Department of Transportation November 9, 2022 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all The Boeing Company Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, -900, and -900ER series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by an evaluation by the design approval holder (DAH) indicating that the skin lap splice at certain stringers is subject to widespread fatigue damage (WFD). This proposed AD would require an inspection for any repair at certain skin lap splices and depending on the configuration, repetitive inspections for buckling, wrinkling, bulging at affected skin lap splices and repair, repetitive inspections for cracking at affected locations common to fuselage skin on the left and right sides and repair, and alternative inspections and on-condition actions. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The Department of Transportation (DOT), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), announces the opportunity to apply for $20 million in FY 2023 Airport Infrastructure Grant funds for the FAA Contract Tower (FCT) Competitive Grant Program, made available under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, herein referred to as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). The purpose of the FCT Competitive Grant Program is to make annual grants available to eligible airports for airport-owned airport traffic control tower (ATCT) projects that address the aging infrastructure of the nation's airports. In addition, the FCT Competitive Grant Program will align with DOT's Strategic Framework FY2022-2026 at www.transportation.gov/ administrations/office-policy/fy2022- 2026-strategic-framework.

PHMSA announces the availability for public review and comment on the Natural Gas Distribution Infrastructure Safety and Modernization (NGDISM) Grant Program Tier 1 Nationwide Environmental Assessment. PHMSA is using a programmatic, tiered environmental analysis to: describe the effects of implementing the NGDISM Grant Program and ensure that implementation of the NGDISM Grant Program at any project site complies with environmental laws and does not result in a significant environmental impact.

This action proposes to amend Class D airspace, Class E surface airspace, and Class E airspace designated as an extension to a Class D surface area and Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Athens/Ben Epps Airport, Athens, GA as a result of the biennial airspace evaluation. This action would eliminate the excess airspace remaining after the decommissioning of the Bulldog Non-Directional Beacon (NDB) and subsequent cancellation of the NDB Runway 27 approach to Athens/Ben Epps Airport effective October 15, 2015, as well as update the geographic coordinates for the airport and the point-of-origin. Controlled airspace is necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations in the area.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2000-20- 15, which applied to certain Airbus SAS Model A300 and A300-600 series airplanes. AD 2000-20-15 required a high frequency eddy current (HFEC) inspection to detect cracking of the rear fittings of fuselage frame FR40 at stringer 27, and repetitive inspections or repair, as applicable. In lieu of accomplishing the repetitive inspections, AD 2000-20-15 provided a modification that would allow the inspection to be deferred for a certain period of time. This AD was prompted by cracking of the rear fittings of fuselage frame FR40 at stringer 27, and a determination that reduced compliance times are necessary. This AD removes airplanes from the applicability, and continues to require the actions in AD 2000-20-15, but at reduced compliance times, 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 proposes to rule and invite public comment on the release of land at the Monroe Regional Airport under the provisions of Section 125 of the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR 21).

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain GE Aviation Czech s.r.o. (GEAC) M601E-11, M601E-11A, M601E- 11AS, M601E-11S, and M601F model turboprop engines. This proposed AD was prompted by the exclusion of life limits for certain compressor cases and compressor drums from the airworthiness limitations section (ALS) of the engine maintenance manual (EMM). This proposed AD was also prompted by certain compressor cases that, following rework, were improperly re-identified and the engine logbook entries were not completed. This proposed AD would require recalculation of the consumed life for the affected compressor cases and compressor drums and, depending on the results of the recalculation, removal and replacement of the affected compressor case or compressor drum with a part eligible for installation. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

FMCSA announces its decision to deny the application from Leland Schmitt, Jr., requesting an exemption from five provisions of the federal hours of service (HOS) regulations. The applicant requests the exemption for a five-year period and believes that his safe driving record and experience demonstrate an equivalent level of safety. FMCSA analyzed the application and public comments and determined that the exemption would not achieve a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level that would be achieved absent such exemption.