Federal Aviation Administration 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to all Boeing Model 737-300, -400, and -500 series airplanes. The existing AD currently requires repetitive inspections for discrepancies of the fuselage skin under the dorsal fin assembly, and repairing if necessary. This proposed AD would require an inspection for any chafing or crack in the fuselage skin and abrasion resistant coating at the dorsal fin landing, an inspection for damage to the dorsal fin seals, attach clip, and seal retainer, and other specified and corrective actions as necessary. The new proposed requirements would end the need for the existing repetitive inspections. This proposed AD results from a report of an 18-inch crack found in the fuselage skin area under the blade seals of the nose cap of the dorsal fin due to previous wear damage, and additional reports of fuselage skin wear. We are proposing this AD to prevent discrepancies of the fuselage skin, which could result in fatigue cracking due to cabin pressurization and consequent rapid in-flight decompression of the airplane fuselage.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for BHTC Model 230 helicopters. This proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The aviation authority of Canada, with which we have a bilateral agreement, states in the MCAI:

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated 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:

The FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) revision of a current information collection. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on December 6, 2007, vol. 72, no. 234, pages 68947-68948. 14 CFR part 17 sets forth procedures for filing solicitation protests and contract claims in the FAA's Office of Dispute Resolution for Acquisition.

The FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) revision of a current information collection. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on December 6, 2007, vol. 72, no. 234, page 68947. The information collected is from airmen and is used to determine compliance with FAA regulations regarding second-in-command certification for the operation of aircraft.

The FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve a current information collection. Accident Prevention Counselor Activity Reports are used by counselors to advise the FAA of Accident Prevention Program accomplishments.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Boeing Model 757 airplanes and Model 767-200, 767-300, and 767-300F series airplanes. This AD requires revising the Limitations section of the airplane flight manual to advise the flight crew of procedures to follow to ensure that a fuel filter impending bypass condition due to gross fuel contamination is detected in a timely manner. This AD was prompted by an error in the operating program software (OPS) of the engine indication and crew alerting system (EICAS). The error prevents the display of an advisory message to the flight crew of a left engine fuel filter contamination and imminent bypass condition, which may indicate an imminent multiple engine thrust loss or engine malfunction event due to fuel contamination. We are issuing this AD to prevent malfunction and thrust loss on both engines, which could result in a forced off-airport landing.

This amendment proposes superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Sikorsky) Model S- 61A, D, E, L, N, NM, R, and V helicopters. The existing AD currently requires determining whether the main rotor shaft (MRS) was used in repetitive external lift (REL) operations. The existing AD also requires a nondestructive inspection (NDI) for cracks, replacing any unairworthy MRS with an airworthy MRS, appropriately marking the MRS, making a logbook entry, and establishing retirement lives for each REL MRS. This proposed AD would contain some of the same requirements but would determine new retirement lives for each MRS. The REL retirement life would be based on hours time-in-service (TIS) or lift cycles, whichever occurs first. The Non-REL retirement life would be reduced and would only be based on hours TIS. This proposed AD would also require the operator to remove from service any MRS with oversized dowel pin bores. Also, certain restricted category models that were inadvertently omitted in the current AD would be added to the applicability. This proposed AD is prompted by the manufacturer's reevaluation of the retirement life for the MRS based on torque, ground-air-ground (GAG) cycle, and fatigue testing. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent MRS structural failure, loss of power to the main rotor, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

The FAA is publishing notice of proposed release of approximately 27.07 acres of land at the Lonesome Pine Airport, Wise, Virginia to Wise County (Portions of Property Map Parcels 4, 5, 6). The release of land will provide a location for a regional business & technology park and an emergency services training facility. Releasing the land does not adversely impact the Airport and the land is not needed for airport development as shown on the Airport Layout Plan. Fair Market Value of the land has been assessed and will be provided to The Cumberlands Airport Commission for Airport and Commission development expenses.

The FAA is revising an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain Boeing Model 747-400 series airplanes. That AD currently requires inspecting the support bracket of the crew oxygen cylinder installation to determine the manufacturing date marked on the support, and performing corrective action if necessary. This new AD retains all the requirements of the existing AD and expands the applicability of the existing AD to include certain airplanes that are not on the U.S. Register. This AD results from a report indicating that certain oxygen cylinder supports may not have been properly heat- treated. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the oxygen cylinder support under the most critical flight load conditions, which could cause the oxygen cylinder to come loose and leak oxygen. Leakage of oxygen could result in oxygen being unavailable for the flightcrew or could result in a fire hazard in the vicinity of the leakage.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This 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:

This action proposes special conditions for the Embraer S.A. Model ERJ 190-100 ECJ airplane. This airplane will have novel or unusual design features associated with access during flight of the main deck Class C cargo compartment. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These proposed 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.

