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

This notice announces the availability of and requests comments on the proposed advisory circular, AC 23-24. This guidance sets forth one method that may be used to generate compliance checklists for some 14 CFR, part 23 Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) airplane projects. Guidance is provided for changes to the airplane autopilot, engine, propeller, auxiliary fuel tank, and gross weight. These compliance checklists may be used to fulfill some of the requirements for a Certification Plan as part of an STC project.

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

The FAA proposes to amend the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and digital flight data recorder (DFDR) regulations for certain air carriers, operators, and aircraft manufacturers. This proposed rule would increase the duration of CVR and flight data recorder (FDR) recordings; increase the data recording rate of certain DFDR parameters; require physical separation of the DFDR and CVR; improve the reliability of the power supply to both the CVR and DFDR; and if data-link communication equipment is installed, require that all data- link communications received on an aircraft be recorded. This proposal is based on recommendations issued by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) following the investigations of several accidents and incidents, and includes other revisions that the FAA has determined are necessary. The proposed improvements to the CVR and DFDR systems are intended to improve the quality and quantity of information recorded and increase the potential for retaining important information needed during accident and incident investigations.

This notice proposes to amend Class E5 airspace at Parsons, TN. The Beech River Regional Airport is being constructed at Parsons, TN. As a result, airspace must be established to contain the Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) Runway (RWY) 19 Standard Instrument Approach Procedure (SIAP) to Beech River Regional Airport. Controlled airspace extending upward from 700 feet Above Ground Level (AGL) is needed to contain the SIAP.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of a meeting of RTCA Special Committee 189/EUROCAE Working Group 53: Air Traffic Services (ATS) Safety and Interoperability Requirements.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of a meeting of RTCA Special Committee 159: Global Positioning System.

This notice announces the availability of, and requests comments on, proposed Technical Standard Order (TSO)-C154a, Universal Access Transceiver (UAT) Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) Equipment Operating on the Frequency of 978 MHz. In this TSO, we (the Federal Aviation Administration, or FAA) refer to a revised minimum performance standard (MPS)RTCA Inc., Document (RTCA/DO)-282A, Minimum Operational Performance Standards for Universal Access Transceiver (UAT) Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B), dated July 29, 2004. We also add Appendix 1, which lists corrections to RTCA/DO-282A since its date of issuance. The TSO also supports an optional frequency Diplexer. The Diplexer allows the ATCRBS/Mode S Transponder and the UAT equipment developed under this TSO to share antennas. This TSO is for manufacturers of Universal Access Transceiver ADS-B equipment or UAT Diplexer seeking a TSO authorization or letter of design approval. In it, we tell them what MPS their UAT equipment must meet for approval and identification with the TSO-C154a marking.

This notice announces the availability of, and requests comments on proposed Technical Standard Order (TSO)-C139, Aircraft Audio Systems and Equipment. The proposed TSO is for audio systems designers, manufacturers, and installers seeking a TSO authorization or letter of design approval. In it, we (the Federal Aviation Administration, or FAA) describe what minimum performance standards (MPS) their audio systems and equipment must meet for approval and identification with applicable TSO marking. We also combine and update the requirements of TSO-C50c, Audio Selector Panels and Amplifers; TSO- 57a, Headsets and Speakers; and TSO-C58a, Aircraft Microphones (except carbon).

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Saab Model SAAB SF340A and SAAB 340B series airplanes. This AD requires repetitive inspections for wear of the brushes and leads and for loose rivets of the direct current (DC) starter generator, and related investigative/corrective actions if necessary. This AD is prompted by reports of premature failures of the DC starter generator prior to scheduled overhaul. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the starter generator, which could cause a low voltage situation in flight and result in increased pilot workload and reduced redundancy of the electrical powered systems.

The FAA proposes to rule and invites public comment on the application to impose and use the revenue from a PFC at Victoria Regional Airport under the provisions of the Aviation Safety and Capacity Expansion Act of 1990 (Title IX of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990) (Pub. L. 101-508) and Part 158 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR Part 158).

Pursuant to FAA's rulemaking provisions governing the application, processing, and disposition of petitions for exemption, part 11 of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR), this notice contains a summary of certain petitions seeking relief from specified requirements of 14 CFR, dispositions of certain petitions previously received, and corrections. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, this aspect of FAA's regulatory activities. Neither publication of this notice nor the inclusion or omission of information in the summary is intended to affect the legal status of any petition or its final disposition.

