Department of Transportation April 2023 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its determination that the Noise Exposure Maps submitted by Monroe County for the Key West International Airport under the provisions of the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act are in compliance with applicable requirements.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2020-21- 20, which applied to certain Dassault Aviation Model FALCON 900EX airplanes. AD 2020-21-20 required revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive maintenance requirements and/or airworthiness limitations. This AD was prompted by a determination that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. This AD continues to require the actions in AD 2020-21-20 and requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate additional new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations; as specified in 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 all The Boeing Company Model 747-8 and 747-8F series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of cracks in stringers, common to the end fittings, forward and aft of the pressure bulkhead at station (STA) 2360 at multiple stringer locations. This proposed AD would require repetitive inspections of stringer sidewalls and certain stringer assemblies, common to the end fittings, forward and aft of the pressure bulkhead at STA 2360 for any crack, and applicable on- condition 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 certain Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Model GVII-G600 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a failure that occurred during flight testing of a Gulfstream Model GVII-G500 airplane, when the aircraft was configuring for a steep approach test point, the crew received a flap failure message that was a result of a disconnect of the left hand flap due to structural failure. This AD requires revising the airworthiness limitations section (ALS) of the instructions for continued airworthiness (ICA) or inspection program for the airplane to establish a life limit for certain left-hand and right-hand inboard flap yoke fittings. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The Board hereby gives notice of vacancies on RSTAC for a small railroad representative and a large railroad representative. The Board seeks nominations for candidates to fill these vacancies.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its determination that the noise exposure maps submitted by the Hawaii Department of Transportation for Lihue Airport are in compliance with applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) invites public comments about our intention to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for an extension of a currently approved information collection. 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. This document describes an existing collection of information for NHTSA's Automated Vehicle Transparency and Engagement for Safe Testing (AV TEST) Initiative for which NHTSA intends to seek renewed OMB approval. The AV TEST Initiative involves the voluntary collection of information from entities testing vehicles equipped with automated driving systems (ADS) and from States and local authorities involved in the regulation of ADS testing. The purpose of this collection is to provide information to the public about ADS testing operations in the U.S. and applicable State and local laws, regulations, and guidelines.

FMCSA announces its decision to deny applications from 132 individuals who requested an exemption from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) prohibiting persons with a clinical diagnosis of epilepsy or any other condition that is likely to cause a loss of consciousness or any loss of ability to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) from operating CMVs in interstate commerce.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all The Boeing Company Model 767-2C series airplanes. This AD was prompted by arcing on an electrical terminal lug in a certain electrical power panel that caused heat and smoke damage, as a result of a loose power feeder terminal lug connection. This AD requires inspection of each terminal lug on certain electrical power panels for evidence of arcing and/or loose connection and applicable on-condition actions. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2021-09- 12, which applied to certain Dassault Aviation Model FALCON 7X airplanes. AD 2021-09-12 required revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations. This AD was prompted by a determination that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. This AD continues to require the actions in AD 2021-09- 12 and requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate additional new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations, 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 FHWA and FTA are issuing this notice to advise other Federal, State, and local agencies, Tribes, and the public that a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) will be prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for the Interstate Bridge Replacement (IBR) Program for proposed highway and high-capacity transit improvements between Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington, across the Columbia River in the Interstate 5 (I-5) corridor, including the interstate bridge replacement and addressing changes that have occurred since the I-5 Columbia River Crossing (CRC) Project's 2011 Record of Decision (ROD).

This rule establishes, amends, suspends, or removes Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPS) and associated Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure procedures (ODPs) for operations at certain airports. These regulatory actions are needed because of the adoption of new or revised criteria, or because of changes occurring in the National Airspace System, such as the commissioning of new navigational facilities, adding new obstacles, or changing air traffic requirements. These changes are designed to provide safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace and to promote safe flight operations under instrument flight rules at the affected airports.

