Federal Aviation Administration 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice contains a summary of a petition seeking relief from specified requirements of title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, the FAA's exemption process. 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 rule amends, suspends, or removes 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 for the safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace and to promote safe flight operations under instrument flight rules at the affected airports.

This final rule replaces the existing process by which the Federal Aviation Administration (Agency or FAA) approves portable oxygen concentrators (POC) for use on board aircraft in air carrier operations, commercial operations, and certain other operations using large aircraft. The FAA currently assesses each POC make and model on a case-by-case basis and if the FAA determines that a particular POC is safe for use on board an aircraft, the FAA conducts rulemaking to identify the specific POC model in an FAA regulation. This final rule replaces the current process and allows passengers to use a POC on board an aircraft if the POC satisfies certain acceptance criteria and bears a label indicating conformance with the acceptance criteria. The labeling requirement only affects POCs intended for use on board aircraft that were not previously approved for use on aircraft by the FAA. Additionally, this rulemaking will eliminate redundant operational requirements and paperwork requirements related to the physician's statement. As a result, this rulemaking will reduce burdens for POC manufacturers, passengers who use POCs while traveling, and affected aircraft operators. This final rule also makes conforming amendments to the Department of Transportation's (Department or DOT) rule implementing the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) to require carriers to accept all POC models that meet FAA acceptance criteria as detailed in this rule.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of the Twenty-Third RTCA Special Committee 225 meeting.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Dassault Aviation Model MYSTERE-FALCON 900 airplanes, FALCON 900EX airplanes, and FALCON 2000EX airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report that during a test flight, it was found that the yaw damper on the takeoff roll can increase the Minimum Control Speed on Ground (Vmcg). This AD requires revising the airplane flight manual (AFM) to incorporate procedures for the flightcrew to check that the yaw damper is set to ``off'' before takeoff. We are issuing this AD to ensure that the flightcrew has procedures to set the yaw damper to ``off'' before takeoff, which, if activated, could result in reduced control of the airplane if one engine were to fail during takeoff.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its determination that the Noise Exposure Maps (NEMs) submitted by the City of Charlotte for Charlotte Douglas International Airport under the provisions of 49 U.S.C. 47501 et seq. (Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act (hereinafter referred to as ``the Act'')) and 14 CFR part 150 (hereinafter referred to as ``Part 150'') are in compliance with applicable requirements.

This action establishes Class E Airspace at Harlan, KY, to accommodate new Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) serving Tucker-Guthrie Memorial Airport. Controlled airspace is necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the airport. This action also updates the geographic coordinates of the airport.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Model A330-200 Freighter, A330-200, A330-300, A340-200, A340- 300, A340-500, and A340-600 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by the results of endurance qualification tests on the trimmable horizontal stabilizer actuator (THSA), which revealed a partial loss of the no-back brake (NBB) efficiency in specific load conditions. This AD requires inspecting certain THSAs to determine the number of total flight cycles the THSA has accumulated, and replacing the THSA if necessary. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct premature wear of the carbon friction disks on the NBB of the THSA. Such a condition could lead to reduced braking efficiency in certain load conditions and, in conjunction with the inability of the power gear train to keep the ball screw in its last commanded position, could result in uncommanded movements of the trimmable horizontal stabilizer (THS) and loss of control of the airplane.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces that it is reviewing a proposed noise compatibility program that was submitted for Bob Hope Airport under the provisions of 49 U.S.C. 47501 et seq. (the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act, hereinafter referred to as ``the Act'') and 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 150 by the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority, Burbank, California. This program was submitted subsequent to a determination by FAA that associated noise exposure maps submitted under 14 CFR part 150 for Bob Hope Airport were in compliance with applicable requirements, effective October 10, 2013, 78 FR 64048-64049. The proposed noise compatibility program will be approved or disapproved on or before November 7, 2016.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc. Model BD-700-1A10 and BD-700-1A11 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a determination that the network interface installed between the Information Management System (IMS) 6000 unit and the Cabin Entertainment System (CES) network could affect the Aircraft Control Domain (ACD), and result in the transmission of misleading navigational information to the flightcrew. This AD requires inspecting the network interface installation between the IMS and the CES, and disconnecting the installation, if necessary. We are issuing this AD to prevent the transmission of misleading navigational information, which could adversely affect the ability of the flightcrew to maintain the safe flight and landing of the airplane.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of the Eighteenth RTCA NextGen Advisory Committee meeting.

This action corrects the noise exposure map notice and receipt of noise compatibility program and request for review published on May 10, 2016. In that document, the FAA has determinied that the noise exposure maps submitted by the City of Boise, ID, for the Boise Air Terminal (Gowen Field), Boise, ID, are in compliance with applicable requirements, and that it is reviewing a proposed noise compatibility program that was submitted for Boise Air Terminal (Gowen Field) under part 150 in conjunction with the Noise Exposure Map, and that this program be approved or disapproved on or before October 29, 2016. This document corrects an error in the Supplementary Information showing Great Falls International Airport instead of Boise Air Terminal (Gowen Field).

