Department of Transportation 2024 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions for 15 individuals from the hearing requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) for interstate commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. The exemptions enable these hard of hearing and deaf individuals to continue to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

FMCSA announces receipt of applications from 11 individuals for an exemption from the prohibition in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) against persons with a clinical diagnosis of epilepsy or any other condition that is likely to cause a loss of consciousness or any loss of ability to control a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) to drive in interstate commerce. If granted, the exemptions would enable these individuals who have had one or more seizures and are taking anti-seizure medication to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

FMCSA announces its decision to exempt 10 individuals from the hearing requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in interstate commerce. The exemptions enable these hard of hearing and deaf individuals to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

The FAA will require individuals with foreign addresses, and no U.S. physical address of record on file with the FAA, who hold or apply for certain certificates, ratings, or authorizations to designate a U.S. agent for service of FAA documents. The U.S. agent will receive service of FAA documents on the certificate holder or applicant's behalf. This rule facilitates the FAA's ability to accomplish prompt and cost-effective service of process and service of other safety- critical or time-sensitive documents to individuals abroad through service on their U.S. agents.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2009-01- 02, which applied to certain Boeing Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, and -900 series airplanes. AD 2009-01-02 required an inspection of frames between body station (BS) 360 and BS 907 to determine if certain support brackets of the air conditioning (A/C) outlet extrusions are installed, inspections for cracking of the frames around the attachment holes of the subject brackets, and repair if necessary. AD 2009-01-02 also requires installing new, improved fittings for all support brackets of the A/C outlet extrusions between BS 360 and BS 907. This AD was prompted by numerous reports of multiple cracks in the frame around the attachment holes of the support bracket of the A/C outlet extrusion, and the determination that certain repairs might develop fatigue cracks that could result in the inability of the frame to sustain limit load and therefore must be inspected. This AD would continue to require the actions specified in AD 2009-01-02 and would also require repetitive inspections for cracking of certain repairs, 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 787-8, 787-9, and 787-10 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a determination that the flight deck door decompression panel can strike the captain's seat headrest if a flight deck or below the flight deck rapid decompression event occurs when the seat is in a certain position. This AD requires, for certain airplanes, replacing the affected captain's seat assembly. This AD also prohibits the installation of affected parts. 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 Airbus SAS Model A319-111, 112, -113, -114, -115, -131, - 132, and -133 airplanes; A320-211, -212, -214, -216, -231, -232, and - 233 airplanes; and A321-111, -112, -131, -211, -212, -213, -231, and - 232 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a full-scale fatigue test that found cracks on the main landing gear (MLG) bay rear skin panel at the stringer run-out at Frame 46 and Stringer 32 on the left- hand and right-hand sides. This proposed AD would require repetitive special detailed inspections (SDIs) of the affected area for cracking and applicable corrective actions, 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.

This action confirms the October 22, 2024, effective date of the Modernization of Passenger Information Requirements Relating to "No Smoking" Sign Illumination direct final rule published on August 23, 2024, and responds to the comments received on that direct final rule. This document also corrects the authority citation for a Code of Federal Regulations part revised in the direct final rule.

This action proposes to revoke Alaskan Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal Airway V-414 and amend United States Area Navigation (RNAV) Routes T-248 and T-250 in Alaska. These proposed actions are due to the decommissioning of the Gambell Nondirectional Radio Beacon (NDB) in Alaska.

