Federal Aviation Administration April 19, 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew an information collection. This collection ensures that U.S. operators have proper noise certification information when they fly outside the U.S., in compliance with ICAO, Annex 16, Volume 1, Amendment 8.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew an information collection. Fractional Ownership is a program that offers increased flexibility in aircraft ownership. Owners purchase shares of an aircraft and agree to share their aircraft with others having an ownership share in that same aircraft. Owners agree to put their aircraft into a ``pool'' of other shared aircraft and to lease their aircraft to another owner in that pool. The aircraft owners use a common management company to maintain the aircraft and administer the leasing of the aircraft among the owners.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew an information collection. Wildlife strike data are collected to develop standards and monitor hazards to aviation.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA; 42 United States Code [U.S.C.] 4321 et seq.), Council on Environmental Quality NEPA implementing regulations (40 Code of Federal Regulations parts 1500 to 1508), and FAA Order 1050.1E, Change 1, the FAA, Office of Commercial Space Transportation (AST) is announcing the availability of and requesting comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the SpaceX Texas Launch Site (Draft EIS). This Draft EIS is also submitted for review pursuant to the following public law requirements: Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act (49 U.S.C. Section 303); Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470); Executive Order 11988, Floodplain Management; DOT Order 5650.2, Floodplain Management and Protection; Executive Order 11990, Protection of Wetlands; and DOT Order 5660.1A, Preservation of the Nation's Wetlands. An electronic version of the Draft EIS is available on the FAA/AST Web site: https://www.faa.gov/about/officeorg/headquartersoffices/ ast/environmental/nepadocs/review/documentsprogress/spacextex as launchsiteenvironmentalimpactstatement/. In addition, copies of the Draft EIS were sent to persons and agencies on the distribution list (found in Chapter 11 of the Draft EIS). A paper copy and an electronic version of the Draft EIS may be reviewed during regular business hours at the following Brownsville locations: Brownsville Public Library Main Branch, 2600 Central Blvd. Southmost Branch Library, 4320 Southmost Blvd. University of Texas at Brownsville, Oliveira Library, 80 Fort Brown St. The FAA will hold a public hearing to solicit comments from the public concerning the scope and content of the Draft EIS. May 7, 2013, 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at the International Technology, Education, and Commerce (ITEC) Center, located at 301 Mexico Boulevard, Suite G-1, Brownsville, TX 78520. The public hearing will include a poster information session from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., FAA presentation from 6:00 p.m. to 6:15 p.m., followed by a public statement period in which members of the public may provide up to a 3-minute statement. The FAA will transcribe all oral comments. All comments received during the comment period will be given equal weight and be taken into consideration in the preparation of the Final EIS.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 737-600 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of early fatigue cracks at chem-mill areas on the crown skin panels. This AD requires repetitive inspections for cracking of the fuselage skin at certain locations at chem-mill areas, and repair if necessary. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct fatigue cracking of the skin panel at the specified chem-mill step locations, which could result in rapid decompression of the airplane.

We are adopting an airworthiness directive (AD) for Eurocopter France (Eurocopter) Model AS332C, AS332L, and AS332L1 helicopters and superseding an AD for Model AS332L2 and EC225LP helicopters. This AD requires inspecting the chip detector and modifying the chip collector, both installed on the main gearbox (MGB). This AD is prompted by an investigation which showed a failure within the epicyclic reduction gear module (epicyclic module) resulted in the rupture of the MGB case and separation of the main rotor head of a Model AS332L2 helicopter. These actions are intended to prevent failure of the MGB and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.