Department of Transportation June 1, 2023 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This rule amends, suspends, or removes Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) and associated Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures 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 for the safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace and to promote safe flight operations under instrument flight rules at the affected airports.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited Model DHC-8-401 and -402 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of the main landing gear (MLG) aft door not opening when using the alternate extension system. This proposed AD would require a one-time inspection of the spring box assembly, repetitive inspections of the cam assembly and alternate release cable assembly, corrective actions if necessary, and a replacement of certain alternate release cable assemblies. In addition, this proposed AD would also require certain aircraft maintenance manuals tasks when installing the cam assembly or alternate release cable assembly. This proposed AD would also prohibit the installation of affected parts. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This Notice of Funding Opportunity (``NOFO'') for the RRIF Express Pilot Program (``RRIF Express'') expands the ability of eligible borrowers to access funds by removing the caps on Cost Assistance for advisor fees and Credit Risk Premium (``CRP'') Assistance, provides greater flexibility by allowing unaudited financial statements in lieu of audited financial statements in certain circumstances, and makes other clarifications. The NOFO also implements a sunset date of December 1, 2023. Following the sunset date, this NOFO will expire, and all benefits made available in this Notice will become available to any eligible RRIF borrower, consistent with existing law. All projects that were previously eligible for RRIF Express financing remain eligible under this NOFO. The original NOFO with modifications is in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2022-18- 03, which applied to certain Honda Aircraft Company LLC (Honda) Model HA-420 airplanes. AD 2022-18-03 required incorporating temporary revisions into the airplane flight manual (AFM) and the quick reference handbook (QRH) that modify procedures for windshield heat operation until the affected windshield assemblies are replaced. This AD retains all actions required by AD 2022-18-03 and corrects typographical errors in certain document numbers specified in certain paragraphs of the regulatory information. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action proposes special conditions for the Airbus Model A319-133 and A321-200 series airplanes. This airplane, as modified by Lufthansa Tecknik AG (Lufthansa), will have a novel or unusual design feature when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport category airplanes. This design feature is the installation of an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system based on supercapacitor technology. The current airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These proposed special conditions contain the additional safety standards that the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards.