Department of Transportation 2020 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This action proposes special conditions for the Leonardo S.p.A. (Leonardo) Model A119 and AW119 MKII helicopters. These helicopters as modified by AgustaWestland Philadelphia Corporation (AWPC) will have a novel or unusual design feature when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for helicopters. This design feature is the optional closed circuit refueling receiver (CCRR). The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These proposed 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 action proposes to modify the Class D airspace at McChord Field (Joint Base Lewis-McChord), Tacoma, WA. After a review of the airspace, the FAA found it necessary to amend the existing airspace for the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at this airport. This proposal would also remove a reference to the McChord VORTAC from the legal description, update the airport name and city, and amend the geographical coordinates for the airport to match the FAA's database.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2019-14- 09, which applied to all Airbus SAS Model A330-200 Freighter series airplanes. AD 2019-14-09 required repetitive detailed inspections, including functional testing, of the oxygen crew and courier distribution system (OCCDS) and replacement of affected part(s) if necessary. This AD retains the requirements of AD 2019-14-09 and requires replacement of all affected parts with improved serviceable parts, which is terminating action for the repetitive inspections, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which will be incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action proposes to remove Class E airspace at Newburyport, MA, as Plum Island Airport no longer has instrument approaches, and controlled airspace is no longer required. This action would enhance the safety and management of controlled airspace within the national airspace system.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Models PC-12, PC-12/45, PC-12/47, and PC-12/47E airplanes. This AD was prompted by mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as improperly manufactured horizontal stabilizer rear attachment bolts. If not corrected, this could lead to fatigue failure of the bolts and loss of airplane control. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2019-03-27, which applies to all Dassault Aviation Model Falcon 10 airplanes. AD 2019-03-27 requires repetitive detailed inspections of certain wing anti-ice outboard flexible hoses, and replacement of certain wing anti-ice outboard flexible hoses. Since the FAA issued AD 2019-03-27, an improved wing anti-ice flexible hose has been developed. This proposed AD would continue to require the actions in AD 2019-03- 27, and would add a new life limit for the improved wing anti-ice flexible hose, 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.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Airbus Helicopters Model AS-365N2, AS 365 N3, EC 155B, EC155B1, and SA- 365N1 helicopters. This AD requires inspecting the tail rotor gearbox (TGB) housing recess, and depending on the inspection results, performing more in-depth inspections and removing certain parts from service. This AD also prohibits installing a TGB unless it has passed certain inspections and has a new TGB control rod bearing installed. This AD was prompted by the discovery of a foreign object obstructing the oil duct of a TGB control bearing. The actions of this AD are intended to address an unsafe condition on these products.

This rule amends, suspends, or removes Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) and associated Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures 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 for the safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace and to promote safe flight operations under instrument flight rules at the affected airports.

This action amends the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Ohio County Airport, Hartford, KY. This action is the result of an airspace review caused by the decommissioning of the Central City VHF omnidirectional range (VOR) navigation aid as part of the VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) Program. The geographic coordinates of the airport are also being updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.

In accordance with the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), this document proposes to amend Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 213, ``Child restraint systems,'' by updating the standard seat assembly on which child restraint systems (CRSs) are tested to determine their compliance with the standard's dynamic performance requirements. This NPRM proposes other amendments to modernize FMVSS No. 213, including a lessening of restrictions in some of the standard's owner registration and labeling requirements, to give manufacturers more flexibility in communicating with today's parents for the purposes of increasing owner registrations for recall notification purposes and increasing the correct use of CRSs, respectively. NHTSA is also proposing ways to streamline the Agency's use of test dummies to assess restraint performance, including simplifying the standard's compliance tests to make them more reflective of the real-world use of CRSs today. The purpose of these and other proposals is to modernize the seat assembly and other aspects of FMVSS No. 213, to help ensure the continued effectiveness of CRSs in current and future vehicles.

This Notice implements Title II of the Notification and Federal Employee Antidiscrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002 (No FEAR Act of 2002). In doing so, the Department of Transportation notifies all employees, former employees, and applicants for Federal employment of the rights and protections available to them under the Federal Anti-discrimination and Whistleblower Protection Laws.

The FHWA, on behalf of Caltrans, is issuing this notice to announce actions taken by Caltrans, that are final. The actions relate to a proposed highway project, the San Jose Creek Bridge Replacement Project on U.S. Route 101 at postmile 21.6, within the City of Goleta, County of Santa Barbara, State of California. Those actions grant licenses, permits, and approvals for the project.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its findings on the noise compatibility program submitted by the City of Burlington, Vermont under the provisions of Title I of the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act of 1979. These findings are made in recognition of the description of federal and non-federal responsibilities in Senate Report No. 96-52 (1980). On October 14, 2020, the Airports Division Deputy Director approved the Burlington International Airport noise compatibility program. This supersedes the approval issued August 27, 2020. All of the proposed program elements were approved.

