Department of Transportation October 17, 2023 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This rulemaking would revise the Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR), Robinson R-22/44 Special Training and Experience Requirements, to provide consistency with other FAA regulatory requirements, training, and testing publications. The rulemaking would remove the low gravity (low G) dual flight instruction requirement to align the SFAR with current aircraft placard requirements and the limitations section of the Rotorcraft Flight Manual/Pilot Operating Handbook (RFM/POH) set forth by Airworthiness Directives (ADs). This proposed revision would also update the SFAR so it mirrors the terminology currently used in the Helicopter Flying Handbook and Practical Test Standards (PTS). This rulemaking proposes to clarify the awareness training endorsement and flight review requirements for less experienced pilots, remove legacy dates, and update the applicability section to include ground and flight training, including flight reviews provided by authorized flight instructors. Additionally, the FAA proposes to add an expiration date to the SFAR to allow the FAA time to review and refine the R-22 and R-44 requirements for ground training, aeronautical experience, including flight training, and flight reviews, before moving them to a permanent location in a separate subchapter.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2022-18- 09, which applied to certain Airbus SAS Model A319-111, -112, -113, - 114, -115, -131, -132, and -133; A320-211, -212, -214, -216, -231, - 232, -233, -251N, and -271N; and A321-111, -112, -131, -211, -212, - 213, -231, -232, -251N, and -253N airplanes. AD 2022-18-09 continued to require the actions in AD 2019-26-01 and AD 2021-23-15, and added airplanes to the applicability. Since the FAA issued AD 2022-18-09, it was determined that additional airplanes and galleys are subject to the unsafe condition, and a compliance time for certain airplanes should be extended. This AD continues to require the actions in AD 2022-18-09 and requires expanding the applicability, obtaining and following additional instructions for certain modified airplanes, and extending the compliance time for certain airplanes, 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 FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc., Model BD-700-2A12 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report that some of the multi-function spoiler (MFS) anti-rotation plates failed in-service due to a thin wall design. This AD requires replacing the MFS anti-rotation plates, inspecting the MFS anti-rotation plates for cracking and hinge bolts for evidence of rotation, accomplishing applicable corrective actions, and performing a functional test of the MFS control surfaces. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.