Federal Aviation Administration March 2017 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

On November 1, 2016, the FAA Office of Dispute Resolution for Acquisition (ODRA), which is now part of the FAA Office of Adjudication, relocated to a new address different from the one listed in its Procedural Regulations. This rule updates the address for ODRA filings by hand delivery, courier or other form of in-person delivery and the address for ODRA filings by U.S. Mail. The telephone and facsimile numbers are unchanged.

We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2017-03-04, which applied to all The Boeing Company Model 737-500 series airplanes. AD 2017-03-04 required inspections to detect cracks in the fuselage skin panels, permanent repairs of time-limited repairs, skin panel replacement, and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. This AD reduces the applicability of AD 2017-03-04. This AD was prompted by a determination that airplanes were inadvertently included in the applicability of AD 2017-03-04. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

These special conditions are issued for the Textron Model 550/ S550/560/560XL airplanes. These airplanes, as modified by Avionics Design Services Ltd., will have a novel or unusual design feature when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport-category airplanes. This design feature is rechargeable lithium batteries and battery systems installed in the airplanes. 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.

These special conditions are issued for the Textron Aviation Inc. (Textron) Model 700 airplane. This airplane will have a novel or unusual design feature when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport-category airplanes. This design feature is airplane electronic systems and networks that allow access from external sources (e.g., wireless devices, Internet connectivity) to the airplane's internal electronic components. 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.

These special conditions are issued for the Boeing Model 747-8 airplane. This airplane, as modified by L-3 Communications Integrated Systems (L-3 Communications), will have a novel or unusual design feature when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport-category airplanes. This design feature is the installation of large, non-structural glass panels in the cabin area of an executive interior occupied by passengers and crew. 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 document corrects an error that appeared in Federal Docket no. FAA-2014-0078, Special Conditions no. 25-543-SC, which was published in the Federal Register on March 3, 2014 (79 FR 11679). The error is in the type-certificate number referenced in the Background and Type Certification Basis sections of the special conditions. It is being corrected herein.

These special conditions are issued for the Boeing Company (Boeing) Model 787-10 airplane. This airplane will have a novel or unusual design feature when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport-category airplanes. This design feature is a flaps-up vertical modal-suppression system, which is in lieu of traditional methods of improving airplane flutter characteristics. 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 action proposes special conditions for a supplemental type certificate for installing an inflatable restraint system with non-rechargeable lithium batteries on seats in certain transport category airplanes. These airplanes, as modified by AmSafe, will have a novel or unusual design feature when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport category airplanes. This design feature is a non-rechargeable lithium battery. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These proposed 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.

These special conditions are issued for the Embraer S.A. Model ERJ 190-300 series airplanes. These airplanes will have a novel or unusual design feature when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport category airplanes. This design feature is an electronic flight control system that contains fly-by-wire control laws, including flight envelope protection functions that impose pitch-angle, bank-angle, and high- speed limits during normal operation. 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.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces May 1, 2017, as the deadline for each airport sponsor to notify the FAA whether or not it will use its fiscal year 2017 entitlement funds available under Section 47114 of Title 49, United States Code, to accomplish Airport Improvement Program (AIP) eligible projects that the airport sponsor previously identified through the Airports Capital Improvement Plan (ACIP) process during the preceding year. The airport sponsor's notification must address all entitlement funds available to date for fiscal year 2017, as well as any entitlement funds not obligated from prior years. After Friday, July 7, 2017, the FAA will carry-over the remainder of currently available entitlement funds, and these funds will not be available again until at least the beginning of fiscal year 2018. Currently, the AIP has approximately 56 percent of the entitlements available through April 28, 2017. If congressional action is taken which provides for additional entitlements, the FAA will then work with airport sponsors to adjust accordingly. This notification requirement does not apply to non-primary airports covered by the block-grant program.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew and revise a previously approved information collection. The information collected is used to determine if applicants are medically qualified to perform the duties associated with the class of airman medical certificate sought. The FAA is announcing its intent to reduce the burden associated with this information collection in response to its implementation of section 2307 of Public Law 114-190. Section 2307 of Public Law 114-190 established a new voluntary program of physical examination and education requirements for certain pilots in command in lieu of those pilots holding a medical certificate.

