Federal Aviation Administration September 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This document provides clarification of the intent of the Approach/Departure IFR Transitions regulation contained in the Helicopter Air Ambulance, Commercial Helicopter, and Part 91 Helicopter Operations final rule, published on February 22, 2014. After publication, the FAA received comments and questions from intended users and industry advocacy groups about the clarity of terms used in this regulation, specifically, regarding the use of published instrument approaches and departures and the visibility limitations and differences between the terms ``proceed visually'' and ``proceed VFR''. The FAA is clarifying the terms and intent of this regulation in order to increase situational awareness and enhance Helicopter Air Ambulance safety. This clarification is intended for Part 135 air carriers engaged in helicopter air ambulance operations, and Principal Inspectors with oversight responsibility for helicopter air ambulance operations.

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 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 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 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 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 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 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.

We are revising an earlier proposed airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 767 airplanes. The NPRM proposed to supersede AD 2003-13-01, which currently requires an inspection to detect cracks and fractures of the outboard hinge fitting assemblies on the trailing edge of the inboard main flap, and follow-on and corrective actions if necessary. For certain airplanes, AD 2003-13- 01 also requires inspecting to determine if a tool runout option has been performed in the area. The NPRM proposed to reduce a certain compliance time and adds airplanes to the applicability. The NPRM also provided optional terminating action for certain inspections. The NPRM was prompted by reports of hinge assembly fractures found before certain required compliance times in AD 2003-13-01. This action revises the NPRM by reducing repetitive inspection intervals for certain airplanes and limiting the inspection area. We are proposing this supplemental NPRM (SNPRM) to prevent the inboard aft flap from separating from the wing and potentially striking the airplane, which could result in damage to the surrounding structure and potential personal injury. Since these actions impose an additional burden over that proposed in the NPRM, we are reopening the comment period to allow the public the chance to comment on these proposed changes.

This action amends the description of Area D of the Washington Tri-Area Class B airspace area to include exclusion of restricted area R-4001C from the Class B airspace when the restricted area is active. The remainder of the Class B description is not affected by this change.

We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2004-03-19, which applies to certain Airbus Model A320-111, -211 and -231 series airplanes. AD 2004-03-19 required repetitive inspections for cracking in the transition and pick-up angles in the lower part of the center fuselage area, and corrective action if necessary. AD 2004-03-19 also provided for an optional terminating modification for the repetitive inspection requirements. This new AD requires accomplishing the modification by installing washers between the transition pick-up angle and the pin nuts, and doing related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. This new AD also adds airplanes to the applicability of AD 2004-03-19. This AD was prompted by a determination that the optional terminating modification must be required in order to address the unsafe condition. We are issuing this AD to prevent fatigue cracking in the transition and pick-up angles of the lower part of the center fuselage, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the wing-fuselage support and fuselage pressure vessel.

This action proposes to modify the designated altitudes of restricted area R-4501B, Fort Leonard Wood, MO, by raising the restricted area ceiling from 1,500 feet mean seal level (MSL) in the north and 2,200 feet MSL in the south to a single altitude of 4,300 feet MSL across the entire restricted area. This action also proposes to add exclusions to the boundaries of R-4501C, R-4501F, and R-4501H to address overlapping restricted areas. Finally, this action proposes numerous administrative changes to the R-4501A and R-4501B titles and R-4501A-D, R-4501F, and R-4501H using agency information to standardize the format and information provided describing these restricted areas of the Fort Leonard Wood restricted area complex.

This action proposes to establish Class D airspace and Class E airspace designated as an extension, at Hammond, LA. The establishment of an air traffic control tower has made this action necessary for the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations within the airspace at Hammond Northshore Regional Airport. This action also would amend the airport name and adjust the geographic coordinates for the current Class E airspace area.

These special conditions are issued for Boeing Model 777-300ER airplanes with single-occupant, oblique (side-facing) seats equipped with inflatable lapbelts. This installation is novel or unusual, and the applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for occupants of seats installed at an oblique angle of 30 degrees to the centerline of the airplane or for inflatable restraint systems. These 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 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.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 787-8 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of missing bonded plugs found prior to airplane delivery, during manufacturing inspections, at various locations in certain stringers of the forward electrical equipment (EE) bay of the lower lobe cargo compartments. This proposed AD would require drilling a hole and installing and bonding plugs in certain stringers of the forward EE bay of the lower lobe cargo compartments. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct missing or misaligned bonded plugs which, in the event of a fire, could cause an increased rate of loss of Halon in the lower cargo compartments, and result in the inability to extinguish a fire and consequent loss of control of the airplane.

