Federal Aviation Administration January 14, 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of the Twenty-Fifth RTCA Special Committee 217 meeting.

Pursuant to Section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463, 5 U.S.C. App. 2), notice is hereby given of a teleconference of the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee (COMSTAC). The Teleconference will take place on Wednesday, January 27, 2016 starting at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time and will last approximately one hour. The agenda and call-in number will be posted at least one week in advance at https://www.faa.gov/go/ ast. The purpose of this teleconference is to review the International Space Policy Working Group findings and recommendations regarding a potential modification of current U.S. policy on the launching of U.S. technology on Indian launch vehicles. Interested members of the public may submit relevant written statements for the COMSTAC members to consider under the advisory process. Statements may concern the issues and agenda items mentioned above and/or additional issues that may be relevant for the U.S. commercial space transportation industry. Interested parties wishing to submit written statements should contact Michael Beavin, COMSTAC Executive Director, (the Contact Person listed below) in writing (mail or email) by January 22, 2016, so that the information can be made available to COMSTAC members for their review and consideration before the January 27 teleconference. Written statements should be supplied in the following formats: One hard copy with original signature and/or one electronic copy via email. An agenda will be posted on the FAA Web site at www.faa.gov/go/ast. Individuals who plan to participate and need special assistance should inform the Contact Persons listed below in advance of the meeting.

We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2004-14-09 for certain Airbus Model A320-211, -212, and -231 airplanes. AD 2004-14-09 required repetitive inspections for fatigue cracking of the lower surface panel on the wing center box, and repair if necessary; and modification of the lower surface panel on the wing center box, which constitutes terminating action for the repetitive inspections. This new AD retains the requirements of AD 2004-14-09, reduces the compliance times for the repetitive inspections, and requires an additional repair for certain airplanes. This AD was prompted by a determination that, based on the average flight duration, the average weight of fuel at landing is higher than that defined for the analysis of the fatigue-related tasks; and that shot peening might have been improperly done on the chromic acid anodizing (CAA) protection, which would adversely affect fatigue crack protection. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct fatigue cracking of the lower surface panel on the wing center box, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the airplane.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Fokker Services B.V. Model F.28 Mark 1000, 2000, 3000, and 4000 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a design review, which revealed that no controlled bonding provisions are present on a number of critical locations outside the fuel tank. This AD requires installing additional and improved fuel system bonding provisions, and revising the airplane maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, by incorporating fuel airworthiness limitation items and critical design configuration control limitations. We are issuing this AD to prevent an ignition source in the fuel tank vapor space, which could result in a fuel tank explosion and consequent loss of the airplane.