Federal Aviation Administration 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces that it is reviewing a proposed noise compatibility program that was submitted for Columbia Metropolitan 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 Richland- Lexington Airport District. This program was submitted subsequent to a determination by FAA that the associated noise exposure maps submitted under 14 CFR part 150 for Columbia Metropolitan Airport were in compliance with applicable requirements effective July 29, 2005. The proposed noise compatibility program will be approved or disapproved on or before September 18, 2006.

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 proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 727 airplanes. This proposed AD would require repetitive measurements of the freeplay of the left and right outboard aileron balance tabs and of the upper and lower rudder tabs, and related investigative/corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD also would require repetitive lubrication of the hinge bearings and rod end bearings of the aileron balance tabs. This proposed AD results from reports of freeplay-induced vibration of the outboard aileron balance tab and rudder tab. We are proposing this AD to prevent excessive vibration of the airframe during flight, which could result in divergent flutter and loss of control of the airplane.

The FAA proposes to rescind an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for Rolls-Royce plc (RR) Model RB211 Trent 892, 884, 877, 875, and 892B series turbofan engines. That AD currently requires inspecting and replacing certain angle gearbox and intermediate gearbox hardware, and on-going repetitive inspections of the magnetic chip detectors. This action would rescind all the requirements of AD 97-06- 13, Amendment 39-9970, Docket No. 97-ANE-09. This proposed rescission results from the FAA determining that the inspections and replacements required by that AD are no longer required to correct an unsafe condition. Operators should, however, incorporate those inspections and replacements into their normal maintenance practices.

The FAA is delaying the compliance date for the final rule clarifying that contractors, including subcontractors at any tier, must be subject to drug and alcohol testing. This action is necessary because it has come to our attention that some original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and other entities may be confused regarding whether they are performing maintenance or preventive maintenance duties subject to drug and alcohol testing, or manufacturing duties not subject to testing. The effective date of April 10, 2006, will remain the same, but this action extends the compliance date until October 10, 2006, which gives OEMs and others sufficient time to determine what work is subject to drug and alcohol testing.

This document makes a correction to Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2006-06-06, which published in the Federal Register on March 16, 2006 (71 FR 13533), and applies to all The Cessna Aircraft Company (Cessna) Models 208 and 208B airplanes. AD 2006-06-06 requires you to incorporate information into the applicable section of the Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) and Pilots Operating Handbook (POH) and requires installation of placards. Current language in paragraph (f)(3) of AD 2006-06-06 regarding the placard requirement inadvertently states: ``You may insert a copy of this AD into the appropriate sections of the POH to comply with this action.'' This does not meet the intent of the AD. This document corrects that paragraph by removing the language referenced above.

This action establishes Class E airspace at Minchumina, AK to provide adequate controlled airspace to contain aircraft executing two new Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs), and one revised SIAP. This rule results in new Class E airspace established upward from 700 feet (ft.) above the surface at Minchumina, AK.

The FAA is publishing notice of the proposed release of approximately 3.0 acres of land located at Hamilton Municipal Airport, to allow its sale for non-aviation development. The parcel was part of the airport property acquired with federal funding support under the Airport Improvement Program. The Village of Hamilton proposes to sell the land to a developer who will develop it as a Medical office Building. FAA's action is to release the land from a deem provision requiring aeronautical use of the property. The Village of Hamilton has stated that it has no aeronautical use for the parcel now or in the near future according to the Hamilton Municipal Airport Layout Plan. The Fair Market Value of the land will be paid to the Village of Hamilton to be used for the capital development of Hamilton Municipal Airport. Any comments the agency receives will be considered as a part of the decision.

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.

The FAA is revising an earlier proposed airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 757 airplanes. The original NPRM would have required, for certain airplanes, reworking the spar bonding path and reapplying sealant; and, for certain other airplanes, testing the electrical bond between the engine fuel feed hose and the wing front spar and, if applicable, reworking the spar bonding path and reapplying sealant. The original NPRM also would have required, for all airplanes, an inspection to ensure the electrical bonding jumper is installed between the engine fuel feed tube and the adjacent wing station. The original NPRM resulted from fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. This action revises the original NPRM by requiring operators that may have installed an incorrect O-ring to install the correct part and do a re-test. We are proposing this supplemental NPRM to prevent arcing or sparking at the interface between the bulkhead fittings of the engine fuel feed tube and the front spar during a lightning strike, which could provide a possible ignition source for the fuel vapor inside the fuel tank and result in a fuel tank explosion.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) to supersede AD 2003-07-01, which applies to certain Thrush Aircraft, Inc. Model 600 S2D and S2R (S-2R) series airplanes (type certificate previously held by Quality Aerospace, Inc. and Ayres Corporation). AD 2003-07-01 currently requires you to repetitively inspect the \1/4\- inch and \5/16\-inch bolt hole areas on the lower wing spar caps for fatigue cracking; replace or repair any lower wing spar cap where fatigue cracking is found; and report any fatigue cracking found. This AD is the result of the analysis of data from 112 cracks found in the last 8 years on similar design Model 600 S2D and S2R (S-2R) series airplanes, and FAA's determination that an immediate initial inspection and more frequent repetitive inspections are necessary to address the unsafe condition for certain airplanes. Consequently, this AD would require you to increase the frequency of the repetitive inspections on Groups 1, 2, 3, and 6 airplanes; and decrease the hours time-in-service (TIS) for the initial inspection on Group 2 airplanes. We are issuing this AD to prevent lower wing spar cap failure caused by undetected fatigue cracks. Such failure could result in loss of a wing with consequent loss of airplane control.

