Department of Transportation 2021 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Pratt & Whitney (PW) PW1500G and PW1900G series turbofan engines. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of cracks in the high-pressure compressor (HPC) rotor shaft that resulted in in-flight shutdowns (IFSDs) and unscheduled engine removals (UERs). This proposed AD would require removal and replacement of the HPC front hub and HPC rotor shaft. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces that the Information Collection Requests (ICRs) discussed below will be forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for renewal and extension. These ICRs describe the nature of the information collections and their expected burdens. A notice and request for comments with a 60-day comment period on these ICRs was published in the Federal Register on February 23, 2021 under Docket No. PHMSA-2020-0159 (Notice No. 2021-01). PHMSA did not receive any comments in response to this notice.

The Board rejects as incomplete an application seeking approval for CSX Corporation (CSXC), CSX Transportation, Inc. (CSXT), and 747 Merger Sub 2, Inc., to acquire control of seven rail carriers owned by Pan Am Systems, Inc. (Systems), and Pan Am Railways, Inc. (PAR), and to merge six of those railroads into CSXT. The Board finds that the application fails to include the information needed to satisfy the Market Analysis requirement for a ``significant'' transaction application under our regulations. However, the applicants are permitted to file a revised application.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Mooney International Corporation (Mooney) Model M20V airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of short circuit and arcing of the alternator main power cable in the engine compartment. This condition, if unaddressed, could result in a fire hazard, loss of engine thrust control, and reduced control of the airplane. This AD requires inspecting the alternator main power cable and the exhaust crossover tube for damage, replacing damaged parts as necessary, and installing an additional alternator cable clamp. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action amends low altitude RNAV route T-207 in Florida by removing the Cecil, FL (VQQ), VOR from the route description due to the planned decommissioning of that VOR. The removal does not affect navigation along the route.

This action proposes to revoke Colored Federal airway R-4 in central Alaska due to the scheduled decommissioning of the Bear Creek (BCC) Non-Directional Beacon (NDB) on December 2, 2021.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is re-issuing an announcement of our intention to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a new information collection and inviting public comments. Before a Federal agency can collect certain information from the public, it must receive approval from OMB. Under procedures established by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, before seeking OMB approval, Federal agencies must solicit public comment on proposed collections of information, including extensions and reinstatement of previously approved collections. This document describes a collection of information for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval on State Data Transfer for Vehicle Crash Information collection. On May 31, 2018 NHTSA published a notice in the Federal Register soliciting public comments with 60-day comment period. On July 23, 2018, NHTSA extended the comment period to September 14, 2018.\1\ Four comments were received before the comment period expired. One comment from Governors Highway Safety Association was submitted after the comment period expired. Given the extended time since the publication of that notice, NHTSA is publishing this new 60-day notice to request comment on its proposed State Data Transfer information collection. This new notice addresses comments received on the original 60-day notice. This notice also announces that NHTSA has requested emergency clearance from OMB for this information collection.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus SAS Model A319-111, -112, -113, -114, -115, -131, -132, and -133 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a determination that the cabin swift broadband antenna doubler installation does not meet widespread fatigue damage (WFD) requirements. This AD requires a one- time special detailed inspection of certain fastener holes, replacement of the cabin swift broadband antenna doubler, and repair if necessary, as specified in a 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 is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc., Model BD-100-1A10 airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of DC motor pump (DCMP) failures during production flight tests. This AD requires installing a redesigned DCMP electric motor assembly. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH (AHD) Model MBB-BK 117 D-2 helicopters. This AD was prompted by a report of a broken Titanium (Ti) bolt. This AD requires removing certain Ti-bolts from service and prohibits installing these Ti-bolts in a critical area. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2016-12-51, which applies to all Airbus Helicopters Model AS332L2 and Model EC225LP helicopters. AD 2016-12-51 prohibits all further flight of Model AS332L2 and Model EC225LP helicopters. AD 2016-12-51 was prompted by an accident in which the main rotor hub detached from the main gearbox (MGB). Since the FAA issued AD 2016-12-51, the design approval holder has developed procedures that address failure of the main rotor system. This proposed AD would require replacing certain second stage planet gear assemblies, removing certain epicyclic modules, installing a full flow magnetic plug (FFMP), revising the existing rotorcraft flight manual (RFM) for your helicopter, repetitively inspecting the MGB particle detectors, repetitively inspecting the MGB oil filter and oil cooler, and corrective action if necessary, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference (IBR). The actions specified in the proposed AD would terminate the flight prohibition. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is considering a proposal to change 0.50 acres (future Parcel 17D) of Clear Zone Easement contained in Parcel 17B to Avigation Easement in exchange for converting 2.94 acres of land currently not controlled by the Airport Sponsor (future Parcel 36) to an Avigation Easement for approach protection. Both Parcel 17B and future Parcel 36 are owned by Crossing Rivers Health Center (and are being sold to a commercial developer) and located adjacent to Prairie du Chien Municipal Airport, Prairie du Chien, WI. The proposed release of 0.50 acres of Clear Zone Easement to Avigation Easement is not in the Runway Protection Zone (RPZ). The release of 0.50 acres from Clear Zone Easement to Avigation Easement is required to allow development on the property that is being sold by the Crossing Rivers Health Center. The conversion from Clear Zone Easement to Avigation Easement will not result in any impact to surfaces protected by Part 77 or airport design surfaces. The Clear Zone Easement was originally purchased to enable the Airport to ensure airport compatible land use. The proposed future use of 0.50 acres of the land will be a compatible land use.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA invites public comments about our intention to request Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew an information collection. The collection involves information required to process a request for a Minimum Equipment List (MEL) Letter of Authorization (LOA) in accordance with certain regulations prescribing general operating and flight rules. The information to be collected is necessary because a written request is required to obtain an MEL LOA. The information collected includes only those details essential to evaluate the request, approve the MEL, and issue the LOA.

