Department of Transportation July 25, 2023 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This action amends United States Area Navigation (RNAV) route T-225 in the vicinity of Galena, AK in support of a large and comprehensive T-route modernization project for the state of Alaska.

This action establishes United States Area Navigation (RNAV) route T-481 in the vicinity of Sitka, AK. This action is in support of a large and comprehensive RNAV T-route modernization project for the state of Alaska. Due to an error, this route was originally proposed as number T-383, which is already assigned as a RNAV T-Route in the vicinity of Gopher, MN. The FAA assigns number T-481 to this T-Route in the vicinity of Sitka, AK.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc., Model CL-600-2B16 (601-3A, 601-3R, and 604 Variants) airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by sleeve loops on some passenger oxygen mask lanyards that had improper crimping and unsealed ends. This proposed AD would require an inspection of the passenger oxygen mask lanyards and replacement of defective oxygen mask lanyards. 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 action prohibits certain flight operations in the Kabul Flight Information Region (FIR) (OAKX) at altitudes below Flight Level (FL) 320 by all: U.S. air carriers; U.S. commercial operators; persons exercising the privileges of an airman certificate issued by the FAA, except when such persons are operating U.S.-registered aircraft for a foreign air carrier; and operators of U.S.-registered civil aircraft, except when the operator of such aircraft is a foreign air carrier. The FAA finds this action necessary to address hazards to persons and aircraft engaged in such flight operations due to the risk posed by violent extremist and militant activity and the lack of adequate risk mitigation capabilities to counter such activity. However, the FAA has determined that U.S. civil overflights of the Kabul FIR (OAKX) at altitudes at and above FL320 may resume due to diminished risks to U.S. civil aviation operations at those altitudes. This action also provides information regarding the approval and exemption processes for this Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR), consistent with other recently published flight prohibition SFARs.

This action amends six United States Area Navigation (RNAV) Q- routes in the eastern United States. This action supports the Northeast Corridor Atlantic Coast Routes (NEC ACR) Optimization Project to improve the efficiency of the National Airspace System (NAS).