Federal Aviation Administration January 26, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of Transportation (Department) is seeking input from interested parties on the recommendation of the National Transportation Safety Board (Safety Board or NTSB) that customers of on-demand air taxi services be advised, at the time they contract for a flight, of: (1) The name of the company with operational control of the flight; (2) any ``doing business as'' names contained in such company's Operations Specifications; (3) the name of the aircraft owner; and (4) the name of any broker involved in arranging the flight. The NTSB has also recommended that customers be updated thereafter in the event such information changes. The Department will evaluate the comments to determine what, if any, changes to its economic rules applicable to on- demand air taxi operators should be made.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as fatigue damage with a crack propagation through the fastener line of the wing shroud box bottom panel, resulting in panel detachment and potential injuries to persons on the ground. The proposed AD would require actions that are intended to address the unsafe condition described in the MCAI.

The FAA proposes to supersede two existing airworthiness directives (ADs). One AD applies to all Airbus Model A319 and A320 airplanes and currently requires repetitive ultrasonic inspections to detect fatigue cracking in the wing/fuselage joint cruciform fittings, and corrective actions if necessary. The other AD applies to all Airbus Model A319, A320, and A321 airplanes and currently requires a revision to the Airworthiness Limitations section (ALS) of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness (ICA). This proposed AD would require new revisions to the ALS of the ICA to incorporate service life limits for certain items and inspections to detect fatigue cracking, accidental damage, or corrosion in certain structures; and accomplishment of the repetitive ultrasonic inspections of the wing/fuselage joint cruciform fittings in accordance with the revised ALS of the ICA. This proposed AD would also add airplanes to the applicability. This proposed AD results from issuance of new and more restrictive service life limits and structural inspections based on fatigue testing and in-service findings. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct fatigue cracking, accidental damage, or corrosion in principal structural elements and to prevent failure of certain life limited parts, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the airplane.

The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain Bombardier Model DHC-8-400 series airplanes. The existing AD currently requires inspecting the electrical connectors of the fire bottles for the forward and aft baggage compartments and for the auxiliary power unit (APU) and engine nacelles to determine if they are connected correctly; and doing related investigative and corrective actions, if necessary. This proposed AD would add a requirement to install/modify lanyards, mounts, and clamps to the forward and aft baggage compartment, APU, and engine nacelle fire extinguishing systems. This proposed AD would also require installation and removal procedures for certain fire bottles and fire extinguisher cartridges. This proposed AD also adds two airplanes to the applicability. This proposed AD results from reports of the electrical connectors for the fire bottles in the forward and aft baggage compartments, APU, and engine nacelle being cross-connected. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct cross- connection of the fire bottles and to prevent cross-connection, which could result in failure of the fire bottles to discharge and consequent inability to extinguish a fire in the affected areas.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 777-200, -300, and -300ER series airplanes. This AD requires replacement of the gimbal plates of the left and right outboard trailing edge flaps with improved gimbal plates and other specified actions. This AD results from a broken pivot link found on the inboard support for the outboard trailing edge flap. We are issuing this AD to prevent disconnection of the drive arm from its drive gimbal, due to a broken pivot link on an outboard flap support, which could result in unexpected roll of the airplane and loss of control of the airplane.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A300 airplanes; and Model A300 B4-600, B4-600R, and F4-600R series airplanes, and Model C4-605R Variant F airplanes (collectively called A300-600 series airplanes). This AD requires replacing the pressure limiter of the parking brake system with a new or modified pressure limiter. This AD results from a report indicating that failure of the parking brake system occurred on a Model A300-600 airplane. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the parking brake system and interference with emergency use of the brake pedals, which could lead to airplane collision with surrounding objects or departure from the runway.

The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD), which applies to all Boeing Model 747 airplanes. That AD currently requires a one-time inspection to determine whether the outer cylinder of the wing landing gear has certain part numbers, and replacement of the outer cylinder of the wing landing gear with a new, improved, or reworked part if necessary. That AD also requires removal of the load evening system, if such a system is installed. This new AD requires, for certain airplanes, an additional one-time inspection to determine whether the outer cylinder has a certain other part number. For those certain airplanes, this new AD also requires replacement of the outer cylinder with a reworked or new, improved part and related investigative and corrective actions, if necessary. This AD results from identification of an additional unsafe part. We are issuing this AD to prevent fracture of the outer cylinder of the wing landing gear, which could result in collapse of the wing landing gear.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is issuing this notice to advise the public it will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to address development of proposed airfield improvements at Palm Beach International Airport (PBI), West Palm Beach, Florida. To ensure the FAA identifies all significant issues related to the proposed action, the FAA will hold one (1) public scoping meeting and one (1) governmental and public agency scoping meeting.