The FAA is publishing notice of proposed release of 2.94 acres of land at the Hanover County Airport, Hanover, Virginia to the Virginia Department of Transportation for construction of the I-95 and Lewistown Road Intersection improvements. An additional 1.07 Acres will be permanently utilized by Virginia Department of Transportation & Dominion Power within utility, and drainage easements. There are no adverse impacts to the airport and the land is not needed for airport development as shown on the Airport Layout Plan. Fair Market Value of the land has been established and will be provided to the County of Hanover for use on future AIP eligible airport development. The airport will benefit from the improvements associated with the I-95 and Lewistown Road Interchange with the enhanced northern access to the airport.

This action amends Class D airspace at Wichita, McConnell AFB, KS. The closure of nearby Derby, Hamilton Field has necessitated the need to amend Class D airspace at McConnell AFB. This action enhances the safety and management of aircraft operations at the airport.

These special conditions are issued for Airbus Model A350-900 airplanes. These airplanes will have a novel or unusual design feature associated with general limiting requirements of its flight-envelope protection features. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These 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 rulemaking would replace Special Federal Aviation Regulation No. 106 with acceptance criteria for portable oxygen concentrators to be used by passengers in air carrier operations, commercial operations and certain other operations using large aircraft. Currently, the agency assesses each portable oxygen concentrator on a case-by-case basis to determine whether it is safe for use on board aircraft. If the agency determines that a portable oxygen concentrator is safe for use on board aircraft, the specific model is identified in regulations. This rulemaking would replace the burdensome approval process with acceptance criteria and a requirement for manufacturers to demonstrate compliance by affixing a label on the exterior of the portable oxygen concentrator applied in a manner that ensures it will remain affixed for the life of the device. The proposed acceptance criteria and labeling requirement would only affect portable oxygen concentrators intended for use on board aircraft. Portable oxygen concentrators currently approved for use on board aircraft would not be affected by this proposal and will be listed in this rule as approved. This rulemaking would also eliminate redundant requirements and paperwork requirements that are not necessary for aviation safety thereby reducing burdens for portable oxygen concentrator manufacturers, passengers who use portable oxygen concentrators while traveling, and aircraft operators conducting air carrier operations, commercial operations or certain operations using large aircraft.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Models PC-6, PC-6-H1, PC-6-H2, PC-6/350, PC-6/ 350-H1, PC-6/350-H2, PC-6/A, PC-6/A-H1, PC-6/A-H2, PC-6/B-H2, PC-6/B1- H2, PC-6/B2-H2, PC-6/B2-H4, PC-6/C-H2, and PC-6/C1-H2 airplanes that would supersede AD 2013-11-08. This proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as a need to incorporate new revisions into the aircraft maintenance manual or in the limitations document of the FAA-approved maintenance program. We are issuing this proposed AD to require actions to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action modifies VOR Federal airway V-298 in the vicinity of Pasco, WA. The FAA is taking this action due to the Pasco, WA (PSC), VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR)/Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) facility that provides navigation aid (NAVAID) guidance for a portion of V-298, being relocated. This action will ensure the safety and efficient management of aircraft operating within the National Airspace System.

This action makes minor adjustments to the latitude/longitude positions of two points in the descriptions of restricted areas R- 2901A, B, G, H, J, K, L and N at the Avon Park Air Force Range, FL. The corrections are the result of more accurate digital plotting of the points.

We propose to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2011-09- 03, which applies to all Lockheed Martin Corporation/Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company Model 382, 382B, 382E, 382F, and 382G airplanes. AD 2011-09-03 currently requires repetitive eddy current inspections to detect cracks in the center wing upper and lower rainbow fittings, and corrective actions if necessary; and repetitive replacement of rainbow fittings, which would extend the repetitive interval for the next inspection. Since we issued AD 2011-09-03, analysis of in-service cracking has shown that a reduction in the inspection intervals is necessary for the upper rainbow fittings. This proposed AD is intended to complete certain mandated programs intended to support the airplane reaching its limit of validity (LOV) of the engineering data that support the established structural maintenance program. This proposed AD would require reduced intervals for inspections of the upper rainbow fittings. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct fatigue cracking of the upper and lower rainbow fittings on the center wings, which could grow large and lead to the failure of the fitting and a catastrophic failure of the center wing.