Pursuant to FAA's rulemaking provisions governing the application, processing, and disposition of petitions for exemption, part 11 of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR), this notice contains a summary of a certain petition seeking relief from specified requirements of 14 CFR. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, this aspect of FAA's regulatory activities. Neither publication of this notice nor the inclusion or omission of information in the summary is intended to affect the legal status of any petition or its final disposition.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Air Tractor Inc. Model AT-602 airplanes. This proposed AD would require you to repetitively inspect (using the eddy current methods) the two outboard holes in the lower wing spar caps for cracks and repair or replace any cracked spar cap. This proposed AD results from fatigue cracking of the wing main spar lower cap at the centerline joint outboard fastener hole. We are issuing this proposed AD to detect and correct cracks in the wing main spar lower cap, which could result in failure of the spar cap and lead to wing separation and loss of control of the airplane.

The FAA is superseding an existing Priority Letter Airworthiness Directive (AD) for Hartzell Propeller Inc. model HC-B3TN- 5( )/T10282( ) propellers. That AD currently requires initial and repetitive inspections of the blade pilot tube bore area. This ad requires the same inspections. This AD results from a review of all currently effective ADs. That review determined that Priority Letter AD 88-24-15 was not published in the Federal Register to make it effective to all operators, as opposed to just the operators who received actual notice of the original Priority Letter AD. This AD also results from the discovery that the original AD omitted an airplane model with a certain Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) from the applicability. We are issuing this AD to prevent possible blade failure near the hub which can result in blade separation, engine separation, damage to the airplane, and possible loss of the airplane.

The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for Rolls-Royce plc (RR) RB211 Trent 875, 877, 884, 892, 892B, and 895 series turbofan engines. That AD currently requires repetitive application of dry film lubricant (DFL) to low pressure compressor (LPC) fan blade roots. This proposed AD would require the same actions but at more frequent intervals than the existing AD, add the Trent 884B engine to the list of engine models affected, add a fan blade part number (P/N) to the affected list of fan blades, and would relax the initial DFL repetitive application compliance time for certain fan blades that have never been removed from the disk. This proposed AD results from discovering DFL in worse condition than anticipated on fan blades fitted to disks previously run for a significant period. This proposed AD also results from the need to update the list of engine models affected, and to update the list of fan blade part numbers affected. We are proposing this AD to prevent LPC fan blade loss, which could result in an uncontained engine failure and possible aircraft damage.

The FAA is amending the procedural regulations governing the assessment of civil penalties against persons other than individuals acting as pilots, flight engineers, mechanics or repairmen. The rules establish a clear separation of functions between those agency employees who prosecute civil penalty actions and those who advise the Administrator, acting as FAA decisionmaker, about appeals of decisions by Department of Transportation (DOT) administrative law judges (ALJs). Recent organizational changes in the Office of the Chief Counsel necessitate updating these regulations so they accurately reflect the Office's current structure and division of functions. We are also amending the rules to provide the FAA Civil Penalty Hearing Docket's new address, new instructions on filing of documents, and information about the availability of documents and FAA decisions via the Internet. We are amending the procedural rule governing appeals from initial decisions regarding applications for fees under the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA) to reinsert language that was inadvertently omitted during a previous revision.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces that it is reviewing a proposed amendment (second) for the noise compatibility program that was submitted for Austin-Bergstrom International Airport under the provisions of Title 49, U.S.C. Chapter 475 (hereinafter referred to as ``Title 49'') and 14 CFR part 150 by the city of Austin. This program was submitted subsequent to a determination by the FAA that associated noise exposure maps submitted under 14 CFR part 150 for Austin-Bergstrom International Airport were in compliance with applicable requirements effective on April 29, 2000. The original noise compatibility program was approved on November 7, 2000, and subseqently amended on February 11, 2004. The proposed update to the noise compatibility program will be approved or disapproved on or before August 10, 2005.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Dassault Model Falcon 10 series airplanes. This AD requires a temporary change to the airplane flight manual (AFM) to provide procedures to the flightcrew for touchdown using the main landing gear to avoid a three- point landing. This AD also requires repetitive inspections of the piston rod of the drag strut actuator of the nose landing gear (NLG) for cracks, which would terminate the AFM revision, and corrective actions if necessary. In addition, this AD provides for a terminating modification, which would end the repetitive inspections. This AD is prompted by reports of failure of the piston rod of the drag strut actuator of the NLG. The cause of such failure has been attributed to fatigue cracking caused by corrosion in the piston rod of the drag strut actuator. We are issuing this AD to prevent cracking and/or fracture of the piston rod of the drag strut actuator of the NLG, which could result in a gear-up landing, structural damage, and possible injury to passengers and crew.

