Federal Aviation Administration August 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This final rule amends FAA regulations governing commercial space transportation. These changes are necessary to reflect a statutory change, capture current practice and to correct errors in a table. The purpose of the changes is to give the public and the regulated industry accurate and current information.

This amendment adopts miscellaneous amendments to the required IFR (instrument flight rules) altitudes and changeover points for certain Federal airways, jet routes, or direct routes for which a minimum or maximum en route authorized IFR altitude is prescribed. This regulatory action is needed because of changes occurring in the National Airspace System. These changes are designed to provide for the safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace under instrument conditions in the affected areas.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain EMBRAER Model EMB-145XR airplanes. This AD requires modification of the flap system interface wiring. This AD results from a finding that the aural and visual warnings, which should be activated when the flaps are set to 22 degrees during takeoff, were not enabled during the manufacture of certain Model EMB-145XR airplanes. We are issuing this AD to prevent overrunning the runway during takeoff.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is requesting public comment on a proposal to change the monitor status of air navigational aids (NAVAIDS) at two (2) airports. The NAVAIDS are currently monitored by Automated Flight Service Stations (AFSS) in Florida and Wyoming that were formerly operated by the FAA. Since October 4, 2005 these AFSS sites have been operating under a Federal Contract with Lockheed Martin Corporation. During the early stages of the contracting process, the FAA determined that monitoring of NAVAIDS was not part of the mission of flight service stations and therefore was not included in the contract. Neither of the NAVAIDS are part of a published instrument approach into an airport. The proposed time for the NAVAIDS to become unmonitored is 30 days prior to the date the respective AFSS site closes for consolidation into a Lockheed Martin FS-21 site. The Non-Directional Beacons (NDB) that are proposed to become unmonitored are: Antelope (AOP) NDB, Rock Springs, Wyoming; and Vero Beach (VEP) NDB, Vero Beach, Florida.

The FAA is proposing a rule to address the potential for increased congestion and delay at New York's LaGuardia Airport (LaGuardia) when the High Density Rule (HDR) expires there on January 1, 2007. The rule, if adopted, would establish an operational limit on the number of aircraft landing and taking off at the airport. To offset the effect of this limit, the proposed rule would increase utilization of the airport by encouraging the use of larger aircraft through implementing an airport-wide, average aircraft size requirement designed to increase the number of passengers that may use the airport within the overall proposed operational limits.

This action corrects an error in the airport reference point (ARP) for Provo Municipal Airport, Provo, UT, in the final rule that was published in the Federal Register on August 1, 2006, (71 FR 43355), Docket No. FAA-2006-24234; Airspace Docket No. 06-AWP-5. In addition, corrections are made to change FAA Order 7400.9O to FAA Order 7400.9N, amending its date in two references to September 1, 2005, effective September 15, 2005; and make two editorial changes, replacing the word attends with amends in the Summary, and Class D to Class E in the legal description.

The FAA is publishing notice of proposed release of 31.413 acres of land at the Raleigh County Memorial Airport, Beckley, West Virginia to the Raleigh County Airport Authority and the Raleigh County Commission for the development of an industrial park. There are no impacts to the Airport and the land is not needed for airport development as shown on the Airport Layout Plan. Fair Market Value of the land will be paid to the Raleigh County Airport and the Raleigh County Commission, and used for Airport purposes.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces an additional comment period, closing on September 22, 2006, for a Draft Written Reevaluation of environmental impacts of a proposed centerfield taxiway at Boston-Logan International Airport, Boston, Massachusetts.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain McDonnell Douglas Model DC-10-10 and DC-10-10F airplanes; and Model MD-10-10F airplanes. This AD requires replacing the clamp bases for the fuel vent pipe with improved clamp bases. This AD results from reports that the foil wrapping on existing plastic clamp bases has migrated out of position, which compromises the bonding of the fuel vent pipes to the airplane structure. We are issuing this AD to ensure that the fuel vent pipes are properly bonded to the airplane structure. Improper bonding could prevent electrical energy from a lightning strike from dissipating to the airplane structure, and create an ignition source, which could result in a fuel tank explosion.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier Model DHC-8-100, DHC-8-200, DHC-8-300, and DHC-8-400 series airplanes. This AD requires inspecting the left and right control column torque tube assemblies to determine the type of rivets installed and replacing incorrect or indeterminate type rivets with the correct type rivets. This AD results from a report that incorrect rivets having lower than required strength were installed on the control column torque tube during production. We are issuing this AD to prevent shear failure of control column torque tube rivets, which could cause unexpected decoupling of the elevators and large unwanted deflection of the free elevator, and consequent reduced controllability of the airplane.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has completed and is making publicly available its Record of Decision (ROD) for the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) containing a DOT Section 4(f)/ 303(c) Evaluation of a Proposed Replacement Airport for the City of St. George, Utah, Washington County, Utah.

This amendment amends Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) for operations at certain airports. These regulatory actions are needed 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.

These special conditions are issued to Avcon Industries, Inc., for the Learjet Model 23 series airplanes modified by Avcon Industries, Inc. This airplane as modified by Avcon Industries, Inc., will have a novel or unusual design feature associated with the installation of a new Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM) air data system. 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.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of a meeting of RTCA Special Committee 206: Aeronautical Information Services Data Link.