The FAA proposes to extend, by 12 months, the date for operators to comply with the fire penetration resistance requirements of thermal/acoustic insulation used in transport category airplanes manufactured after September 2, 2007. This extension is from September 2, 2007 to September 2, 2008. This action is necessary to allow airframe manufacturers enough time, after getting an acceptable certification test facility, to select and certificate appropriate installations.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces the availability of final policy that provides FAA certification policy on the compliance issues associated with high altitude flight.

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 proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain General Electric Company (GE) CF6-45 and CF6-50 series turbofan engines. This proposed AD would require inspecting and reworking certain forward and aft center bodies of the long fixed core exhaust nozzle (LFCEN) assembly. This proposed AD results from reports of separation of LFCEN assembly forward and aft center bodies, due to high imbalance engine conditions during flight. We are proposing this AD to prevent the forward and aft center body of the LFCEN assembly from separating, leading to additional damage to the engine and airplane, possible damage to other airplanes, and to objects on the ground.

The FAA is publishing notice of proposed release of 23.945 acres of land at 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) proposes to amend its commercial space transportation regulations under the Commercial Space Launch Amendments Act of 2004. The FAA proposes application requirements for an operator of a reusable suborbital rocket to obtain an experimental permit. The FAA also proposes operating requirements and restrictions on launch and reentry of reusable suborbital rockets operated under a permit.

On March 13, 2006, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an order to show cause, soliciting written views on extending through October 28, 2006, the August 2004 order limiting scheduled operations at O'Hare International Airport (O'Hare). The August 2004 order made effective a series of schedule adjustments that air carriers individually agreed to during a scheduling reduction meeting convened under 49 U.S.C. 41722. The FAA previously extended the order twice, most recently through April 1, 2006. After careful reflection on the written views submitted in this matter, the FAA is now extending the August 2004 order through October 28, 2006, but reserves the right to terminate the August 2004 order before that date if a final rule on congestion and delay reduction at O'Hare earlier takes effect.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of a meeting of RTCA Special Committee 205/EUROCAE Working Group 71: Software Considerations in Aeronautical Systems.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Boeing Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, and -500 series airplanes. This AD requires a one-time inspection for scribe lines and cracks in the fuselage skin at certain lap joints, butt joints, external repair doublers, and other areas; and related investigative/ corrective actions if necessary. This AD results from reports of fuselage skin cracks adjacent to the skin lap joints on airplanes that had scribe lines. Scribe line damage can also occur at many other locations, including butt joints, external doublers, door scuff plates, the wing-to-body fairing, and areas of the fuselage where decals have been applied or removed. We are issuing this AD to prevent rapid decompression of the airplane due to fatigue cracks resulting from scribe lines on pressurized fuselage structure.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A300-600 series airplanes. This AD requires modifying nine bolt holes in the vertical flange to prevent cracking before the inspection threshold of AD 98-18-02. This AD results from reports of cracking in the vertical web of the center spar sealing angles of the wing earlier than the inspection interval specified in the existing AD. We are issuing this AD to prevent crack formation in the sealing angles; such cracks could rupture the sealing angle and lead to subsequent crack formation in the bottom skin of the wing, and resultant reduced structural integrity of the center spar section of the wing.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain McDonnell Douglas Model DC-9-10, DC-9-20, DC-9-30, DC-9-40, and DC-9-50 series airplanes. This AD requires repetitive inspections for stress corrosion cracks of the main fuselage frame, and corrective actions if necessary. This AD also provides an optional terminating action for the repetitive inspections. This AD results from several reports of cracking of the main fuselage frame. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct stress corrosion cracking of the main fuselage frame, which could result in extensive damage to adjacent structure and reduced structural integrity of the airplane.

The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to all Boeing Model 737-200C series airplanes. The existing AD currently requires a one-time external detailed inspection for cracking of the fuselage skin in the lower lobe cargo compartment; repetitive internal detailed inspections for cracking of the frames in the lower lobe cargo compartment; repair of cracked parts; and terminating action for the repetitive internal detailed inspections. This proposed AD restates the requirements of the existing AD and adds a requirement to perform repetitive detailed inspections of the body station (BS) 360 and BS 500 fuselage frames, after accomplishing the terminating action, and repair if necessary. This proposed AD results from multiple reports that the existing AD is not fully effective in preventing cracks in the BS 360 and BS 500 fuselage frames. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct cracking of the fuselage frames from BS 360 to BS 500B, which, if not detected, could lead to loss of the cargo door during flight and consequent rapid decompression of the airplane.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A310 airplanes, Model A300 B4-600 series airplanes, Model A300 B4-600R series airplanes, Model A300 F4-600R series airplanes, and Model A300 C4-605R Variant F airplanes. This AD requires inspections of the rudder for discrepancies and corrective action if necessary. This AD also requires reporting all inspection results to the airplane manufacturer and the FAA. This AD results from two separate findings of inner skin disbonding discovered while undergoing unrelated repair and maintenance procedures. We are issuing this AD to detect discrepancies of the rudder, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the rudder.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A319-131, -132, and -133; A320-232 and -233; and A321-131, -231, and -232 airplanes. This AD requires inspecting for cracks or failure of the primary load path components of the engine forward mount, and corrective action if necessary. This AD also requires removing, re-installing, and re-torquing the attachment bolts for the secondary load path. This AD results from a report that, during modification of certain engine forward mount assemblies of the left and right engines done at an engine shop visit, an incorrect torque was applied to the attachment bolts. We are issuing this AD to prevent structural failure of the secondary load path of the forward engine mount, which, if combined with failure of the primary load path, could result in separation of the engine from the airplane.