Federal Aviation Administration August 12, 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain Boeing Model 747-200C and -200F series airplanes. The existing AD currently requires repetitive inspections to find fatigue cracking in the floor panel attachment fastener holes of the upper chord of certain upper deck floor beams in Section 41 (i.e., body station 520 and forward), and repair if necessary. The existing AD also provides optional modifications, which extend the threshold for the initiation of certain repetitive inspections. This proposed AD would add repetitive inspections to find fatigue cracking in the floor panel attachment fastener holes of the upper chord of certain other upper deck floor beams in Section 41 and Section 42 (i.e., aft of body station 520); repetitive inspections to find fatigue cracking in the permanent fastener holes of the upper chord of certain upper deck floor beams in Section 41; and related investigative and corrective actions. This proposed AD would also provide a new optional modification, which would terminate certain repetitive inspections. This proposed AD results from new reports of cracking in the upper chord of the upper deck floor beams in Sections 41 and 42, and new analysis that shows the permanent fastener holes of the upper chord of certain upper deck floor beams in Section 41 are also susceptible to fatigue cracking. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct cracking in the upper chord of the upper deck floor beams. Such cracking could extend and sever the floor beams, which could result in rapid decompression and loss of controllability of the airplane.

This action proposes to amend Class E airspace at Midlothian- Waxahachie, TX. Additional controlled airspace is necessary to accommodate new Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) at Mid- Way Regional Airport, Midlothian-Waxahachie, TX. This action would also reflect the name change to Mid-Way Regional Airport and update the geographic coordinates. The FAA is taking this action to enhance the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations for SIAPs at Mid-Way Regional Airport.

These special conditions are issued for Boeing Model 747-8/-8F airplanes. These airplanes will have a novel or unusual design feature(s) associated with an increased engine size when compared to previous model airplanes. These larger engines with larger bypass fans are capable of producing higher and more complex dynamic loads than previously experienced in older designs. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. 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.

We are revising an existing 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:

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.