Federal Aviation Administration January 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This final rule allows an aircraft operator, other than one operating an aircraft as an air carrier or commercial operator, to receive payment for carrying a candidate seeking office in a State or local election during a campaign. Current regulations allow aircraft operators to receive payment for carrying candidates seeking office in Federal elections during a campaign without the aircraft operator having to meet the safety standards applicable to air carriers and other commercial operators. This rule meets a Congressional mandate that the FAA amend its rules to allow aircraft operators who transport State and local candidates for compensation, to do so without having to comply with FAA safety rules applicable to air carriers and other commercial operators.

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain Boeing Model 757 series airplanes, that requires repetitive detailed inspections of the support brackets and associated fasteners for the hydraulic lines located in the nacelle struts, and related investigative and corrective actions as necessary. This action also provides an optional terminating action for the repetitive inspections. This action is necessary to prevent flammable fluids from leaking into the interior compartment of the nacelle struts where ignition sources exist, which could result in the ignition of flammable fluids and an uncontained fire. This action is intended to address the identified unsafe condition.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain EMBRAER Model EMB-135BJ series airplanes. This AD requires modifying the electrical wiring for the ``stick pusher'' system. This AD is prompted by a report that the stick pushers are not being inhibited when the AP/PUSH/TRIM switches are activated, which can result in reduced controllability of the airplane if there is a system malfunction. We are issuing this AD to prevent reduced controllability of the airplane if the stick pusher system malfunctions.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 757 series airplanes. This proposed AD would require repetitive inspections for loose or damaged components of the support brackets and associated fasteners for the hydraulic lines located in the nacelle struts, and any related investigative and corrective actions. This proposed AD is prompted by reports of damage and subsequent failure of the support brackets and associated fasteners for the hydraulic lines located internal to the upper fairing cavity of the nacelle struts. We are proposing this AD to prevent flammable fluids from leaking into the interior compartment of the nacelle struts where ignition sources exist, which could result in the ignition of flammable fluids and an uncontained fire.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 747 series airplanes. This proposed AD would require repetitive detailed inspections for cracks in the crease beam and adjacent structure of the fuselage, and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD is prompted by fatigue cracks found in the crease beam during a follow-on inspection of a previously installed modification. We are proposing this AD to find and fix fatigue cracking of the fuselage frame, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the frame and consequent rapid decompression of the airplane.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces it has terminated its review of the noise compatibility program, at the request of the Jackson Municipal Airport Authority, under the provisions of 49 U.S.C. 47501 et seq., and 14 CFR Part 150.

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to all Airbus Model A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes, that requires operators to revise the Airworthiness Limitations section (ALS) of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness to incorporate new and more restrictive service life limits for certain items, and new and more restrictive inspections to detect fatigue cracking, accidental damage, or corrosion in certain structures. The actions specified by this AD are intended to ensure the continued structural integrity of these airplanes. This action is intended to address the identified unsafe condition.

The FAA proposes to rule and invites public comment on the application to impose and use the revenue from a PFC at Pellston Regional Airport under the provisions of the 49 U.S.C. 40117 and part 158 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 158).

The FAA proposes to rule and invites public comment on the release of land at Monroe Regional Airport under the provisions of section 125 of the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR 21).

The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for Rolls-Royce (RR) plc RB211-535E4-37, RB211-535E4-B-37, and RB211-535E4-B-75 series turbofan engines. That AD currently requires initial and repetitive ultrasonic inspections of installed LPC fan blade roots on-wing and during overhaul using a surface wave ultrasonic probe, and relubrication, according to accumulated life cycles. That AD also adds the application of Metco 58 blade root coating as an optional terminating action. This AD requires the same actions, but changes the reference to Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) No. RB.211-72-C879 from Revision 3 to Revision 4. This AD results from RR issuing MSB No. RB.211-72-C879, Revision 4, which contains revised Accomplishment Instructions and consumable materials list. We are issuing this AD to detect cracks in low pressure compressor (LPC) fan blade roots, which if not detected, could lead to uncontained multiple fan blade failure, and damage to the airplane.

This action corrects a notice of proposed rulemaking that was published in the Federal Register on Friday, January 7, 2005, (70 FR 1399) [FR Doc. 05-374]. It corrects errors in the legal descriptions of the proposed Class E airspace area designated as a surface area and the Class E airspace area extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Newton, KS.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Raytheon Model HS.125 series 700A airplanes, Model BAe.125 series 800A airplanes, and Model Hawker 800 and Hawker 800XP airplanes. This proposed AD would require an inspection to determine the current rating of the circuit breakers of certain cockpit ventilation and avionics cooling system blowers; and for replacing the circuit breakers and modifying the blower wiring, as applicable. This proposed AD is prompted by a report indicating that a blower motor seized up and gave off smoke. Investigation revealed inadequate short circuit protection on the blower motor electrical circuit. We are proposing this AD to prevent smoke and fumes in the cockpit in the event that a blower motor seizes and overheats due to excessive current draw.