This action proposes to amend the Class D and Class E airspace and establish Class E airspace at airports in Waco, TX. The FAA is proposing this action as the result of biennial airspace reviews. The name and geographic coordinates of various airports and navigational aids would also be updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.

This action proposes to amend the Class D airspace and Class E airspace at Carbondale, IL, and Marion, IL; revoke the Class E airspace area designated as an extension to Class D airspace at Veterans Airport of Southern Illinois, Marion, IL; and establish Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Southern Illinois Airport, Carbondale/Murphysboro, IL. The FAA is proposing this action as the result of airspace reviews caused by the decommissioning of the Marion very high frequency (VHF) omnidirectional range (VOR) as part of the VOR Minimal Operational Network (MON) Program. The names and geographic coordinates of the airports would also be updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.

This action proposes to amend the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Eveleth-Virginia Municipal Airport, Eveleth, MN. The FAA is proposing this action as the result of an airspace review caused by the decommissioning of the Eveleth non- directional beacon (NDB). The geographic coordinates of the airport would also be updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) Trent XWB-75, Trent XWB-79, Trent XWB-79B, and Trent XWB-84 model turbofan engines. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of cracks in the intermediate-pressure compressor (IPC) rotor 1 (R1) blades installed on certain Trent XWB model turbofan engines. This proposed AD would require initial and repetitive borescope inspections (BSIs) of the affected IPC R1 blades and, depending on the results of the inspections, replacement of all 34 IPC R1 blades. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the opportunity to apply for $10 million in competitive grants for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Public Transportation on Indian Reservations (Tribal Transit) Program. As required by Federal public transportation law, funds will be awarded competitively for any purpose eligible under FTA's Formula Grants for Rural Areas Program, 49 U.S.C. 5311, including planning, capital, and operating assistance for tribal public transit services in rural areas. FTA may award additional funding that is made available to the program prior to the announcement of project selections.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain MHI RJ Aviation ULC Model CL-600-2C10 (Regional Jet Series 700, 701 & 702), CL-600-2C11 (Regional Jet Series 550), CL-600-2D15 (Regional Jet Series 705), CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900), and CL-600-2E25 (Regional Jet Series 1000) airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a determination that new airworthiness limitations for structural inspections and safe life components are necessary. This proposed AD would require revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new airworthiness limitations. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2015-17- 08, which applied to certain Bombardier, Inc. Model DHC-8-400 series airplanes. AD 2015-17-08 required installing new cable assemblies with a pull-down resistor. This AD requires modifications to the nose wheel steering (NWS) system. This AD was prompted by a report indicating that several failure modes of the NWS system may cause the loss of feedback from both rotary variable differential transformers to the steering control unit. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH Model MBB-BK 117 C-2 and Model MBB- BK 117 D-2 helicopters. This AD was prompted by a determination that a life limit for the adapter forward (FWD) of the outboard load system, repetitive inspections of other components of that system, and for certain helicopters, a modification of the outboard load system, are necessary to address the unsafe condition. This AD requires a modification of the outboard load system for certain helicopters, repetitive inspections of the outboard load system and its components for any defect (including cracking, damage, corrosion, and incorrect installation) and applicable corrective actions, and implementation of a new life limit for the FWD adapter, 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.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below will be forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected burden. This is a request for an extension of a currently-approved information collection. This document describes the collection of information for which NHTSA seeks OMB extension approval, titled ``Automated Driving Systems 2.0: A Vision for Safety'' and identified by OMB Control Number 2127-0723, which is currently approved through May 31, 2021. The burden hour calculations have been adjusted to reflect a reduction in burden as well as a reduction in the frequency of response resulting in a total annual burden hour reduction from 86,100 hours to 12,000 hours. A Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the information collection was published on March 9, 2021. NHTSA received three comments to this notice, two of which were generally supportive of the information collection. The third comment addressed accessibility of ADS-equipped vehicles. None of the comments addressed burden hours or cost estimates.

The FAA is considering a proposal to change 18.8 acres of airport land from aeronautical use to non-aeronautical use and to authorize the sale of airport property located at the West Michigan Regional Airport, Holland, Michigan. The aforementioned land is not needed for aeronautical use. The property is located near the southeast corner of 64th Street and CSX Transportation Railroad. It is currently vacant, undeveloped land with no future aeronautical use identified. The property is proposed to be sold for a future non-aeronautical airport compatible land use.