This amendment supersedes an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for the specified Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) model helicopters that currently requires certain checks and inspections of the tail rotor blades. If a crack is found, the existing AD requires replacing the tail rotor blade (blade) with an airworthy blade before further flight. This amendment requires the same checks and inspections as the existing AD, but expands the applicability with the addition of two BHTC Model 430 helicopter serial numbers. This amendment is prompted by the manufacturer issuing revised service information that includes the additional two serial numbers. The actions specified by this AD are intended to detect a crack in the blade, and to prevent loss of a blade and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) the FAA invites public comment on seven currently approved public information collections which will be submitted to OMB for renewal.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Bombardier Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 & 440) airplanes and Model CL-600-1A11 (CL-600), CL-600-2A12 (CL-601), and CL-600-2B16 (CL-601-3A, CL-601-3R, and CL-604) series airplanes. This AD requires revising the airplane flight manuals to include a new cold weather operations limitation. This AD is prompted by a report that even small amounts of frost, ice, snow, or slush on the wing leading edges or forward upper wing surfaces can cause an adverse change in the stall speeds, stall characteristics, and the protection provided by the stall protection system. We are issuing this AD to prevent possible loss of control on take-off resulting from even small amounts of frost, ice, snow, or slush on the wing leading edges or forward upper wing surfaces.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Saab Model SAAB SF340A and SAAB 340B series airplanes. This AD requires a one-time inspection to determine the part and serial numbers of certain engine vibration isolators (mounts) and the cure dates of certain molded assemblies incorporated in those engine mounts; and related corrective actions if necessary. This AD is prompted by a report that disbonding of the elastomer from the inner metal core and shim of certain engine vibration mounts has occurred within a few hundred hours of operation, causing heavy chafing of the engine support system and chafing of the fire sensor loop. We are issuing this AD to prevent reduced integrity of the fire-shielding capacity of the nacelle structure and a possible fire detector fault.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Gulfstream Model GV-SP series airplanes. This AD requires repetitive inspections of the avionics standard communication bus (ASCB) for any noise interference and repair of the ASCB if noise interference is found. This AD also requires revisions of the airplane flight manual (AFM) to prohibit dispatch of any flight with the integrated standby flight display (SFD) inoperative; to add procedures to facilitate recovery of the cockpit display units in the event that the cockpit displays go blank; and to add flightcrew briefings on the use of standby instruments in case the cockpit display units go blank and do not recover. This AD also requires installing an avionics software update and a hardware upgrade to the Honeywell Primus Epic system to correct a display blanking problem; installing the update will allow removal of certain AFM revisions and will end the repetitive inspections of the ASCB. This AD is prompted by a report indicating that all four cockpit flight panel displays went blank simultaneously. We are issuing this AD to prevent a software error from blanking the cockpit display units, which will result in a reduction of the flightcrew's situational awareness, and possible loss of control of the airplane. We are also issuing this AD to address noise interference in the ASCB, which can interfere with the display recovery after a blanking event and consequently extend the time that the displays remain blank. In addition, we are issuing this AD to ensure that the flightcrew is advised of the procedures necessary to address blank cockpit display units.

The FAA has issued an order to show cause, which solicits the views of interested persons on the FAA's tentative determination to extend until October 31 an August 18, 2004, order limiting the number of scheduled aircraft arrivals at O'Hare International Airport during peak operating hours. The order to show cause also invites written views on whether the FAA should allocate any unused capacity while the extended order is in effect and, if so, how the FAA should allocate any such unused capacity. The text of the order to show cause is set forth in this notice.