This document makes a correction to Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2004-26-04. That AD applies to Pratt & Whitney (PW) JT8D-200 series turbofan engines. That AD was published in the Federal Register on January 5, 2005 (70 FR 677). This document corrects a compliance time in Table 1 of the AD. In all other respects, the original document remains the same.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces that the O'Hare Modernization Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Chicago, Illinois is available for public review and comment. The DEIS identifies alternatives intended to address the projected needs of the Chicago region by reducing delays at O'Hare, thereby enhancing capacity of the National Airspace System, and ensuring that terminal facilities and supporting infrastructure can efficiently accommodate airport users. All of the development alternatives would result in wetland, property acquisition, air quality and noise impacts, as well as other impacts. The FAA intends to host public hearings on the DEIS with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) Bureau of Water. The public hearings on the DEIS will be held on the following dates: Tuesday, February 22, 2005, at the Avalon Banquets, 1905 East Higgins Road, Elk Grove Village, Illinois 60007; Wednesday, February 23, 2005, at the Waterford Conference Center, 933 South Riverside Drive, Elmhurst, Illinois 60126; and Thursday, February 24, 2005, at the White Eagle, 6839 North Milwaukee Avenue, Niles, Illinois 60714. All three of these hearings will start at 2 p.m. (central standard time), and registration to participate in the hearings will conclude by 9 p.m. (central standard time). Repressentatives of FAA, USACE and IEPA will be available to provide information about the DEIS at an informational session held at the same time as the public hearings. Spanish language translators will be available at the hearings. The procedural rules governing the hearing are available from Michael W. MacMullen. The comment period is open as of the date of this Notice of Intent and closes Wednesday, March 23, 2005. All comments are to be submitted to Michael W. MacMullen of the FAA, at the address shown below. The USACE and IEPA have requested that the FAA be the recipient of all comments regarding their actions. These comments must be sent to Michael W. MacMullen of the FAA at the address shown below, and the comments must be postmarked and email must be sent by no later than midnight, Wednesday, March 23, 2005. The USACE is participating in the public hearings because implementation of any development alternatives, if selected, would require the USACE to approve issuance of a permit to fill wetlands under section 404 of the Clean Water Act Section. The IEPA is participating in the public hearings because implementation of any wetland development alternative, if selected, would also require IEPA to issue a Water Quality Certification under section 401 of the Clean Water Act.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) along with the Federal Highway Administration is issuing this notice to advise the public that a Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Final General Conformity Determination has been prepared for the proposed Master Plan Improvements at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California. FAA is seeking comments on revised and updated information and analyses disclosed in Volume A of the Final EIS and related appendices (Appendices A-1, A-2a, A-2b, A-3a, A-3b, A-3c, A-3d, and A-4).

This action proposes to revoke jet route 711 (J-711), modify jet routes 133 and 889R (J-133 and J-889R), and modify two colored Federal airway (B-25 and A-1) in Alaska. The FAA is proposing this action to remove all airways and routes off the Hinchinbrook, AK, Nondirectional Radio Beacon (NDB) in preparation for the NDB's eventual decommissioning from the National Airspace System (NAS).

This action extends the comment period for an Advisory Circular (AC) that was published on December 22, 2004. In that document, the FAA provided guidance to repair stations to establish their training programs. This extension is a result of requests from multiple commenters to extend the comment period for the AC.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Model Avro 146-RJ series airplanes. This proposed AD would require an inspection of the Thales Avionics distance bearing indicator (DBI) to determine part number (P/ N) and serial number (S/N), and replacement of the affected DBI with a new or modified DBI. This proposed AD is prompted by a report of defective electrical insulators in DBIs. We are proposing this AD to prevent a short circuit in the DBI due to defective electrical insulation, which could potentially cause a loss of primary navigation instruments (such as airspeed indicator, altimeter, and global positioning system (GPS) information).

The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to various aircraft equipped with a certain Honeywell Primus II RNZ-850/-851 Integrated Navigation Unit (INU). The existing AD requires inspecting to determine whether Mod L has been done on the Honeywell Primus II NV850 Navigation Receiver Module (NRM), which is part of the INU. In lieu of this inspection, or for aircraft with an NRM having Mod L, the existing AD requires revising the aircraft flight manual to include new limitations for instrument landing system approaches. For aircraft equipped with an NRM having Mod L or aircraft not inspected previously, this proposed AD would require inspecting to determine whether certain other modifications have been done on the NRM; and doing related investigative, corrective, and other specified actions, as applicable. This proposed AD is prompted by reports of erroneous glide slope indications on certain aircraft equipped with subject INUs. We are proposing this AD to ensure that the flightcrew has an accurate glideslope deviation indication. An erroneous glideslope deviation indication could lead to the aircraft making an approach off the glideslope, which could result in impact with an obstacle or terrain.

This notice proposes special conditions for the installation of an AMSAFE, Inc., Inflatable Three-Point Restraint Safety Belt with an Integrated Airbag Device on Mooney models M20K, M20M, M20R, and M20S. These airplanes, as modified by AMSAFE, Inc., will have novel and unusual design features associated with the lap belt portion of the safety belt, which contains an integrated airbag device. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. The 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.

This notice proposes to create a Class E surface area at Newton, IA. It also proposes to modify the Class E5 airspace at Newton, IA.