Federal Aviation Administration February 26, 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces May 1, 2014, as the deadline for each airport sponsor to notify the FAA whether or not it will use its fiscal year 2014 entitlement funds available under Section 47114 of Title 49, United States Code, to accomplish Airport Improvement Program (AIP)-eligible projects that the sponsor previously identified through the Airports Capital Improvement Plan (ACIP) process during the preceding year. The sponsor's notification must address all entitlement funds apportioned for fiscal year 2014, as well as any entitlement funds not obligated from prior years. After Friday, July 11, 2014, the FAA will carry over all remaining entitlement funds, and the funds will not be available again until at least the beginning of fiscal year 2015. This notification requirement does not apply to non-primary airports covered by the block-grant program.

We propose to supersede airworthiness directive (AD) 94-12-03 that applies to certain Airbus Model A320 series airplanes. AD 94-12-03 requires modification of the belly fairing structure. Since we issued AD 94-12-03, fatigue testing of Model A320 series airplanes showed cracks at the lower riveting of the four titanium angles that connect the belly fairing to the keel beam side panels on both sides of the fuselage. This proposed AD also would require repetitive inspections for cracking of the four titanium angles between the belly fairing and the keel beam side panel, an inspection for cracking of the open holes if any cracking is found, and repair or replacement if necessary. This proposed AD would also expand the applicability of AD 94-12-03. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct cracking of the titanium angles that connect the belly fairing to the keel beam side panels on both sides of the fuselage, which could affect the structural integrity of the airplane.

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.