Federal Aviation Administration 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, -900, and -900ER series airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports from the manufacturer that center overhead stowage (COS) boxes could fall from their supports under forward load levels less than the 9 g forward load requirements as defined by certain regulations. This AD requires modifying COS boxes by installing new brackets, stiffeners, and hardware as needed. We are issuing this AD to prevent detachment of COS boxes at forward load levels less than 9 g during an emergency landing, which would cause injury to passengers and/or crew, and could impede subsequent rapid evacuation.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of the eighth meeting of the RTCA NextGen Advisory Committee (NAC).

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 for an existing information collection. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on August 31, 2012, vol. 77, no. 170, page 53249. The FAA collects information to allocate slots and maintain accurate record of slot transfers at slot-controlled airports. The information is provided by air carriers and other operators at slot controlled airports.

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 October 2, 2012, vol. 77, no. 191, pages 60166-60167. The information collected will be used to evaluate the qualifications of applicants for a variety of positions within the FAA.

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 FAA's Fuel Tank Flammability rule requires manufacturers to report to the FAA every six months for up to 5 years after the flammability reduction system is incorporated into the fleet. The data is needed to assure system performance meets that predicted at the time of certification.

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 respondents are those airport operators voluntarily submitting noise exposure maps and noise compatibility programs to the FAA for review and approval.

This action adds termination criteria and an expiration date to Special Federal Aviation Regulation 111, which temporarily authorizes variances from existing standards related to the provisioning of supplemental oxygen inside lavatories. This action is necessitated by the publication of Airworthiness Directive 2012-11-09, which mandates actions that restore supplemental oxygen to lavatories.

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 for a new information collection. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is amending the airworthiness standards for airplane propellers. This action will define what a propeller critical part is, require the identification of propeller critical parts by the manufacturer, and establish engineering, manufacture, and maintenance processes for those parts. These processes will be required to be recorded and maintained within company manuals.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Engine Alliance GP7270 and GP7277 turbofan engines. This AD requires initial and repetitive borescope inspections and removal from service before further flight if one or more burn holes are detected, in certain high-pressure turbine (HPT) stage 2 nozzles. This AD also requires mandatory removal from service of these HPT stage 2 nozzles at the next engine shop visit. This AD was prompted by a report received of inadequate cooling of the HPT stage 2 nozzle, leading to damage to the HPT stage 2 nozzle, burn-through of the turbine case, and engine shutdown. We are issuing this AD to prevent HPT stage 2 nozzle failure, leading to uncontrolled fire, engine shutdown, and damage to the airplane.

This action extends the comment period for a Notice that was published on December 10, 2012. Nothing has changed from the original document published on December 10, 2012. In that document, the FAA proposed to clarify Grant Assurance No. 19, ``Operation and Maintenance,'' which is required of an airport sponsor as a condition of receiving a development grant under the Airport Improvement Program (AIP). This clarification would require non-certificated, federally obligated airports that, after the effective date of this Federal Register Notice, accept a new airport development grant funded under the Airport Improvement Program (AIP), or accept a transfer of land under the Surplus Property Act for airport purposes (``Subject Airports''), to conduct Wildlife Hazard Site Visits (WHSVs) or Wildlife Hazard Assessments (WHAs). Non-certificated airports are airports that do not have a Part 139 certificate, and may include both commercial service airports as well as non-primary airports that serve mostly general aviation traffic. The Secretary of Transportation is required to provide notice and comment in the Federal Register and an opportunity for the public to comment upon proposals to modify the assurances or add new assurances. The FAA has elected to extend the comment period closing date to allow respondents additional time to adequately analyze the Notice and prepare comments.

This rule establishes, amends, suspends, or revokes Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) and associated Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures for operations at certain airports. These regulatory actions are needed because of the adoption of new or revised criteria, or because of changes occurring in the National Airspace System, such as the commissioning of new navigational facilities, adding new obstacles, or changing air traffic requirements. These changes are designed to provide safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace and to promote safe flight operations under instrument flight rules at the affected airports.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of the twenty-first meeting of the RTCA Special Committee 213, Enhanced Flight Vision Systems/Synthetic Vision Systems (EFVS/SVS).

This action proposes to amend Class E Airspace at Easton, PA, as the Allentown VORTAC has been decommissioned and new Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) have been developed at Braden Airpark. This action would enhance the safety and airspace management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport. This action also would recognize the airport's name change and update the geographic coordinates of the airport.

This action proposes special conditions for the Embraer S.A. Model EMB-550 airplane. This airplane will have a novel or unusual design feature(s), specifically new control architecture and a full digital flight control system which provides flight envelope protections. 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 to modify Class E airspace at Lakeview, OR. Controlled airspace is necessary to accommodate aircraft using Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) standard instrument approach procedures at Lakeview County Airport. The FAA is proposing this action to enhance the safety and management of aircraft operations at Lakeview County Airport. This would also correct the airport name.