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of the Sixth RTCA Special Committee 233 meeting.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of the Twenty-Third RTCA Special Committee 222 meeting.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, and -500 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of cracked antenna support channels, skin cracking underneath the number 2 very high frequency (VHF) antenna, and cracking in the frames attached to the internal support structure. This AD requires repetitive inspections to determine the condition of the skin and the internal support structure, and follow-on actions including corrective action as necessary. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct skin cracking of the fuselage. Such cracking could result in separation of the number 2 VHF antenna from the airplane and rapid depressurization of the cabin.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Sikorsky) Model S-92A helicopters. This proposed AD would require altering the fire bottle inertia switch wiring and performing a cartridge functional test of the fire extinguishing system. This proposed AD is prompted by the inadvertent tripping of inertia-switches that has led to unintentional discharging of the fire bottles, leaving the helicopter's auxiliary power unit and engines without fire protection. The proposed actions are intended to prevent unintentional and undetected fire bottle discharges and subsequent unavailability of fire suppression in case of a fire.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Fokker Services B.V. Model F28 Mark 0070 and 0100 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by an aileron-wing flutter analysis finding that when a hydraulic aileron actuator is not powered, while at least one aileron flutter damper is inoperative (latent failure), the maximum speed currently defined in the airplane flight manual (AFM) is insufficient to meet the required safety margin. This proposed AD would require revising the AFM to include procedures to follow in the event of a hydraulic system failure and abnormal flight control behavior. We are proposing this AD to ensure that the flightcrew has procedures to follow in the event of a hydraulic system failure and abnormal flight control behavior. If not corrected, this condition could lead to aileron flutter and possible reduced control of the airplane.

We propose to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2009-21- 01, which applies to certain Boeing Model 737-300 and 737-400 series airplanes. AD 2009-21-01 currently requires repetitive inspections to detect cracking of the aft fuselage skin, and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. Since we issued AD 2009-21-01, an evaluation by the design approval holder (DAH) indicates that the aft fuselage skin is subject to widespread fatigue damage (WFD). This proposed AD would add new aft fuselage skin inspections for cracking, inspections to detect missing or loose fasteners and any disbonding or cracking of bonded doublers, permanent repairs of time-limited repairs, related investigative and corrective actions if necessary, and skin panel replacement. The proposed AD also removes Model 737-400 series airplanes from the applicability. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct cracking in the aft fuselage skin along the longitudinal edges of the bonded skin doubler, which could result in possible rapid decompression and reduced structural integrity of the airplane.

We propose to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2006-20- 11, which applies to certain The Boeing Company Model 757-200, -200CB, and -200PF series airplanes. AD 2006-20-11 currently requires initial and repetitive detailed or high frequency eddy current (HFEC) inspections for cracks around the rivets at the upper fastener row of the skin lap splice of the fuselage, and repairing any crack found. Since we issued AD 2006-20-11, an evaluation done by the design approval holder (DAH) indicated that the fuselage skin lap splice is subject to widespread fatigue damage (WFD). This proposed AD would no longer allow the detailed inspections and would instead require repetitive external HFEC inspections for cracking of the skin lap splices of the fuselage, and repair if necessary. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct fatigue cracking at certain skin lap splice locations of the fuselage, which could result in reduced structural integrity and rapid decompression of the airplane.

The FAA has assigned the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC) a new task to provide recommendations regarding the certification of persons engaged in operations involving the loading of special cargo. Assignment of this task is in response to National Transportation Safety Board Recommendation A-15-014 which recommended that the FAA create a certification for personnel responsible for the loading, restraint, and documentation of special cargo loads on transport-category airplanes. This notice informs the public of the new ARAC activity and solicits membership for the new Loadmaster Certification Working Group.

This rulemaking would relieve burdens on pilots seeking to obtain aeronautical experience, training, and certification by increasing the allowed use of aviation training devices. These training devices have proven to be an effective, safe, and affordable means of obtaining pilot experience. This rulemaking also would address changing technologies by accommodating the use of technically advanced airplanes as an alternative to the use of older complex single engine airplanes for the commercial pilot training and testing requirements. Additionally, this rulemaking would broaden the opportunities for military instructors to obtain civilian ratings based on military experience, would expand opportunities for logging pilot time, and would remove a burden from sport pilot instructors by permitting them to serve as safety pilots. Finally, this rulemaking would include changes to some of the provisions established in an August 2009 final rule. These actions are necessary to bring the regulations in line with current needs and activities of the general aviation training community and pilots.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is requesting public comment on the Susquehanna Area Regional Airport Authority's (SARAA) request to change 11.398 acres of airport property from aeronautical use to non-aeronautical use. The acreage in question is subject to the Provisions of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949, and the Surplus Property Act of 1944 as amended. In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 47151(d), 47153(c), and 47107(h), this notice is required to be published in the Federal Register for 30 days before waiving the condition that such land be used for aeronautical purposes. The purpose of the release request is to enable SARAA to generate revenue from this property by taking action including, but not limited to, entering into a long-term lease with Shaner Hotel Holdings for the purpose of constructing and operating a four (4) story hotel consisting of 120 guest rooms, a meeting center and restaurant.

This notice contains a summary of a petition seeking relief from specified requirements of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, the FAA's exemption process. 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 Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, the FAA's exemption process. 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.