This notice announces the bi-annual meeting of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Aeronautical Charting (ACF) to discuss informational content and design of aeronautical charts and related products, as well as instrument flight procedures development policy and design criteria.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A300 B2 and B4 series airplanes. This proposed AD would require revising the airplane flight manual (AFM) to include procedures for resetting the trim and pitch trim levers after each landing, determining which servomotor moves the pitch trim control wheel, and doing applicable other specified actions. This proposed AD also provides for optional terminating actions for those requirements. This proposed AD results from a report of a sudden nose-up movement after disengagement of the autopilot in cruise. We are proposing this AD to ensure that the flightcrew is aware of the procedures for resetting the trim and pitch trim levers after each landing and to prevent failure of the servomotors of the pitch trim systems during flight. Failure of the servomotors of the pitch trim systems could result in uncommanded nose-up movement of the control surface of the pitch trim systems after disengagement of the autopilot in cruise.

This amendment supersedes an existing airworthiness directive (AD), that is applicable to Rolls-Royce plc (RR) models RB211-535E4-37, RB211-535E437, RB211-535C-37, RB211-535E4-B-75, RB211-535E4-C, and RB211-22B-02 turbofan engines. That AD currently requires inspecting certain high pressure (HP) turbine discs, manufactured between 1989 and 1999, for cracks in the rim cooling air holes, and, if necessary, replacing the discs with serviceable parts. The manufacturer identified reaming-induced machining anomalies (RIMA) as the cause for the cracking. This amendment requires the same inspections, and reduces the compliance times for eddy current inspection (ECI) for the RR RB211- 22B-02 engines. This amendment results from the manufacturer reducing their recommended compliance times for inspections on RB211-22B-02 engines. We are issuing this AD to prevent possible disc failure, which could result in an uncontained engine failure and damage to the airplane.

The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain Bombardier Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 & 440) airplanes. The existing AD currently requires inspecting contactors 1K4XD, 2K4XD, and K4XA to determine the type of terminal base plate, and applying sealant on the terminal base plates, if necessary. This new AD revises the effective date of the existing AD. This AD results from incidents of short circuit failures of certain alternating current (AC) contactors located in the avionics bay. We are issuing this AD to prevent short circuit failures of certain AC contactors, which could result in arcing and consequent smoke or fire.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 767-400ER series airplanes and Model 777-200 and - 300 series airplanes. This AD requires, for certain airplanes, repetitive testing of the fill and safety fittings of the cargo fire extinguishing bottles in the forward cargo compartment for leaks; and repetitive application of a corrosion inhibiting compound (CIC) or replacement of the cargo fire extinguishing bottles with reworked fire extinguishing bottles, as necessary. For all airplanes, this AD requires replacement of the cargo fire extinguishing bottles with reworked fire extinguishing bottles, which ends the repetitive tests and CIC applications if applicable. This AD results from failure of the safety fittings for the cargo fire extinguishing bottles. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the safety fittings for the cargo fire extinguishing bottles due to corrosion, which could result in leakage of extinguishing agent. If a fire occurs in the cargo bay, the cargo fire extinguishing bottles could have less than enough extinguishing agent to control a fire.

This action modifies the Class E airspace area at Half Moon Bay, CA. The establishment of an Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) Z Instrument Approach Procedure (IAP) to Runway (RWY) 30 to Half Moon Bay Airport, Half Moon Bay, CA has made this action necessary. Additional controlled airspace extending upward from 700 feet or more above the surface of the earth is needed to contain aircraft executing this RNAV (GPS) ZIAP to RWY 30 at Half Moon Bay Airport. The intended effect of this action is to provide adequate controlled airspace for Instrument Flight Rules operations at Half Moon Bay Airport, Half Moon Bay, CA

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Fokker Model F27 Mark 050 airplanes. This AD requires doing an initial inspection of the leading edge sections of the elevators to detect loose leading edges and to ensure that there is no gap between the sections and the front spar, and corrective actions if necessary. This AD also requires determining the type of leading edge installed on the elevators. For certain airplanes, this AD requires repetitive inspections until the modification of the leading edge sections of the elevators and the application of sealant, which would end the repetitive inspections. This AD results from reports that the leading edges of the elevators were found loose, although the fasteners were still in place; in one case a stud was broken. In addition, the fastener attachment holes were elongated and worn out, and fretting damage was found on the elevator front spar and balance weights. Investigation revealed that vibration, induced by the propeller slipstream, was the cause of these discrepancies; the stud failure was due to improper installation of the fasteners. We are issuing this AD to prevent jamming, restricting, or binding of the elevators due to loose or missing fasteners, which could make the movement of the elevator difficult and decrease aerodynamic control of the airplane.

These special conditions are issued for the Airbus A380-800 airplane. This airplane will have novel or unusual design features when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport category airplanes. Many of these novel or unusual design features are associated with the complex systems and the configuration of the airplane, including its full-length double deck. For these design features, the applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards regarding airplane jacking loads. 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. Additional special conditions will be issued for other novel or unusual design features of the Airbus Model A380-800 airplane.

These special conditions are issued for the Airbus A380-800 airplane. This airplane will have novel or unusual design features when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport category airplanes. Many of these novel or unusual design features are associated with the complex systems and the configuration of the airplane, including its full-length double deck. For these design features, the applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards regarding loading conditions for multi-leg landing gear. 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. Additional special conditions will be issued for other novel or unusual design features of the Airbus Model A380-800 airplane.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain EMBRAER Model ERJ 170 and ERJ 190 airplanes. This proposed AD would require repetitive inspections to detect damaged smoke seals in the aft avionics compartment, repair/replacement if any damage is found, and reinforcement if no damage is found. This proposed AD also would require eventual replacement of all smoke seals in the aft avionics compartment with new, improved seals having new part numbers, which would terminate the repetitive inspections. This proposed AD results from a report of damaged smoke seals in the aft avionics compartment of the affected airplanes. We are proposing this AD to prevent smoke from penetrating into the passenger cabin during a fire in the avionics compartment.