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is amending the requirements of the requalification periods for certain Department of Transportation (DOT) 4-series specification cylinders in non-corrosive gas service in response to a petition for rulemaking submitted by the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA).

The FHWA, on behalf of the FDOT, is issuing this notice to announce actions taken by FDOT and other Federal Agencies that are final agency actions. These actions relate to the proposed regional transportation improvement on U.S. Highway 231 from U.S. 98 to State Road 20 and also including improvement on East Avenue (Highway 389) from Baldwin Road to Sherman Avenue in Bay County, State of Florida. These actions grant licenses, permits, and approvals for the project.

This notice contains a summary of a petition seeking relief from specified requirements of the 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.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all General Electric Company (GE) CF6-80C2A5F, -80C2B1F, -80C2B2F, - 80C2B4F, -80C2B5F, -80C2B6F, -80C2B6FA, -80C2B7F, -80C2B8F, -80C2D1F, - 80C2K1F, -80C2L1F, -80E1A2, -80E1A3, -80E1A4, and -80E1A4/B model turbofan engines with a certain hydromechanical unit (HMU) installed. This AD was prompted by a report of fuel coking of the HMU fuel metering valve (FMV) electro-hydraulic servo valves (EHSV) resulting in tailpipe fire. This AD requires removal of the HMU and its replacement with a part eligible for installation. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for various restricted category helicopters, originally manufactured by Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Sikorsky), Model EH-60A, HH-60L, S-70, S-70A, S-70C, S-70C(M), S-70C(M1), and UH-60A. This AD requires initial and recurring inspections of the main rotor (M/R) blade spindle cuff for a crack. This AD was prompted by multiple reports of a cracked M/R blade spindle cuff. These actions are intended to prevent an unsafe condition on these products.

This action prohibits certain flight operations in the Tehran Flight Information Region (FIR) (OIIX) by all: U.S. air carriers; U.S. commercial operators; persons exercising the privileges of an airman certificate issued by the FAA, except when such persons are operating U.S.-registered aircraft for a foreign air carrier; and operators of U.S.-registered civil aircraft, except when the operator of such aircraft is a foreign air carrier. The FAA finds this action to be necessary to address hazards to persons and aircraft engaged in such flight operations due to heightened military activities and increased political tensions in the Middle East, which present an inadvertent risk to U.S. civil aviation operations due to the potential for miscalculation or misidentification. This action incorporates the flight prohibition contained in Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) KICZ A0002/20 into the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). This action also sets forth the approval process and exemption information for this Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR), consistent with other recently published flight prohibition SFARs.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announces its decision to grant the Samsara Networks, Inc. (Samsara) application for a limited 5-year exemption to allow its AI Dash Cam device to be mounted lower in the windshield on commercial motor vehicles (CMV) than is currently permitted. The Agency has determined that lower placement of the AI Dash Cam device would not have an adverse impact on safety and that adherence to the terms and conditions of the exemption would likely achieve a level of safety equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety provided by the regulation.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions for nine 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 continue to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

The FHWA and the State of Arizona, acting by and through its Department of Transportation (State), propose a renewal of the State's participation in the State Assumption of Responsibility for Categorical Exclusions. This program allows FHWA to assign to States its authority and responsibility for determining whether certain designated activities within the geographic boundaries of the State, as specified in the proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), are categorically excluded from preparation of an environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement under the National Environmental Policy Act. An amended MOU would renew the State's participation in the program. The MOU will be amended by incorporating the following changes: Including language to reference the State's responsibilities under 23 CFR 327; Clarifying that this assignment applies to highway projects; and Removing the stipulation regarding Section 4(f) and legal sufficiency training.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Piper Aircraft, Inc., (Piper) Models PA-46-350P (Malibu Mirage), PA-46R-350T (Malibu Matrix), and PA-46-500TP (Malibu Meridian) airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a finding of several airplanes with wing assemblies that did not have the proper stall warning heater modification design. Without the proper stall warning heat control modification kit installed, during flights into icing conditions with the landing gear down, ice can form on the stall vane, which may result in failure of the stall warning system. This proposed AD would require identifying and correcting nonconforming stall warning heat control systems. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The Secretary of Transportation, as represented by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), is authorized to grant waivers of the U.S.-build requirements of the coastwise trade laws to allow the carriage of no more than twelve passengers for hire on vessels, which are three years old or more. A request for such a waiver has been received by MARAD. The vessel, and a brief description of the proposed service, is listed below.

The Secretary of Transportation, as represented by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), is authorized to grant waivers of the U.S.-build requirements of the coastwise trade laws to allow the carriage of no more than twelve passengers for hire on vessels, which are three years old or more. A request for such a waiver has been received by MARAD. The vessel, and a brief description of the proposed service, is listed below.