Department of Transportation March 2024 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2022-14-10, which applies to certain Airbus SAS Model A318 series airplanes; Model A319-111, -112, -113, -114, -115, -131, -132, and -133 airplanes; Model A320-211, -212, -214, -216, -231, -232, and -233 airplanes; and Model A321-111, -112, -131, -211, -212, -213, -231, and -232 airplanes. AD 2022-14-10 requires repetitive inspections for cracking of the radius of the front spar vertical stringers and the horizontal floor beam on a certain frame (FR), repetitive inspections for cracking of the fastener holes of the front spar vertical stringers on that frame, and repair if necessary. AD 2022-14-10 provides, for certain airplanes, a modification of the center wing box area that terminates the repetitive inspections under certain conditions. Since the FAA issued AD 2022-14-10, an additional airplane model has been identified that is also subject to the unsafe condition. This proposed AD would continue to require the actions in AD 2022-14-10 and would add Model A321-271N airplanes to the applicability, 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.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew an information collection. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on November 21, 2023. The collection involves information necessary to submit a Means of Compliance or Declaration of Compliance for Unmanned Aircraft with Remote Identification to the FAA. The collection also involves information necessary to label Unmanned Aircraft that have an FAA-accepted Declaration of Compliance. The information to be collected will be used by the FAA to determine compliance with the requirements for submission of a Means of Compliance or Declaration of Compliance, as well as determine compliance with the Unmanned Aircraft labeling requirements.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Textron Aviation Inc. (Textron) (type certificate previously held by Cessna Aircraft Company) Model 525, 525A, and 525B airplanes with Tamarack active technology load alleviation system (ATLAS) winglets installed per Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) No. SA03842NY. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of an un-annunciated failure of the ATLAS system. This proposed AD would require installing placards on the left-hand inboard edge of the Tamarack active camber surface (TACS) and revising the existing airplane flight manual (AFM) for your airplane. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (GLS) and the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC) of Canada, under international agreement, jointly publish and presently administer the St. Lawrence Seaway Tariff of Tolls in their respective jurisdictions. The Tariff sets forth the level of tolls assessed on all commodities and vessels transiting the facilities operated by the GLS and the SLSMC. The GLS is revising its regulations to reflect the fees and charges levied by the SLSMC in Canada starting in the 2024 navigation season, which are effective only in Canada.

The FHWA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval for a new information collection, which is summarized below under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

The Maritime Administration (MARAD) and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) announce the cancellation of all actions related to the processing of a license application for the proposed Grand Isle LNG Export Deepwater Port Development Project deepwater port. The action announced here also includes cancellation of all activities related to the deepwater port application review and preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement that was previously published in the Federal Register on Monday, July 3, 2023. The publication of this notice is in response to the applicant's decision to withdraw the application.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA invites public comments about our intention to request Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew an information collection. This collection affects persons who have a need to deviate from certain regulations that govern use of airspace within the United States. The request also describes the burden associated with authorizations to make parachute jumps and operate unmanned aircraft (including moored balloons, kites, unmanned rockets, and unmanned free balloons) and small unmanned aircraft systems.

This action establishes Class E airspace that was inadvertently removed for Whiting Field Naval Air Station, Milton, FL.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Canada Limited Partnership Model BD-500-1A10 and BD- 500-1A11 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by multiple occurrences of pilot and co-pilot seats locking in a fore-aft position due to the seat fore-aft adjustment mechanism disconnecting, caused by a broken cotter pin in the seat base egress linkage. This proposed AD would require modifying the pilot and co-pilot seats by replacing the hardware of the seat base egress linkage, as specified in a Transport Canada AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference (IBR). The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action proposes special conditions for the Safran Electric & Power S.A. (Safran) Model ENGINeTM US100A1 electric engines that operate using electrical technology installed on the aircraft for use as an aircraft engine. These engines have a novel or unusual design feature when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards applicable to aircraft engines. The design feature is the use of an electric motor, motor controller, and high-voltage systems as the primary source of propulsion for an aircraft. The applicable 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.

