Federal Aviation Administration November 4, 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces that it has discontinued preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed construction of new Runway 5R/23L and associated development at Norfolk International Airport, Norfolk, Virginia. The FAA's discontinued preparation of the EIS is based upon the completion of the first phase of the EIS. Based on the results of the first phase (Scoping and Purpose & Need development), the FAA has determined that the fundamental purpose and need is not supported by the current or anticipated development needs of the Airport at this time.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all The Boeing Company Model MD-90-30 airplanes. This AD requires a detailed inspection of the forward and aft surfaces on the left and right sides at the cant station 1520 bulkhead for any crack in the upper cap and (cap) doubler, webs and doublers, stiffeners, and the lower tee cap between longerons 3 through 11, and repairs if necessary. This AD was prompted by a report of cracking in various structures in the fuselage cant station 1520 bulkhead. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracking in the bulkhead, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the airplane.

This action establishes Class E airspace at Murray, KY, to accommodate new Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) serving Murray Calloway County Hospital Heliport. Controlled airspace is necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the heliport.

This action amends Class E airspace designated as an extension, and Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Mahlon Sweet Field Airport, Eugene, OR, to accommodate airspace redesign for the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport. Corvallis Municipal Airport is removed from the Mahlon Sweet Field Airport regulatory text by creating a stand-alone airspace designation for the airport. Additionally, this action updates the airport reference points for these airports in Class D and E airspace, as well as removes the Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) requirement noted in Class E surface area airspace.

This action proposes to amend Class E airspace at Monongahela, PA, as the Allegheny VHF Omni-directional Range, (VOR), has been decommissioned, requiring airspace reconfiguration at Rostraver Airport. Controlled airspace is necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 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. 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 certain combinations of the aileron counterweight and the attaching parts possibly resulting in reduced thread engagement and leading to disconnection of the aileron counterweight from the aileron. We are issuing this proposed AD to require actions to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2012-24-06 for certain Saab AB, Saab Aeronautics Model 340A (SAAB/SF340A) and SAAB 340B airplanes. AD 2012-24-06 required replacing the stall warning computer (SWC) with a new SWC that provides an artificial stall warning in icing conditions, and modifying the airplane for the replacement of the SWC. This new AD adds airplanes to the applicability, and adds requirements to replace the existing SWCs with new, improved SWCs, and to modify the airplane for the new replacement of the SWC. This new AD also reduces the compliance time for replacing the SWCs. This AD was prompted by a determination that airplanes with certain modifications were excluded from the applicability in AD 2012-24-06, and are affected by the identified unsafe condition; and that the SWC required by AD 2012-24-06 contained erroneous logic. We are issuing this AD to prevent natural stall events during operation in icing conditions, which could result in loss of control of the airplane.