours TIS, calculating the remaining life of the arm assembly or removing the arm assembly from service. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action amends VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airways V-5 and V-178 in the vicinity of New Hope, KY, and removes V- 513 in its entirety. The amendments are due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the New Hope, KY (EWO), VOR/ Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) navigation aid (NAVAID) which provides navigation guidance for portions of the affected airways. The New Hope VOR is being decommissioned as part of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus SAS Model A350-941 and -1041 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report that certain retaining rings could cause damage to frame forks, brackets and edge frames, and their surface protection; subsequent investigation showed that the depth of the frame fork spotfacing on structural parts is inadequate to accommodate the retaining ring. This proposed AD would require repetitive inspections of certain areas of each cargo door for damage and corrective action. This proposed AD would also provide an optional terminating modification, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which will be incorporated by reference. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.