The FAA is correcting an NPRM published on January 31, 2024. In that document, the FAA proposed to amend its regulations to revise certain aircraft maintenance inspection rules for small, corporate- sized, and unmanned aircraft. This document corrects errors in the preamble of that document.

The FAA, in cooperation with the National Park Service (NPS), has initiated development of a voluntary agreement pursuant to the National Parks Air Tour Management Act of 2000 (the Act) and its implementing regulations. The Act allows the FAA and NPS to enter into voluntary agreements with commercial air tour operators. A voluntary agreement manages commercial air tour operations over a national park by establishing conditions for the conduct of the commercial air tour operations. Implementation of a voluntary agreement helps protect park resources and the visitor experience without compromising aviation safety or the air traffic control system. This notice announces the public availability of the proposed voluntary agreement for Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

This action establishes Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Antone Ranch Airport, Mitchell, OR, in support of the airport's transition from visual flight rules (VFR) to instrument flight rules (IFR) operations.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 777-200, 777-200LR, 777-300, 777- 300ER, and 777F series airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of wing anti-ice (WAI) valve failure that can result in undetected structural damage to leading edge (LE) slat assemblies, and separately a failure of the autothrottle (A/T) to disconnect after the pilot manually advanced the throttle levers, which caused a low-speed condition during a go-around. This AD was also prompted by a determination that insufficient low-speed protection exists in the 777 fleet and a determination that the flightcrew may not recognize and properly respond to a multi-channel unreliable airspeed event. This AD requires installing certain new software and doing a software configuration check. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This notice contains a summary of a petition seeking relief from specified requirements of Federal Aviation Regulations. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, the FAA's exemption process. Neither publication of this notice nor the inclusion or omission of information in the summary is intended to affect the legal status of the petition or its final disposition.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics invites the general public, industry and other governmental parties to comment on the continuing need and usefulness of BTS collecting reports from air carriers on the aggregated indebtedness balance of a political candidate or party for Federal office. The reports are required when the aggregated indebtedness is over $5,000 on the last day of a month.

This action establishes Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Flying Joseph Ranch Airport, May, ID, in support of the airport's transition from visual flight rules (VFR) to instrument flight rules (IFR) operations.

This action proposes to establish Class E airspace area extending upward from 700 feet or more above the surface of the earth at Lincoln Airport, Lincoln, MT. This action would support the airport's operations transition from visual flight rules (VFR) to instrument flight rules (IFR).

This notice contains a summary of a petition seeking relief from specified requirements of Federal Aviation Regulations. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, the FAA's exemption process. Neither publication of this notice nor the inclusion or omission of information in the summary is intended to affect the legal status of the petition or its final disposition.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Canada Limited Partnership Model BD-500-1A10 and BD-500- 1A11 airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of mechanical wear damage on the motive flow fuel-feed tubes that were secured by bonding clamps and clamp blocks inside the collector tank. This AD requires repetitive operational checks of the gravity cross flow shut-off valve and, for certain airplanes, a one-time inspection of the motive flow fuel-feed tubes at the clamp blocks location, and corrective action if necessary, as specified in a Transport Canada AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

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.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), Council on Environmental Quality NEPA- implementing regulations, and FAA Order 1050.1F, Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures, the FAA is announcing the availability of the Final Tiered Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact/Record of Decision for SpaceX Starship Indian Ocean Landings (Final Tiered EA and FONSI/ROD).

These special conditions are issued for the Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation (Gulfstream) Model GVIII-G700 and GVIII-G800 series 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 envelope protection function to protect the airplane from over- and rapid-rotation on takeoff. 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 action proposes to amend Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal Airways V-233 and V-420 in the vicinity of Gaylord, MI. The amendments are due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Gaylord, MI (GLR), VOR/ Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) navigational aid (NAVAID). The Gaylord VOR is being decommissioned as part of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.

The Secretary of Transportation, as represented by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), is authorized to issue coastwise endorsement eligibility determinations for foreign-built vessels which will carry no more than twelve passengers for hire. A request for such a determination has been received by MARAD. By this notice, MARAD seeks comments from interested parties as to any effect this action may have on U.S. vessel builders or businesses in the U.S. that use U.S.-flag vessels. Information about the requestor's vessel, including a brief description of the proposed service, is listed below.