Department of Transportation June 22, 2023 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2021-23- 13, which applied to all helicopters equipped with a radio (also known as radar) altimeter. AD 2021-23-13 required revising the limitations section of the existing rotorcraft flight manual (RFM) for your helicopter to incorporate limitations prohibiting certain operations requiring radio altimeter data when in the presence of 5G C-Band interference in areas as identified by Notices to Air Missions (NOTAMs). Since the FAA issued AD 2021-23-13, the FAA determined that additional limitations are needed due to the continued deployment of new 5G C-Band base stations whose signals are expected to cover most of the contiguous United States at transmission frequencies between 3.7- 3.98 GHz (5G C-Band). This AD requires revising the limitations section of the existing RFM to incorporate limitations prohibiting certain operations requiring radio altimeter data, due to the presence of 5G C- Band interference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. In addition, the FAA is requesting comment on the change to the spurious emission level requirement.

This action amends the Class D airspace, Class E airspace designated as an extension to a Class D surface area in Ormond Beach, FL, and Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface in Daytona Beach, FL, as the result of a biennial airspace evaluation. This action extends the Class E airspace from 700 feet above the surface surrounding Spruce Creek Airport. The FAA also updates terminology in the Class D and Class E airspace designated as an extension to Class D for Ormond Beach, FL, in the legal descriptions, as well as the geographical coordinates for Daytona Beach International Airport in the legal description for the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface in Daytona Beach, FL.

FMCSA announces its decision to grant a limited 5-year exemption to Pi Variables, Inc. (Pi Variables) to allow Pi-Lit Smart Sequential Road Flares (LED flares) to be deployed when commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) are stopped upon the traveled portion of a highway or the shoulder of a highway for any cause other than necessary traffic stops. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) require one of the following warning devices to be deployed when a CMV is stopped upon the traveled portion of a highway or the shoulder of a highway for any cause other than necessary traffic stops: three bidirectional emergency reflective triangles; at least 6 fusees or at least 3 liquid-burning flares. The vehicle must have as many additional fusees or liquid-burning flares as are necessary to satisfy the regulatory requirements. Other warning devices may be used in addition to, but not in lieu of, the required warning devices, provided they do not decrease the effectiveness of the required devices. The Agency has determined that granting the exemption would likely achieve a level of safety equivalent to or greater than the level of safety provided by the FMCSRs.