On November 15, 2021, Congress passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). Under Sec. 24108(e) Congress authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to enhance the collection of crash data by upgrading the Crash Investigation Sampling System (CISS) to include (1) additional program sites; (2) an expanded scope that includes all crash types; and (3) on-scene investigation protocols. The NHTSA is conducting a comprehensive review of the Crash Investigation Sampling System (CISS) sample design and data collection methods as part of a major effort to upgrade CISS. Users of CISS and other crash data may comment as to the future utility of current CISS, recommend ways to upgrade current CISS, and indicate their anticipated data needs. All comments should be submitted via Docket number NHTSA-2023-0016.

This notice announces a meeting of the Lithium Battery Air Safety Advisory Committee (Committee).

The FAA is considering a request from the Tulsa Airport Improvement Trust to change approximately 241.72 acres, located on the east side of the airport bordered by North Mingo Road, 46th Street and Mingo Valley Expressway, from aeronautical use to non-aeronautical use and to authorize the conversion of the airport property.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2021-10-09 for certain CFM International, S.A. (CFM) CFM56-5B and CFM56-7B model turbofan engines with a certain high-pressure turbine (HPT) inner stationary seal installed. AD 2021-10-09 required removal, inspection, and replacement of the affected HPT inner stationary seal and, depending on the findings, replacement of the rotating air HPT front seal, HPT rotor blades, and No. 3 ball bearing. This AD was prompted by cracks found in the rotating air HPT front seal. After the FAA issued AD 2021-10-09, the manufacturer notified the FAA that the service information incorrectly lists the year of certain honeycomb repairs and that affected HPT inner stationary seals could potentially be installed on CFM CFM56-5C model turbofan engines. This AD requires removal, inspection, and replacement of the affected HPT inner stationary seal and, depending on the findings, replacement of the rotating air HPT front seal, HPT rotor blades, and No. 3 ball bearing. This AD also revises the applicability to add CFM CFM56-5C model turbofan engines. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

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 November 15, 2022. The information to be collected is necessary to insure the safety of the flying public. Documentation of maintenance repair actions record who, what, when, where and how of the task performed. All maintenance actions as well as documentation are required by the Code of Federal Regulations. This collection focuses on the Form 337 which is collected by the FAA as required by Federal Aviation Regulation Part 43. Other records for preventative maintenance, and logbook entries are not collected by the FAA serve as a responsibility of the owner to maintain in case of verification of airworthiness when seeking approvals or sale of the aircraft. This insures proper certification of personnel; proper tooling is utilized and accurate measures to insure safety. Total form 337s submitted in 2017 is 54,237. Total aircraft registrations on file is 289,490. It is estimated by the numbers collected one in every five aircraft have a 337 form submitted for major alteration and repairs performed. Each 337 takes approximately 1 hour.

This action establishes Class E airspace at Delphi, IN. This action supports the establishment of new public instrument procedures.

This action establishes Class E airspace at Smithville, TX. This action supports the establishment of new public instrument procedures.

This action establishes Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at New Coalinga Municipal Airport, Coalinga, CA. The establishment of Class E airspace at Coalinga supports the airport's transition from visual flight rule (VFR) to instrument flight rule (IFR) operations.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Bombardier, Inc., Model BD-700-2A12 airplanes. This AD was prompted by the determination that radio altimeters cannot be relied upon to perform their intended function if they experience interference from wireless broadband operations in the 3.7-3.98 GHz frequency band (5G C- Band), and a recent determination that this interference can result in unavailable or misleading radio altimeter information, adversely affecting the performance of the automatic flight control system (AFCS) and fly-by-wire (FBW) systems and resulting in increased flightcrew workload during takeoff, approach, and landing below 400 feet above ground level (AGL). This AD requires revising the existing airplane flight manual (AFM) with new limitations to mitigate identified hazards due to 5G C-Band interference as identified by Notices to Air Missions (NOTAMs). The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.