This action amends Class E Airspace at Wilkes-Barre, PA, creating controlled airspace to accommodate new area navigation (RNAV) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures at Wilkes-Barre Wyoming Valley Airport. Airspace reconfiguration is necessary for the continued safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations in the Wilkes-Barre, PA, area. This action also recognizes the name change of Hanover Township Fire Station 5 Heliport. The BARTY LOM navigation aid is removed, as this navigation aid has been decommissioned.

This action modifies Class E airspace at Savoonga, AK, to accommodate aircraft using Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) standard instrument approach procedures at Savoonga Airport. This action enhances the safety and management of aircraft operations at the airport. An editorial change is made by removing reference to Class E surface airspace entered in error.

This action proposes to amend Class E airspace at Omak Airport, Omak, WA. Decommissioning of the Nondirectional Radio Beacon (NDB) has made this action necessary for the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

This action proposes to amend Class E airspace at Reno/Tahoe International Airport, Reno, NV. Decommissioning of the Compass Locator at the Instrument Landing System Middle Marker (LMM) and the Middle Marker (MM) has made this action necessary for the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport. This action also would adjust the geographic coordinates of the airport.

We are superseding four airworthiness directives related to the main rotor yoke (yoke) on the Bell Model 204B, 205A, 205A-1, 205B, and 212 helicopters, to retain certain inspections and certain life limits, to require an increased inspection frequency for certain yokes, and to expand these inspections and retirement lives to other yokes. This airworthiness directive is prompted by past reports of cracks in the yoke, another recent report of a cracked yoke, and the decision that other yokes, approved based on identicality, need to be subject to the same inspection requirements and retirement lives. The actions are intended to detect a crack in a yoke to prevent failure of the yoke, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

This action proposes to modify low-altitude RNAV route T-266 in the state of Alaska by removing two non-directional beacons (NDB) as the navigation signal source and replacing them with RNAV waypoints. This action would enhance the safety and efficiency of the National Airspace System (NAS).

This action proposes to establish two new low-altitude RNAV routes in the state of Oregon, designated T-302 and T-304. The routes would replace segments of an existing VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airway that will be removed due to the planned decommissioning of the Portland, OR, VOR/DME in 2013. This action would advance the implementation of RNAV and provide continued en route navigation guidance in the affected airspace.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is amending the airworthiness standards for airplane propellers. This action would require a safety analysis to identify a propeller critical part. Manufacturers would identify propeller critical parts, and establish engineering, manufacturing, and maintenance processes for propeller critical parts. These new requirements provide an added margin of safety for the continued airworthiness of propeller critical parts by requiring a system of processes to identify and manage these parts throughout their service life. This rule would eliminate regulatory differences between part 35 and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) propeller critical parts requirements, thereby simplifying airworthiness approvals for exports.

This document withdraws a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that would have applied to certain Cessna Aircraft Company Models 172RG, R182, TR182, FR182, 210N, T210N, 210R, T210R, P210N, P210R, and T303 airplanes. The proposed airworthiness directive (AD) would have required you to inspect the aircraft's hydraulic power pack wiring for incorrect installation, and if needed, correct the installation. Since issuance of the NPRM, the FAA has re-evaluated this airworthiness concern and determined that an unsafe condition does not exist that would warrant AD action. This withdrawal does not prevent the FAA from initiating future rulemaking on this subject.

We are superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 757-200, -200PF, and -200CB series airplanes powered by Rolls-Royce engines. That AD currently requires repetitive inspections of the shim installation between the drag brace fitting vertical flange and bulkhead, and repair if necessary; for certain airplanes, an inspection for cracking of the four critical fastener holes in the horizontal flange, and repair if necessary; and, for airplanes without conclusive records of previous inspections, performing the existing actions. This new AD reduces the repetitive inspection interval; adds repetitive detailed inspections for cracking of the bulkhead, and repair if necessary; allows an extension of the repetitive intervals for certain airplanes by also doing repetitive ultrasonic inspections for cracking of the bulkhead, and repair if necessary; and provides an option for a high frequency eddy current inspection for cracking of the critical fastener holes, and repair if necessary. This action also adds a terminating action for certain repetitive inspections. This AD was prompted by reports of loose fasteners and cracks at the joint common to the aft torque bulkhead and strut-to-diagonal brace fitting, and one report of such damage occurring less than 3,000 flight cycles after the last inspection. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracks, loose and broken bolts, and shim migration in the joint between the aft torque bulkhead and the strut-to-diagonal brace fitting, which could result in damage to the strut and consequent separation of the strut and engine from the airplane.