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

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain Airbus Model A320-111 airplanes and Model A320-200 series airplanes. This AD requires post-maintenance bleeding of accumulated air from, or ground functional testing of, the ram air turbine (RAT) system; modifying and reidentifying the airborne ground check module of the RAT system; and replacing the RAT reducer assembly if applicable. This AD is prompted by reports of unsuccessful in-flight RAT tests during which a deployed RAT failed to pressurize the blue hydraulic circuit of the RAT system. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the RAT during an in-flight emergency, which could lead to loss of hydraulic and electrical power and reduced controllability of the airplane.

An examination of the controlled airspace for Meade Municipal Airport, KS has revealed a discrepancy in the size of the Class E airspace area. In addition, the Meade, KS Non Directional Beacon (NDB) was decommissioned on June 29, 2004 and subsequently the NDB Runway 17 Instrument Approach Procedure was cancelled effective June 8, 2005. This action modifies the Class E5 airspace area beginning at 700 feet above the surface by removing the reference to the Meade, KS NDB from the legal description, deleting the airspace area extension and increasing the radius from a 6.5-mile radius to a 7.5 mile radius of the airport. This actions brings the Class E5 airspace area into compliance with FAA directives.

This action corrects several errors in the airspace descriptions of a final rule published in the Federal Register on June 22, 2005 (70 FR 36016), Airspace Docket No. 05-AAL-04.

This AC provides methods acceptable to the Administrator for showing compliance with the revised airworthiness standards concerning new fire protection requirements applicable to thermal/acoustic insulation materials. The guidance in this AC describes a test method to determine the flammability and flame propagation characteristics of thermal/acoustic insulation materials on transport category airplanes. How to Obtain Copies: A paper copy of AC 25.856-1 may be obtained by writing to the U.S.Department of Transportation, Subsequent Distribution Office, DOT Warehouse, SVC-121.23, Ardmore East Business Center, 3341Q 75th Ave., Landover, MD 20785, telephone (301) 322-5377, or faxing your request to the warehouse at (301) 386-5394. The AC also will be available on the Internet at https://www.airweb.faa.gov/rgl.

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. 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 document makes corrections to the final rule published in the Federal Register on July 5, 2005 (70 FR 38742). This document adds two assigned amendment numbers. It also clarifies the Flight Manual Statement of Chapter for equivalency required by Sec. 36.105.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A320-111 airplanes, and Model A320-200 series airplanes. This proposed AD would require installing a bonding strip between each of the two water scavenge jet pumps of the center fuel tank and the rear spar in section 21. This proposed AD is prompted by the results of fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. We are proposing this AD to prevent an ignition source for fuel vapor in the wing, which could result in fire or explosion in the center wing fuel tank.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is making minor technical changes to a final rule published in the Federal Register on July 18, 2003 (68 FR 42932). That final rule amended appendices in 14 CFR parts 121, 125, and 135. In that final rule the FAA inadvertently did not make conforming amendments to two parts of Appendix M of part 121.

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. 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 is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Hartzell Propeller Inc. models HC-B3TN-2, HC-B3TN-3, HC-B3TN-5, HC- B3MN-3, HC-B4TN-3, HC-B4TN-5, HC-B4MN-5, HC-B4MP-3, HC-B4MP-5, and HC- B5MP-3 propellers, installed with propeller mounting bolts, part number (P/N) B-3339. This AD requires initial and repetitive visual inspections and torque checks of certain manufacture lot numbers of propeller mounting bolts, P/N B-3339, and eventual removal from service of those bolts. This AD results from the discovery during routine propeller installation that a bolt from a certain manufacture lot did not properly absorb the installation torque. This AD also results from the discovery that other bolts of the same part number from a different manufacture lot had material surface pitting. We are issuing this AD to prevent propeller attaching bolt failures or improperly secured propellers, which could lead to separation of the propeller from the airplane.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of a meeting of the RTCA Program Management Committee.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Hartzell Propeller, Inc., McCauley Propeller Systems, and Sensenich Propeller Manufacturing Company, Inc. propellers. This AD requires maintenance actions amounting to an overhaul of the affected propellers. This AD results from the investigation of a failed propeller blade and subsequent inspections of various propeller models returned to service by Southern California Propeller Service, of Inglewood, CA. We are issuing this AD to prevent blade failure that could result in separation of a propeller blade and loss of control of the airplane.

This action revises Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal Airway V-537 by changing the origination point of the airway from the Vero Beach, FL, Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) to the Palm Beach, FL, VORTAC. The FAA is taking this action to enhance the management of aircraft in the Palm Beach, FL, area.

On July 30, 2004, the FAA extended the date for operators to comply with the special maintenance program requirements for transport airplane fuel tank systems from December 6, 2004 to December 16, 2008. That final rule also included an overview of the findings of the FAA's review of our Aging Airplane Program and the rulemaking actions we plan as part of that program. As part of the final rule, the FAA sought comments on both the fuel tank safety compliance extension and the Aging Airplane Program update. This action is a summary and disposition of those comments received.

This Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) will permit passengers to use certain portable oxygen concentrator (POC) devices on aircraft, provided certain conditions in this SFAR are satisfied. The SFAR includes a POC preparation requirement for carry-on baggage transport, and a battery-packaging standard necessary for the safe carriage of extra POC batteries in carry-on baggage. This rulemaking action is necessary to address the travelling needs of people on oxygen therapy.

These special conditions are issued for Raytheon Model BH.125 series 400A, DH.125 series 400A, and HS.125 series 400B airplanes modified by Envoy Aerospace. These modified airplanes will have a novel or unusual design feature when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport category airplanes. The modification incorporates digital air data computers and displays that perform critical functions. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for the protection of these systems from the effects of high-intensity radiated fields (HIRF). These 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 final rule will establish Class E airspace at Mariposa, CA. New Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) have been developed at Mariposa- Yosemite Airport. Additional Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface is necessary for the safety of instrument flight rules (IFR) aircraft executing these new SIAPs and transitioning between the terminal and en route environment. This action also corrects a small error in the airport latitude and longitude description.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces that it is reviewing a proposed noise compatibility program that was submitted for Addison Airport under the provisions of 49 U.S.C. 47501 et seq. (the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act, hereinafter referred to as ``the Act'') and 14 CFR part 150 by the City of Addison. This program was submitted subsequent to a determination by FAA that associated noise exposure maps submitted under 14 CFR part 150 for the Addison Airport were in compliance with applicable requirements, effective September 22, 2004. The proposed noise compatibility program will be approved or disapproved on or before December 27, 2005.

This final rule will establish Class E airspace at Aspen, CO. A reduction in operating hours of Class D airspace service at Aspen- Pitkin County/Sardy Field makes this action necessary. This Class E airspace extending upward from the surface of the earth will provide a controlled environment for the safety of aircraft executing Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations outside the hours of Class D airspace service.

This document makes a correction to Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2005-12-51, which was published in the Federal Register on June 21, 2005 (70 FR 35519), and applies to Rockwell International (Aircraft Specification No. A-2-575 previously held by North American and recently purchased by Boeing) Models AT-6 (SNJ-2), AT-6A (SNJ-3), AT- 6B, AT-6C (SNJ-4), AT-6D (SNJ-5), AT-6F (SNJ-6), BC-1A, SNJ-7, and T-6G airplanes; and Autair Ltd. (Aircraft Specification No. AR-11 previously held by Noorduyn Aviation Ltd.) Model Harvard (Army AT-16) airplanes. We incorrectly referenced the docket number as FAA-2005-24163 throughout the document. The correct docket number is FAA-2005-21463. This action corrects the regulatory text.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 727, 727C, 727-100, 727-100C, 727-200, and 727- 200F series airplanes. This AD requires repetitive inspections of the carriage attach fittings on the foreflaps of each wing for cracking and other discrepancies, and corrective actions if necessary. For certain airplanes, this AD also concurrently requires various other actions related to the subject area. This AD also provides for an optional terminating action for the repetitive inspection requirements and for an optional replacement that defers the repetitive inspections. This AD is prompted by reports of damaged or failed outboard foreflaps with a cracked or failed carriage attach fitting of the foreflap sequencing carriage. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct fatigue cracking of the attach fittings of the foreflap carriage of the wings, which could result in partial or complete loss of the foreflap and consequent loss of controllability of the airplane.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A. (EMBRAER) Model EMB-135 and Model EMB-145, -145ER, -145MR, -145LR, -145XR, -145MP, and -145EP airplanes. This AD requires inspecting to determine the part number of the left and right engine fire handles; and replacing the engine fire handles with engine fire handles having different part numbers if necessary. This AD is prompted by cases of the internal circuit of the engine fire handle failing. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the internal circuit of the engine fire handle that could disable the fuel shut-off valves and the discharge of the fire extinguishing agent, which, in the event of a fire, could result in the inability to extinguish a fire.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 767-200 and -300 series airplanes. For certain airplanes, this proposed AD would require repetitive inspections for discrepancies of the tube assemblies and insulation of the metered fire extinguisher system and the bleed air duct couplings of the auxiliary power unit (APU) located in the aft cargo compartment; and corrective actions if necessary. For certain other airplanes, this proposed AD would require a one-time inspection for sufficient clearance between the fire extinguishing tube and the APU bleed air duct in the aft cargo compartment, and modification if necessary. This proposed AD is prompted by one report indicating that an operator found a hole in the discharge tube assembly for the metered fire extinguishing system; and another report indicating that an operator found chafing of the fire extinguishing tube against the APU duct that resulted in a crack in the tube. We are proposing this AD to prevent fire extinguishing agent from leaking out of the tube assembly in the aft cargo compartment which, in the event of a fire in the aft cargo compartment, could result in an insufficient concentration of fire extinguishing agent, and consequent inability of the fire extinguishing system to suppress the fire.

The FAA is adopting a reservation system to limit the number of unscheduled aircraft arrivals at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (O'Hare) during the peak hours of 7 a.m. through 8:59 p.m., central time, Monday through Friday, and 12 p.m. through 8:59 p.m. central time on Sunday. This Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) is effective through October 28, 2005. This action is consistent with other FAA actions regarding scheduled arrivals at O'Hare, which combined together effectively reduce congestion and delays at the airport.