Department of Transportation July 2021 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This action modifies three existing high altitude area navigation (RNAV) routes (Q-routes), and establishes one new Q-route, in support of the Northeast Corridor Atlantic Coast Route (NEC ACR) Project. This action improves the efficiency of the National Airspace System (NAS) by expanding the availability of RNAV routing and reducing the dependency on ground-based navigational systems.

This action amends VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airways V-9, V-63, V-100, V-158, and V-171; amends Area Navigation (RNAV) route T-325; and removes VOR Federal airway V-127 in the vicinity of Rockford, IL. The air traffic service (ATS) route modifications are necessary due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Rockford, IL, VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/ DME) navigational aid (NAVAID). Except for RNAV route T-325, the Rockford VOR/DME NAVAID provides navigation guidance for portions of the affected routes listed above. The Rockford VOR is being decommissioned as part of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for various restricted category helicopters, originally manufactured by Bell Textron Inc. (Bell). This AD was prompted by multiple events involving failure of the tail boom attach structure including the bolts. This AD requires revising the existing Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM) for your helicopter to incorporate pre-flight checks; removing paint and sealant, and cleaning; repetitive inspections of structural components that attach the tail boom to the fuselage; and depending on the outcome of the inspections, repairing or replacing components, or re-bonding the structure. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action establishes Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface of the earth at El Capitan Lodge, Craig, AK. This action accommodates a new area navigation (RNAV) procedure and ensures the safety and management of instrument flight rule (IFR) operations within the National Airspace System.

The FHWA, on behalf of Caltrans, is issuing this notice to announce actions taken by Caltrans that are final within the meaning of the regulation. The actions relate to a proposed highway project on State Route 198 from post mile R11.3/R12.0 and on State Route 216 from post mile R0.0/R2.56 in Tulare County for the Lovers Lane Operational Improvements and Rehabilitation Project. Those actions grant licenses, permits, and approvals for the project.

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 Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on February 26, 2021. The collection involves the submission of FAA Form 8710-4 for the certification process of rotorcraft external-load operators. The information to be collected is necessary to evaluate the applicants' qualifications for certification.

FMCSA codifies the statutory requirement that State driver licensing agencies (SDLAs) implement a system and practices for the exclusively electronic exchange of driver history record (DHR) information through the Commercial Driver's License Information System (CDLIS), including the posting of convictions, withdrawals, and disqualifications. The rule aligns FMCSA's regulations with existing statutory requirements set forth in the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21). The rule also establishes a date by which States must be in substantial compliance with this final rule.

The FAA proposes to rule and invite public comment on the release of land at the Roswell Air Center under the provisions of Section 125 of the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR 21).

