Federal Aviation Administration December 9, 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This action proposes to amend Class E airspace at Hamilton, OH. Decommissioning of the Hamilton nondirectional radio beacon (NDB) at Butler County Regional Airport has made reconfiguration necessary for standard instrument approach procedures and for the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport. The airport's name and geographic coordinates also would be changed.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain EADS CASA (Type Certificate Previously Held by Construcciones Aeronauticas, S.A.) Model CN-235-300 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of reduced thickness of the center fuselage lower skin panel. This proposed AD would require a detailed inspection to determine the presence of panel thickness reduction, and repetitive nondestructive testing (NDT) inspections and repair if necessary. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct a reduced thickness of lower panel joints, which could result in reduced fatigue and damage tolerant characteristics of the lower panel joint to the adjacent side panels and lead to failure of the center fuselage lower skin panel, resulting in loss of control of the airplane.

We are revising an earlier supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM) for all The Boeing Company Model 737-600, -700, - 700C, -800, -900 and -900ER series airplanes. The SNPRM proposed to require inspecting for a serial number that starts with the letters ``SAIC'' on the left- and right-side horizontal stabilizer identification plate; inspecting for correct bolt protrusion and chamfer of the termination fitting bolts of the horizontal stabilizer rear spar, if necessary; inspecting to determine if certain bolts are installed, if necessary; and doing related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. The SNPRM was prompted by reports of incorrectly installed bolts common to the rear spar termination fitting on the horizontal stabilizer. This action revises the SNPRM by revising the applicable thresholds from flight cycles on the airplane to flight cycles accumulated on the affected horizontal stabilizer. We are proposing this SNPRM to prevent loss of structural integrity of the horizontal stabilizer attachment and loss of control of the airplane. Since these actions impose an additional burden over that proposed in the earlier SNPRM, we are reopening the comment period to allow the public the chance to comment on these proposed changes.

This notice contains a summary of a petition seeking relief from specified requirements of 14 CFR. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, this aspect of FAA's regulatory activities. Neither publication of this notice nor the inclusion or omission of information in the summary is intended to affect the legal status of the petition or its final disposition.

This action proposes to establish Class E airspace at Mansfield, OH. A Class E surface area is necessary to accommodate military mission changes when the control tower is closed at Mansfield Lahm Regional Airport. The FAA is taking this action to enhance the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations for SIAPs at the airport.

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. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on September 24, 2013, vol. 78, no. 185, page 58597. Flight plan information is used to govern the flight of aircraft for the protection and identification of aircraft and property and persons on the ground.

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. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on September 24, 2013, vol. 78, no. 185, page 58598. The information is used to identify airmen to allow the agency to verify their foreign license being used to qualify for a U.S. certificate. Respondents are holders of foreign licenses wishing to obtain U.S. certificates.

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. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on September 24, 2013, vol. 78, no. 185, pages 58598-58599. The FAA collects information to ensure that aircraft for long range flights are equipped to minimize diversions, to preclude and prevent diversions in remote areas, and to ensure that all personnel are trained to minimize any adverse impacts of a diversion.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Beechcraft Corporation (type certificate previously held by Hawker Beechcraft Corporation) Models 1900, 1900C, and 1900D airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of cracking in the front spar cap angles and hat section structure of the vertical stabilizer. This AD requires inspections of the vertical stabilizer spar angles and hat section for cracks with corrective actions as necessary. We are issuing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on these products.