Federal Aviation Administration April 11, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This action proposes to establish one low altitude area navigation (RNAV) route in Alaska to support the Alaskan Capstone Program. The FAA is proposing this action to enhance safety and improve the efficient use of the navigable airspace in Alaska.

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.

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 the disposition of certain petitions previously received. 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.

This notice announces the availability of and request comments on the proposed Metallic Materials Properties Development and Standardization (MMPDS) Handbook to be used as the primary source of metallic properties for compliance. This proposed handbook will replace the now cancelled ``Department of Defense Handbook: Metallic Materials and Elements for Aerospace Vehicle Structures,'' (MIL-HDBK-5).

This action amends title 14 code of Federal Regulations, part 71 (14 CFR 71) by revising Class E airspace at Washington, KS. A review of the Class E airspace area extending upward from 700 feet above ground level (AGL) at Washington, KS revealed it is not in compliance with established airspace criteria. This airspace area is enlarged and its extension modified to conform to FAA Orders. The intended effect of this rule is to provide controlled airspace of appropriate dimensions to protect aircraft departing from and executing Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) to Washington County Memorial Airport. The area is modified and enlarged to conform to the criteria in FAA Orders.

These amended special conditions are for Airbus Model A320 airplanes. These airplanes, as modified by AMSAFE Inc., will have the novel and unusual design feature of a child restraint system that attaches to the existing passenger lap belt. Special Conditions No. 25- 255-SC were issued for this novel and unusual design feature on December 8, 2003. These special conditions contained dynamic test requirements. AMSAFE subsequently applied to amend those special conditions so that the requirements would be applicable to and appropriate for the certification basis of the Airbus A320 airplane. The A320 type certification basis requires only static testing for seats. The applicable airworthiness regulations, including those contained in Special Conditions No. 25-255-SC, do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These special conditions contain the appropriate (i.e., static testing) safety standards that the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards for the A320 airplanes.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces the availability of final policy on certification of power supply systems for portable electronic devices on part 25 airplanes.

This action amends Class E airspace at Harrisburg, PA. The development of multiple area navigation (RNAV) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAP) for numerous airports within the Harrisburg, PA metropolitan area with approved Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) operations and the resulting overlap of designated Class E-5 airspace have made this action necessary. This action consolidates the Class E-5 airspace designations for nine airports and results in the rescission of seven Class E-5 descriptions through separate rulemaking action. The area will be depicted on aeronautical charts for pilot reference.

this notice proposes to amend the Class E airspace area in the Newburgh, NY geographic area. The development of multiple area navigation (RNAV) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAP) for numerous airports within the Newburgh, NY metropolitan area with approved Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations and the resulting overlap of designated Class E-5 airspace have made this proposal necessary. The proposal would consolidate the Class E-5 airspace designations for ten airports and result in the rescission of four separate Class E-5 descritions through separate rulemaking action. The area would be depicted on aeronautical charts for pilot reference.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of a meeting of RTCA Special Committee 172: Future Air-Ground Communications in the VHF Aeronautical Data Band (118-137 MHz).

The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 747 series airplanes. That AD currently requires repetitive inspections to detect cracks in various areas of the fuselage internal structure, and repair if necessary. This proposed AD would require repetitive inspections of additional areas of the fuselage internal structure, and related investigative/corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD also would remove certain requirements from the existing AD. This proposed AD is prompted by the results of fatigue testing of the fuselage structure of a Boeing Model 747SR series airplane. We are proposing this AD to prevent the loss of the structural integrity of the fuselage, which could result in rapid depressurization of the airplane.

The FAA proposes to revise an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to various transport category airplanes manufactured by McDonnell Douglas. The existing AD currently requires a one-time test of the fire extinguishers for the engine and auxiliary power unit (APU), as applicable, to determine the capability of the Firex electrical circuits to fire discharge cartridges, and troubleshooting actions if necessary. This proposed AD would remove certain transport category airplanes from the applicability of the existing AD. This proposed AD is prompted by reports indicating that fire extinguishers for the engine and auxiliary power unit had failed to discharge when commanded. We are proposing this AD to prevent failure of the fire extinguishers to fire discharge cartridges, which could result in the inability to put out a fire in an engine or in the APU.

This amendment supersedes an existing airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to all Boeing Model 747-200F and -200C series airplanes, that currently requires repetitive detailed inspections or a one-time open-hole high frequency eddy current inspection to detect cracking of certain areas of the upper deck floor beams, and corrective actions if necessary. This amendment requires new one-time inspections for cracking of the web, upper chord, and strap of the upper deck floor beams. This action also requires modifying or repairing the upper deck floor beams, as applicable, which eventually necessitates accomplishment of new repetitive inspections for cracking of the upper deck floor beams. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent fatigue cracks in the upper chord and web of upper deck floor beams and the resultant failure of such floor beams. Failure of a floor beam could result in damage to critical flight control cables and wire bundles that pass through the floor beam, and consequent loss of controllability of the airplane. Failure of the floor beam also could result in the failure of the adjacent fuselage frames and skin, and consequent rapid decompression of the airplane. This action is intended to address the identified unsafe condition.

The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD), which applies to certain Airbus Model A300 B2 and B4 series airplanes; Model A300 B4-600, A300 B4-600R, A300 C4-605R Variant F, and A300 F4-600R (collectively called A300-600) series airplanes; and Model A310 series airplanes. That AD currently requires replacement of the transformer rectifier units (TRUs) in the avionics compartment with new, improved TRUs. This new AD requires replacement of the TRUs installed according to the existing AD with different TRUs that are improved. This AD is prompted by analysis that has revealed that certain diodes installed in the TRUs are the main factor contributing to the continuing TRU failures. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the TRUs. Failure of multiple TRUs could result in loss of the thrust reversers, autothrottle, flaps, and various systems (wing/ cockpit window anti-ice, trim tank pumps, and windshield wipers) on the airplane; or display of incorrect information to the flightcrew.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Dassault Model Falcon 10 series airplanes. This AD requires revising the Limitations section of the airplane flight manual (AFM) to include a statement prohibiting flight into known or forecasted icing conditions, and installing a placard in the flight deck. In lieu of the AFM revision and placard installation, this AD allows identifying the part number of each flexible hose in the wing anti-icing system, performing repetitive detailed inspections of each hose for delamination, and performing corrective actions if necessary. This AD is prompted by a report of delamination of the internal wall of a flexible hose in the wing anti-icing system. We are issuing this AD to prevent collapse of the flexible hoses in the wing anti-icing system, which could lead to insufficient anti-icing capability and, if icing is encountered in this situation, could result in reduced controllability of the airplane.