This action proposes to amend the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Salem Memorial Airport, Salem, MO. The FAA is proposing this action as the result of an airspace review caused by the decommissioning of the Maples very high frequency (VHF) omnidirectional range (VOR) as part of the VOR Minimal Operational Network (MON) Program.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bell Textron Canada Limited (type certificate previously held by Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited) (Bell) Model 429 helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of incorrectly staked spherical bearings in the directional control bellcrank assembly. This proposed AD would require a one-time inspection of the lower surface of the spherical bearing in the directional control bellcrank assembly to determine if it is properly staked and, depending on the findings, applicable corrective actions. For certain helicopters, this proposed AD would also require repetitive inspections and, depending on the findings, applicable corrective actions. This proposed AD would also provide a terminating action for the repetitive inspections. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2021-05-16, which applies to certain Pratt & Whitney Division (PW) PW4164, PW4164-1D, PW4168, PW4168-1D, PW4168A, PW4168A-1D, and PW4170 model turbofan engines. AD 2021-05-16 requires initial and repetitive replacements of the low-pressure turbine (LPT) 4th-stage air sealing ring segment assemblies with parts eligible for installation. AD 2021- 05-16 also requires initial and repetitive dimensional inspections of the LPT case for bulging and, depending on the results of the dimensional inspections, repair or replacement of the LPT case. Since the FAA issued AD 2021-05-16, the FAA was notified of an inadvertent omission in the LPT 4th-stage air sealing ring segment assembly part numbers. This proposed AD would correct this omission. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action establishes Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface of the earth at Crooked Creek Airport, Crooked Creek, AK. This action will accommodate new area navigation (RNAV) procedures and ensure the safety and management of instrument flight rule (IFR) operations within the National Airspace System.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Helicopters Model SA-365N, SA-365N1, AS-365N2, and AS 365 N3 helicopters. This AD was prompted by a report that damage (scorch marks) was found on an internal life raft installation that contained a half rescue kit. This AD requires identifying the part number and serial number of each half rescue kit located in the internal life raft installation and, depending on the findings, inspecting the life raft for damage, inspecting the condition of the flashlight battery, testing the flashlight battery, and replacing the life raft or flashlight battery (including the leak test) as applicable, as specified in a European Aviation Safety Agency (now European Union Aviation Safety Agency) (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain H[eacute]licopt[egrave]res Guimbal Model CABRI G2 helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by a report that, during scheduled maintenance on two helicopters, cracks were found on a certain main rotor (MR) non-rotating scissor link. This proposed AD would require replacing an affected MR non-rotating scissor link with a serviceable part. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This notice announces final environmental actions taken by FRA and FTA regarding the Hudson Tunnel Project (Project). The purpose of this notice is to announce publicly the environmental decisions on the subject project and to activate the limitation on any claims that may challenge these final environmental actions.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Pacific Aerospace Limited Model 750XL airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as installation of the wing leading edge tank fuel pickup assembly in a pre-stressed condition, which could cause cracks in the wing spar web or the fuel pickup assembly pipe. This proposed AD would require inspecting the angle of the support bracket on the wing leading edge tank fuel pickup assembly and taking any necessary corrective actions. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. (Pilatus) Models PC-12/45, PC-12/47, and PC- 12/47E airplanes with Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) SA00634DE installed. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of strake attachment brackets and the fuselage frame failing at the upper most bracket attachment location. This proposed AD would require inspecting the strake, attachment brackets, surrounding structure, and bolts and replacing components and repairing damage if necessary. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action proposes to amend Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface for Chester Catawba Regional Airport, Chester, SC; Lancaster County-McWhirter Field Airport, Lancaster, SC; JAARS-Townsend Airport, Waxhaw, NC; and Lincolnton- Lincoln County Regional Airport, Lincolnton, NC. The FAA is proposing this action as a result of the Charlotte Class B Biennial Review. This action would also update the airport's names of Chester Catawba Regional Airport, (previously Chester Municipal Airport); JAARS- Townsend Airport, (previously Waxhaw, JAARS-Townsend Airport); and Lincolnton-Lincoln County Regional Airport, (previously Lincolnton, Lincoln County Airport). In addition, this action would also update the geographic coordinates of Lancaster County-McWhirter Field Airport and Lincolnton-Lincoln County Regional Airport to coincide with the FAA's database. Controlled airspace is necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations in the area.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below, regarding the reinstatement of a previously approved collection of information on Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The ICR describes the labeling requirement for retroreflective sheeting material and its expected burden. A Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following information collection was published on July 7, 2020. No comments were received regarding this information collection.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain General Electric Company (GE) GEnx-2B67, GEnx-2B67/P, and GEnx- 2B67B model turbofan engines. This AD was prompted by a report of a crack in the lower fuel manifold causing fuel leakage. This AD requires an ultrasonic inspection (USI) or a fluorescent penetrant inspection (FPI) of the lower fuel manifold. Depending on the results of the USI or FPI, this AD requires replacement of the lower fuel manifold with a part eligible for installation. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (Department or DOT) is proposing to mandate refunds for delayed checked baggage and ancillary fees for services related to air travel that passengers did not receive. DOT is required by law to issue regulations mandating both refunds.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions for three individuals from the hearing requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) for interstate commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. The exemptions enable these hard of hearing and deaf individuals to continue to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions for 67 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 FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc., Model BD-100-1A10 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report that certain airplanes have navigation units with outdated magnetic variation (MagVar) tables. This AD requires revising the existing airplane flight manual (AFM) and applicable corresponding operational procedures to update the flight management system (FMS) limitations. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.