These airworthiness criteria are issued for the Stemme AG model Stemme S12 powered glider. The Administrator finds the design criteria, which make up the certification basis for the Stemme S12, acceptable.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew a previously approved information collection. AC Form 8050-5 is an application for a dealer's Aircraft Registration Certificate which, under, may be issued to a person engaged in manufacturing, distributing, or selling aircraft.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew a previously approved information collection. Information is maintained by owners and operators of light-sport aircraft and is collected to be used by FAA safety inspectors in determining whether required maintenance actions have been accomplished on light-sport aircraft. The information is also used when investigating accidents.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew a previously approved information collection. Flight plan information is used to govern the flight of aircraft for the protection and identification of aircraft and property and persons on the ground.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew and revise a previously approved information collection. A final rule published on January 16, 2007 codified previous practices that permitted certificated air carriers to operate two-engine airplanes over long-range routes. The FAA uses this information collection to ensure that aircraft for long range flights are equipped to minimize diversions, to preclude and prevent diversions in remote areas, and to ensure that all personnel are trained to minimize any adverse impacts of a diversion.

The FAA proposes to rule and invite public comment on the release of land at the Scholes International Airport under the provisions of Section 125 of the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR 21).

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain International Aero Engines AG (IAE) V2522-A5, V2524-A5, V2527- A5, V2527E-A5, V2527M-A5, V2530-A5, V2533-A5, V2525-D5, V2528-D5, and V2531-E5 turbofan engines. This proposed AD was prompted following a self-disclosure by IAE regarding manufacturing quality escapes. This proposed AD would require replacing the affected and suspect parts within the time limits specified in the compliance section. We are proposing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for various Model 234 and Model CH-47D helicopters. This proposed AD would require inspections of the pitch housing and revising the pitch housing retirement life. This proposed AD is prompted by reports of cracking in the pitch housing lugs. The proposed actions are intended to detect and prevent an unsafe condition on these products.

This action proposes to establish Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Gregory M. Simmons Memorial Airport, Cisco, TX, to accommodate new special instrument approach procedures at the airport for safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A318-112 airplanes, A319-111, -112, -115, -132, and -133 airplanes, A320-214, -232, and -233 airplanes, and A321-211, -212, - 213, -231, and -232 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a quality control review on the final assembly line, which determined that aluminum alloy with inadequate heat treatment had been delivered and used on several structural parts. This AD requires a one-time eddy current conductivity measurement of certain cabin, cargo compartment, and frame structural parts to determine if aluminum alloy with inadequate heat treatment was used, and replacement if necessary. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2012-08-11 for certain Bombardier, Inc. Model DHC-8-400 series airplanes. AD 2012-08- 11 required repetitive inspections for defects and damage of the retract port flexible hoses on the main landing gear (MLG) retraction actuators, and replacement if necessary. This AD continues to require the actions in AD 2012-08-11, requires reorientation of the retraction actuator of the MLG, and removes airplanes from the applicability. This AD was prompted by test results that showed that failure of a retract port flexible hose of a MLG retraction actuator could cause excessive hydraulic fluid leakage. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain CFM International S.A. (CFM) CFM56-5 turbofan engines. This AD requires removal of the radial drive shaft (RDS) assembly and the RDS outer housing and their replacement with parts eligible for installation. This AD was prompted by reports of the failure of the RDS on CFM CFM56- 5B engines. We are issuing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Pratt & Whitney Division (PW) PW4074, PW4074D, PW4077, PW4077D, PW4084D, PW4090, and PW4090-3 turbofan engines. This AD was prompted by an uncontained failure of a high-pressure turbine (HPT) hub during takeoff. This AD requires an inspection to measure the surface condition of the aft side web/rim fillet of HPT 1st stage hubs and removal from service of hubs that fail inspection. We are issuing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is amending two high altitude area navigation (RNAV) Q-routes that cross the United States (U.S.)/Canada border in the northcentral U.S. to update the waypoint name for one Canadian waypoint listed in the Q-route descriptions. Specifically, this action changes the SASUT waypoint name to DUTEL in RNAV routes Q-917 and Q-923 to match the waypoint information contained in the FAA and Canadian aeronautical databases. No air traffic services are affected by this action.