Federal Aviation Administration October 26, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is considering a proposal to change a portion of the airport from aeronautical use to non-aeronautical use and to authorize the lease of the airport property. The proposal consists of 1 parcel of land, totaling approximately 3.6 acres. Current use and present condition is undeveloped land compatible with local commercial/industrial zoning classification. The land was acquired under part of the property from the City of Escanaba deeded to Delta County for airport use. There are no impacts to the airport by allowing the airport to lease of the property. Subject land may provide good commercial/industrial development opportunities for the community and are well outside airport perimeter fence limits. Approval does not constitute a commitment by the FAA to financially assist in the lease of the subject airport property nor a determination of eligibility for grant-in-aid funding from the FAA. The disposition of proceeds from the lease of the airport property will be in accordance FAA's Policy and Procedures Concerning the Use of Airport Revenue, published in the Federal Register on February 16, 1999. In accordance with section 47107(h) of title 49, United States Code, this notice is required to be published in the Federal Register 30 days before modifying the land-use assurance that requires the property to be used for an aeronautical purpose.

This action amends Class E airspace at Binghamton, NY. The development of multiple area navigation (RNAV) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAP) for numerous airports within the Binghamton, NY geographical area with approved Instrument Flight Rules (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 five airspace and one heliport and results in the rescission of the five Class E-5 descriptions through separate rulemaking action. The area will be depicted on aeronautical charts for pilot reference.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A320-111, -211, -212, and -231 airplanes. This AD requires, for certain airplanes, modifying the cables and access holes to the inner tank fuel pumps; and, for certain other airplanes, inspecting the fuel pump access holes and modifying the access holes, if necessary. This AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. We are issuing this AD to prevent chafing of the fuel pump cables, which could result in electrical arcing and possible ignition of fuel vapors and consequent explosion of the fuel tank.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain EMBRAER airplane models as identified above. This AD requires modifying the total air temperature (TAT) sensor heating system. This AD also allows replacing the fully automated digital electronic control (FADEC) assemblies with new or modified assemblies as an additional means of compliance. This AD results from a report indicating that the FADEC unit failed to compensate for ice accretion on the engine fan blades due to a false temperature signal from the TAT sensor to the FADEC. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the TAT sensor, which could result in insufficient thrust to take off or (if coupled with the loss of an engine during takeoff) to abort the takeoff in a safe manner, and consequent reduced controllability of the airplane.

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Sikorsky) Model S-76A, B, and C helicopters. This action requires certain inspections of the main rotor lower bifilar arm assembly in the attachment area around the lower bifilar lugs for a crack. If a crack is found on any bifilar lug, this AD requires replacing the bifilar arm assembly with an airworthy bifilar arm assembly. If no crack is found, this AD requires a one-time test for the required torque on the lug nuts and, if necessary, applying the required torque and conducting the torque stabilization tests. This amendment is prompted by four reports of cracked bifilars. The actions specified in this AD are intended to prevent failure of a bifilar lug, damage to the main rotor control system, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.