Department of Transportation 2023 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

DOT is announcing a virtual public hearing pursuant on certain issues related to the U.S. Department of Transportation's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Airline Ticket Refunds and Consumer Protections.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Fokker Services B.V. Model F28 Mark 0070 and 0100 airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of cracks at the upper and lower fastener holes of a repair plate in the stubwing, which had been applied to repair heat damage. This AD requires a one-time inspection of the fuselage skin in the stubwing bay area to determine if a heat damage repair plate is installed, an inspection of repaired areas for cracking, and applicable corrective actions, 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 Airbus SAS Model A350-941 and -1041 airplanes. This AD was prompted by an in-service inspection that found overhead storage compartment (OHSC) crash rods that were disconnected. This AD requires a one-time detailed inspection of the OHSC crash rods and, depending on findings, corrective actions, 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.

NHTSA is soliciting applications for appointment to the DOT's NEMSAC. The purpose of NEMSAC is to serve as a nationally recognized council of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) representatives and consumers to provide advice and recommendations regarding EMS to DOT. Through NHTSA, NEMSAC's advice is provided to the Federal Interagency Committee on EMS (FICEMS).

As required by the Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act, a draft policy statement would revise FAA procedures in order to require applicants for amendments to type certificates (TCs) for transport category aircraft to disclose, in a single document at the beginning of the certification process, all new systems and intended changes to existing systems known to the applicant.

This action extends the comment period for the NPRM titled ``System Safety Assessments,'' that was published on December 8, 2022. In that document, the FAA proposed to amend certain airworthiness regulations to standardize the criteria for conducting safety assessments for systems, including flight controls and powerplants, installed on transport category airplanes. With this action, the FAA seeks to reduce risk associated with airplane accidents and incidents that have occurred in service, and reduce risk associated with new technology in flight control systems. The intended effect of this proposed action is to improve aviation safety by making system safety assessment (SSA) certification requirements more comprehensive and consistent. The FAA is extending the comment period closing date to allow commenters additional time to analyze the proposed rule and prepare a response.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2015-09-04 R1, which applied to DG Flugzeugbau GmbH Model DG-1000T gliders equipped with a Solo Kleinmotoren GmbH (currently Solo Vertriebs-und Entwicklungs-GmbH) (Solo) Model 2350 C engine. AD 2015-09-04 R1 prohibited operation of the engine and required performing a magnetic particle or dye penetrant inspection of the propeller shaft and reporting the results of the inspection to Solo. This AD is prompted by mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI identifies the unsafe condition as occurrences of rupture of the eccentric axle on Solo Model 2350 C engines (installed on DG Flugzeugbau GmbH Model DG-1000T gliders in the United States) and an occurrence on a Solo Model 2350 D engine (installed on Schempp-Hirth Flugzeugbau GmbH (Schempp-Hirth) Model Duo Discus T gliders in the United States). This AD requires repetitive replacement of the eccentric axle, adds the Schempp-Hirth Model Duo Discus T gliders to the applicability, and retains from AD 2015-09-04 R1 the option of operating the glider with the engine non-operative instead of replacing the eccentric axle. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action proposes to amend Class D airspace, remove Class E airspace designated as an extension to a Class D surface area, establish a Class D airspace extension, and amend Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Quantico MCAF (Turner Field), Quantico, VA, as an airspace evaluation determined an update is necessary. In addition, this action would remove the Brooke Very High-Frequency Omnidirectional Range Collocated Tactical Air (VORTAC) from the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface in the legal description, remove the extension to the south, and increases the radius of the Class E airspace. This action would also update the airport's geographic coordinates and replace the terms Notice to Airmen with Notice to Air Missions and Airport/Facility Directory with Chart Supplement in the descriptions.

This action proposes to amend Very High Frequency (VHF) Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airways V-71 and V-245, revoke VOR Federal airways V-554 and V-570, and establish Area Navigation (RNAV) routes T-471, T-473, and T-474. The FAA is proposing this action due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Natchez, MS (HEZ), VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) navigational aid (NAVAID). The Natchez VOR is being decommissioned in support of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions for six individuals from the requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) that interstate commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers have ``no established medical history or clinical diagnosis of epilepsy or any other condition which is likely to cause loss of consciousness or any loss of ability to control a CMV.'' The exemptions enable these individuals who have had one or more seizures and are taking anti-seizure medication to continue to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc., Model BD-100-1A10 airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of cracks found in the tailcone upper firewall where the auxiliary power unit (APU) muffler electrical bonding strap is attached. This AD requires a detailed visual inspection of the tailcone upper firewall for defects, rework by replacement of the APU electrical bonding strap, and repair if necessary. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all The Boeing Company Model 777 airplanes. This AD was prompted by fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. This AD requires, depending on the airplane configuration, installation of Teflon sleeves, cap sealing of fasteners, detailed inspections, and corrective actions. This AD also requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate more restrictive airworthiness limitations (AWLs). The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

NHTSA received a petition to extend the comment period for a Request for comments (RFC) notice on the Draft Model Minimum Uniform Crash Criteria (MMUCC) Guideline, Sixth Edition. NHTSA published an RFC notice announcing the draft of MMUCC on February 2, 2023. The comment period for the RFC notice was scheduled to end on April 3, 2023. NHTSA is extending the comment period for the February 2, 2023 RFC notice by 30 days.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Model Avro 146-RJ series airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report that certain inertial reference units (IRUs) have out-of-date magnetic variation (MagVar) tables. This AD requires assessing the values between the MagVar tables of the affected IRUs and the most recently published MagVar data tables, and corrective actions if necessary. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA announces the availability of and requests comments on proposed airworthiness criteria for the Asylon Incorporated (Asylon) DroneSentry Model ASY02C+ unmanned aircraft (UA). This document proposes the airworthiness criteria that the FAA finds to be appropriate and applicable for the UA design.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2021-20- 09, which applied to certain ATRGIE Avions de Transport R[eacute]gional Model ATR72 airplanes. AD 2021-20-09 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 tasks and airworthiness limitations are necessary. This AD continues to require the actions in AD 2021-20-09 and requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate additional new or more restrictive tasks and 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 FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc., Model BD-700-1A10, and BD-700-1A11 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a determination that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. This proposed AD would require revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate more restrictive airworthiness limitations. 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 Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. (Pilatus) Model PC-12, PC-12/45, PC- 12/47, and PC-12/47E airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI identifies the unsafe condition as insufficient grounding of the vapor cycle cooling system (VCCS) compressor/condenser. This proposed AD would require inspecting the power return and chassis grounding cable attachment points at frame 37, including the attachment parts, and depending on the inspection results, corrective action. This proposed AD would also require modifying the installation of the VCCS compressor/condenser power return cables and installing an additional isolated VCCS chassis ground cable. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus SAS Model A350-941 and -1041 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a determination that longitudinal sealing tape in the forward and aft cargo compartments had migrated from its original position, which could affect the fire extinguishing system efficiency in the cargo compartments. This AD requires repetitive detailed inspection of the affected parts, and, depending on findings, accomplishment of applicable corrective action, 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.

These special conditions are issued for the Airbus Model A321neo XLR airplanes. These airplanes 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 an electronic flight-control system that provides flight-envelope protections. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These 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.

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 all Airbus SAS Model A300 B4-600, B4-600R, and F4-600R series airplanes, and Model A300 C4-605R Variant F airplanes (collectively called Model A300-600 series airplanes). This proposed AD was prompted by a determination that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. This proposed AD would require revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference (IBR). The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.