Department of Transportation December 8, 2022 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Secretary of Transportation, as represented by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), is authorized to issue coastwise endorsement eligibility determinations for foreign-built vessels which will carry no more than twelve passengers for hire. A request for such a determination has been received by MARAD. By this notice, MARAD seeks comments from interested parties as to any effect this action may have on U.S. vessel builders or businesses in the U.S. that use U.S.-flag vessels. Information about the requestor's vessel, including a brief description of the proposed service, is listed below.

The Secretary of Transportation, as represented by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), is authorized to issue coastwise endorsement eligibility determinations for foreign-built vessels which will carry no more than twelve passengers for hire. A request for such a determination has been received by MARAD. By this notice, MARAD seeks comments from interested parties as to any effect this action may have on U.S. vessel builders or businesses in the U.S. that use U.S.-flag vessels. Information about the requestor's vessel, including a brief description of the proposed service, is listed below.

The Secretary of Transportation, as represented by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), is authorized to issue coastwise endorsement eligibility determinations for foreign-built vessels which will carry no more than twelve passengers for hire. A request for such a determination has been received by MARAD. By this notice, MARAD seeks comments from interested parties as to any effect this action may have on U.S. vessel builders or businesses in the U.S. that use U.S.-flag vessels. Information about the requestor's vessel, including a brief description of the proposed service, is listed below.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2012-02-07, which applies to certain General Electric Company (GE) CF6- 45 and CF6-50 series model turbofan engines with a specified low- pressure turbine (LPT) rotor stage 3 disk installed. AD 2012-02-07 requires inspections of high-pressure turbine (HPT) and LPT rotors, engine checks, vibration surveys, an optional LPT rotor stage 3 disk removal after a failed HPT blade borescope inspection (BSI) or a failed engine core vibration survey, establishes a lower life limit for the affected LPT rotor stage 3 disks, and requires removing these disks from service at times determined by a drawdown plan. Since the FAA issued AD 2012-02-07, four additional events of separation of the LPT rotor assembly have been reported resulting in the LPT rotor assembly departing the rear of the engine. The manufacturer has improved the design of the LPT rotor stage 3 disk. This proposed AD would continue to require inspections of HPT and LPT rotor stage 1 and stage 2 blades, vibration surveys, and use of a lower life limit for the affected LPT rotor stage 3 disks. As a terminating action to the inspections, engine checks, and vibration surveys, this proposed AD would require removal and replacement of the LPT rotor stage 3 disk with a redesigned LPT rotor stage 3 disk. This proposed AD would also revise the compliance time of the drawdown plan for the removal and replacement of the LPT rotor stage 3 disk. This proposed AD would also prohibit the installation or reinstallation of certain LPT rotor stage 3 disks. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA proposes to amend certain airworthiness regulations to standardize the criteria for conducting safety assessments for systems, including flight controls and powerplants, installed on transport category airplanes. With this action, the FAA seeks to reduce risk associated with airplane accidents and incidents that have occurred in service, and reduce risk associated with new technology in flight control systems. The intended effect of this proposed action is to improve aviation safety by making system safety assessment (SSA) certification requirements more comprehensive and consistent.