This action amends Jet Routes J-35 and J-101; amends Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal Airways V-9, V-48, V-69, V-227, and V-313; and revokes VOR Federal Airway V-586. The FAA is taking this action due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Pontiac, IL (PNT), VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) navigational aid (NAVAID). The Pontiac VOR is being decommissioned in support of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2021-22- 05, which applied to all Leonardo S.p.a. (Leonardo) Model A119 and AW119 MKII helicopters. AD 2021-22-05 required repetitively inspecting certain torque tube assemblies for any deficiency and corrective action if necessary, and replacing any affected part with a serviceable part, which was terminating action for the repetitive inspections. AD 2021- 22-05 was prompted by reports of abnormal play on the collective torque tube on two Leonardo Model AW119 MKII helicopters, which were due to an erroneous manufacturing process. Since the FAA issued AD 2021-22-05, it was discovered that additional torque tube assemblies are subject to the unsafe condition. This AD retains certain requirements specified in AD 2021-22-05, reduces the applicability to include helicopters with only affected part-numbered collective torque tube assemblies, reduces the inspection intervals, and removes the previously approved terminating action. These requirements are 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.

This amendment adopts miscellaneous amendments to the required IFR (instrument flight rules) altitudes and changeover points for certain Federal airways, jet routes, or direct routes for which a minimum or maximum en route authorized IFR altitude is prescribed. This regulatory action is needed because of changes occurring in the National Airspace System. These changes are designed to provide for the safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace under instrument conditions in the affected areas.

NHTSA invites public comments about our intention to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a new information collection. Before a Federal agency can collect certain information from the public, it must receive approval from OMB. Under procedures established by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, before seeking OMB approval, Federal agencies must solicit public comment on proposed collections of information, including extensions and reinstatement of previously approved collections. This document describes a collection of information for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval on a new information collection to research limousine crash safety.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all The Boeing Company Model 717-200 airplanes and Model DC-9-10, DC-9-20, DC-9-30, DC-9-40, and DC-9-50 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report of cracked and severed structure found in the aft fuselage cant bulkhead at a certain station (STA) and the vertical stabilizer rear spar installation. This AD requires a one-time inspection of the aft fuselage cant bulkhead at certain STAs and vertical stabilizer rear spar structure, and corrective actions and an inspection report if necessary. This AD also requires an inspection of that same structure if certain conditions occur during any phase of flight. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

Comoto Holdings, Inc., (Comoto), has determined that certain Street & Steel Oakland motorcycle helmets do not fully comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 218, Motorcycle Helmets. On July 6, 2022, Comoto filed a noncompliance report and submitted a petition, for a decision that the subject noncompliance is inconsequential as it relates to motor vehicle safety. This document announces receipt of Comoto's petition.

The FAA is revising an earlier notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2012-07-06. AD 2012- 07-06 applies to certain The Boeing Company Model 777-200, -200LR, - 300, -300ER, and 777F series airplanes. This action revises the NPRM by proposing to require revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. Since these actions would impose an additional burden over those in the NPRM, the FAA is requesting comments on this SNPRM.

This action establishes Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface for Matinicus Island Airport, Matinicus Island, ME, to accommodate new area navigation (RNAV) global positioning system (GPS) standard instrument approach procedures serving this airport. Controlled airspace is necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at this airport.

Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and its implementing regulations, FRA seeks approval of the Information Collection Request (ICR) summarized below. Before submitting this ICR to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval, FRA is soliciting public comment on specific aspects of the activities identified in the ICR.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Helicopters Model EC225LP helicopters. This AD was prompted by a report of water in the oil of a main gearbox (MGB). This AD requires replacing certain main rotor (M/R) mast upper stops assembly screws. This AD also requires inspecting certain M/R mast cover plates and accomplishing MGB oil analyses and, depending on the results, taking corrective action. This AD prohibits installing certain M/R mast upper stops assembly screws, M/R masts with an affected M/R mast upper stops assembly screw installed, and used M/R mast cover plates on any helicopter. Lastly, this AD prohibits installing affected M/R masts unless the inspections are done. These actions are 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.

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 nor omission of information in the summary is intended to affect the legal status of the petition or its final disposition.

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the Surface Transportation Board (Board) gives notice of its intent to request from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval without change of the six existing collections described below. The Board previously published a notice about this collection in the Federal Register (July 29, 2024). That notice allowed for a 60-day public review and comment period. No comments were received.