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

FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions for 28 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.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2019-05-06, which applies to Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH (Airbus Helicopters) Model EC135P1, EC135P2, EC135P2+, EC135P3, EC135T1, EC135T2, EC135T2+, and EC135T3 helicopters. AD 2019-05-06 requires replacing the retaining ring, inspecting the hoist cable hook assembly, and, if necessary, replacing the elastomeric energy absorber. Since the FAA issued AD 2019-05-06 the design approval holder (DAH) has designed an updated hook assembly, which, when installed, terminates the repetitive inspections required by AD 2019-05-06. This proposed AD would continue to require the actions specified in AD 2019-05-06, and would also require a modification or replacement of the hoist cable hook assembly that would terminate the repetitive inspections and retaining ring replacements, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference (IBR). 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 certain Airbus Canada Limited Partnership Model BD-500-1A10 and BD- 500-1A11 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report indicating that during production, the manual opening and closing of the over-wing emergency exit door (OWEED) prior to the installation of the OWEED interior panel could have resulted in damaged insulation blankets below the left and right OWEEDs. This proposed AD would require a one-time inspection for damage of the insulation blankets below the left and right OWEEDs, and replacement if necessary, as specified in a Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference. 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 certain De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited Model DHC-8-400, - 401, and -402 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of cracking found on a main landing gear (MLG) drag strut assembly. This proposed AD would require a records review to determine if an affected MLG drag strut assembly is installed, repetitive detailed inspections for cracking of affected strut assemblies, a one-time magnetic particle inspection for cracking, and on-condition actions if necessary. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action amends the Class D airspace and Class E airspace at Carbondale, IL, and Marion, IL; revokes the Class E airspace area designated as an extension to Class D airspace at Veterans Airport of Southern Illinois, Marion, IL; and establishes Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Southern Illinois Airport, Carbondale/Murphysboro, IL. This action is the result of an airspace review caused by the decommissioning of the Marion very high frequency (VHF) omnidirectional range (VOR) navigation aid as part of the VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) Program. The names and geographic coordinates of the airports are also being updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.

This action amends the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at South Texas Regional Airport at Hondo, Hondo, TX. This action is the result of an airspace review due to the decommissioning of the Hondo non-directional beacon (NDB). The name and geographic coordinates of the airport are also being updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.

This action amends Class D airspace by removing unnecessary verbiage from the description, and Class E surface airspace in Savannah, GA, by updating the dividing line between Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport and Hunter Army Airfield, and separating the descriptions of the two airports under the surface E airspace. Controlled airspace is necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations in the area.

This document provides the public notice that on July 19, 2021, Norfolk Southern Railway Company (NS) petitioned the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to extend an existing temporary suspension of some visual track inspections to allow for a continuation of a previously approved Test Program designed to test track inspection technologies (i.e., an autonomous track geometry measurement system) and new operational approaches to track inspections (i.e., combinations of autonomous inspection and traditional visual inspections).

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Embraer S.A. Models EMB-500 and EMB-505 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report that the operational envelope does not contain airspeed limitations and procedures for operating the airplane at static air temperatures below -54 [deg]C. This proposed AD would require revising the airplane flight manual (AFM) to incorporate new and revised airspeed limitations and procedures. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (Department or DOT) published a final rule to, among other things, raise the liability limits for denied boarding compensation that U.S. and foreign air carriers may impose from the current figures of $675 and $1,350 to $775 and $1,550. That final rule became effective on April 13, 2021. This document corrects an editorial error in the rule text of that final rule. This document also makes several technical corrections to the regulation regarding oversales reporting.