Federal Aviation Administration January 14, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of a meeting of RTCA Special Committee 159: Global Positioning System (GPS).

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces that it is reviewing a proposed noise compatibility program that was submitted for San Diego International 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 San Diego County Regional Airport Authority, San Diego County, California. This program was submitted subsequent to a determination by FAA that associated noise exposure maps submitted under 14 CFR Part 150 for San Diego International Airport were in compliance with applicable requirements, effective November 10, 2009, 74 FR 66400-66401. The proposed noise compatibility program will be approved or disapproved on or before July 3, 2011.

This document proposes superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for MDHI Model MD900 helicopters. That AD currently requires turning on both Vertical Stabilizer Control System (VSCS) switches and turning off the autopilot (AP/SAS) switch; pulling certain AP/SAS circuit breakers; installing a placard near the AP/SAS master switch; installing an airspeed limitation placard on the instrument panel; and making changes to the Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM). This action would retain those requirements and would provide an option of replacing each affected tube adapter with a newly-designed tube adapter, which would provide terminating action for the unsafe condition. This proposal is prompted by the manufacturer introducing an improved, newly-designed tube adapter. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent loss of yaw control and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.