Federal Aviation Administration March 17, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This action withdraws a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM). That NPRM proposed a new airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to Rolls-Royce plc (RR) RB211 Trent 800 series turbofan engines. That proposed action would have required initial and repetitive borescope inspections of the high pressure-and-intermediate pressure (HP-IP) turbine internal and external oil vent tubes for coking and carbon buildup, and cleaning or replacing the vent tubes if necessary. Since we issued that NPRM, RR notified us that the RB211 Trent 800 series turbofan engines are significantly less susceptible to vent tube carbon build-up than the RB211 Trent 700 series turbofan engines. Repeat on- wing inspections therefore, are not required to maintain fleet safety. Accordingly, we withdraw the proposed rule.

This action proposes to modify Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal Airways V-56 and V-290, NC; and Colored Federal Airway G-13, NC; to remove unusable airway segments. The affected airway segments are unusable because they are based on nondirectional beacon (NDB) navigation aids that have been permanently decommissioned. In addition, the FAA proposes to establish a new low altitude area navigation (RNAV) route, designated T-243, to enhance instrument flight rules (IFR) access to the Outer Banks area of North Carolina.

This amendment establishes, amends, suspends, or revokes Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) and/or Weather Takeoff Minimums for operations at certain airports. These regulatory actions are needed because of the adoption of new or revised criteria, or because of changes occurring in the National Airspace System, such as the commissioning of new navigational facilities, addition of new obstacles, or changes in air traffic requirements. These changes are designed to provide safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace and to promote safe flight operations under instrument flight rules at the affected airports.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Boeing Model 720 and 720B series airplanes. This AD requires repetitive inspections for any crack, corrosion, or sign of damage (e.g., finish scratches, blistering, or signs of fuel leaking) of the front spar upper chords under the fairing web, and repair if necessary. This AD results from a report that inspections required by a previous AD action are inadequate for Boeing Model 720 and 720B series airplanes. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct any crack, corrosion, or sign of damage of the front spar upper chords under the fairing web, which could result in structural failure of the wing.