This action proposes special conditions for the Embraer S.A. Model ERJ 190-100 ECJ airplane which has a novel and unusual design feature, in that it features multiple electrical/electronic equipment bays that are located throughout the airplane. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These proposed 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 Embraer S.A. Model ERJ 190-100 ECJ airplane.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, and -900 series airplanes. This AD requires replacing the drain tube assemblies and support clamps on the aft fairing of the engine struts. This AD results from reports of failure of the drain tube assembly and clamp on the aft fairings of an engine strut. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the drain tube assemblies and clamps on the aft fairings of the of the engine struts. Such a failure could allow leaked flammable fluids in the drain systems to discharge on to the heat shields of the aft fairings of the engine struts, which could result in an undetected and uncontrollable fire.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Boeing Model 737-200C series airplanes. This AD requires revising the FAA-approved maintenance inspection program to include inspections that will give no less than the required damage tolerance rating for each structural significant item (SSI), doing repetitive inspections to detect cracks of all SSIs, and repairing cracked structure. This AD results from a report of incidents involving fatigue cracking in transport category airplanes that are approaching or have exceeded their design service objective. We are issuing this AD to maintain the continued structural integrity of the entire fleet of Model 737-200C series airplanes.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated 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:

The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD), which applies to all EMBRAER Model ERJ 170-100 LR, -100 SE, -100 STD, and -100 SU airplanes; and Model ERJ 190-100 IGW, -100 LR, and - 100 STD airplanes. That AD currently requires revising the Limitations section of the airplane flight manual (AFM) to prohibit the flightcrew from moving the throttle into the forward thrust range immediately after applying the thrust reverser. This new AD adds additional airplanes to the applicability and requires the AFM revision for those additional airplanes. For certain airplanes, this AD also requires installing new, improved full-authority digital engine-control (FADEC) software. This AD results from a report that, during landing, the thrust reverser may not re-stow completely if the throttle lever is moved into the forward thrust range immediately after the thrust reverser is applied. We are issuing this AD to prevent the flightcrew from performing a takeoff with a partially deployed thrust reverser, which could result in reduced controllability of the airplane.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated 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:

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This 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:

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above that would supersede an existing AD. This proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated 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:

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is considering a proposal to change a portion of airport land from aeronautical use to non-aeronautical use and to authorize the sale of the airport property. The proposal consists of a 0.1766-acre portion of Parcel 3 and a 0.9776 acre portion of Parcel 5, totaling 1.1542 acres. Presently the land is vacant and used as open land for control of FAR Part 77 surfaces and compatible land use and is not needed for aeronautical use, as shown on the Airport Layout Plan. The Parcels were acquired in 1988 with Federal participation. It is the intent of the City of Aurora, as owner and operator of the Aurora Municipal Airport (AMA), to sell the subject portions of Parcels 3 & 5 (1.1542 Acres) in fee to the Village of Sugar Grove, for the construction of Municipal Drive. AMA would, in return, receive land equivalent in acreage and value (a portion of Parcel 4) from the Village of Sugar Grove. This notice announces that the FAA is considering the proposal to authorize the disposal of the subject airport property at the Aurora Municipal Airport, Sugar Grove, IL. Approval does not constitute a commitment by the FAA to financially assist in disposal of the subject airport property nor a determination that all measures covered by the program are eligible for grant-in-aid funding from the FAA. 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 notice announces an extension of the comment period on a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) which proposes to establish Class D airspace at San Bernardino International Airport, San Bernardino, CA. This action is being taken in response to interest by several pilot groups and local airspace users working groups in the Los Angeles basin.

This action proposes to extend the length of Area Navigation (RNAV) route Q-110 and make a minor realignment of jet route J-73, in support of the Florida West Coast Airspace Redesign project. The extension of Q-110 would provide an RNAV route for use by aircraft transitioning between Miami Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) and Jacksonville ARTCC airspace. The extension would also assist aircraft in circumnavigating military airspace associated with the Avon Park Air Force Range. The realignment of J-73 would provide space for the Q-110 extension. The FAA is proposing this action to enhance the safe and the efficient use of the navigable airspace in the western Florida area.

This action removes the Class E5 Airspace at Hancock Airfield Airport, Hawesville, KY, as there is no longer a Standard Instrument Approach Procedure (SIAP) for Hancock Airfield Airport requiring Class E5 airspace.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proposing amending the Order Limiting Scheduled Operations at New York LaGuardia that published in the Federal Register on December 27, 2006. This amendment, if adopted, would reduce the number of reservations available for unscheduled operations from six per hour to three per hour.