Department of Transportation October 22, 2024 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2023-04-06 and AD 2024-04-07, which applied to certain Airbus SAS Model A318, A319, A320 and A321 series airplanes. AD 2023-04-06 and AD 2024-04-07 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 airworthiness limitations are necessary. This AD continues to require certain actions in AD 2023-04-06 and AD 2024-04-07 and requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations; as specified in the 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.

This action proposes to amend the Class E airspace at Gaylord, MI. The FAA is proposing this action as the result of an airspace review conducted due to the decommissioning of the Gaylord very high frequency omnidirectional range (VOR) as part of the VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) Program. This action will bring the airspace into compliance with FAA orders and support instrument flight rule (IFR) procedures and operations.

This action proposes to amend the Class E airspace at El Dorado, AR. The FAA is proposing this action as the result of an airspace review conducted due to the development of new instrument procedures. The geographic coordinates and name of the airport and the name of the El Dorado VOR/DME would also be updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database. This action will bring the airspace into compliance with FAA orders and support instrument flight rule (IFR) procedures and operations.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2023-13- 11, which applied to certain AVOX Systems Inc. (formerly Scott Aviation) oxygen cylinder and valve assemblies, and oxygen valve assemblies, installed on but not limited to various transport airplanes. AD 2023-13-11 required inspecting the oxygen valve assemblies, and oxygen cylinder and valve assemblies, to determine the serial number of the valve, cylinder, and entire assembly; inspecting certain assemblies and parts for correct spacing of the gap between the bottom of the packing retainer and top of the valve body on the assemblies, and replacing assemblies having unacceptable gaps. AD 2023- 13-11 also limited the installation of affected parts and required reporting inspection results and returning certain assemblies to the manufacturer. This AD was prompted by the determination that additional assemblies and parts are subject to the unsafe condition. This AD requires the actions specified in AD 2023-13-11 and expands the list of affected assemblies and parts. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2016-08-08 for all SOCATA (type certificate now held by DAHER) Model MS 880B, MS 885, MS 892A-150, MS 892E-150, MS 893A, MS 893E, MS 894A, MS 894E, Rallye 100S, Rallye 150ST, Rallye 150T, Rallye 235C, and Rallye 235E airplanes. AD 2016-08-08 required doing repetitive detailed visual inspections of the intersection between the axle radius and the nose landing gear (NLG) fork area for chafing; doing repetitive dye penetrant inspections on the NLG wheel axle for cracks, distortion, and nicks or wear; doing corrective actions if necessary; and replacing the NLG wheel axle attachment screws with new screws. This AD is prompted by the introduction of a new inspection method and a new design for the affected NLG wheel axle that provides terminating action for the repetitive inspections, as specified in updated service information published by the manufacturer. This AD requires preparing, inspecting, replacing, reconditioning the NLG wheel axle, and prohibiting affected parts. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

FMCSA announces its final decision to renew an exemption requested jointly by the Automobile Carriers Conference (ACC) of the American Trucking Associations and the Auto Haulers Association of America (AHAA) to relieve motor carriers operating stinger-steered automobile transporter equipment from the requirement to place warning flags on projecting loads of new and used motor vehicles. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) require any commercial motor vehicle (CMV) transporting a load which extends more than 4 feet beyond the rear of the vehicle be marked with a single red or orange fluorescent warning flag at the extreme rear if the projecting load is 2 feet wide or less and two warning flags if the projecting load is wider than 2 feet. The exemption is renewed for 5 years, unless revoked earlier.

This action proposes to amend the Class E airspace at Giddings, TX. The FAA is proposing this action as the result of an airspace review conducted due to the decommissioning of the Industry very high frequency omnidirectional range (VOR) as part of the VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) Program. The geographic coordinates of the airport would also be updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database. This action will bring the airspace into compliance with FAA orders and support instrument flight rule (IFR) procedures and operations.

This action proposes to amend the Class E airspace at Smith Center, KS. The FAA is proposing this action as the result of an airspace review conducted due to the decommissioning of the Mankato very high frequency omnidirectional range (VOR) as part of the VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) Program. This action would also update the geographic coordinates of the airport to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database. This action will bring the airspace into compliance with FAA orders and support instrument flight rule (IFR) procedures and operations.