Federal Aviation Administration October 24, 2018 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Federal Aviation Administration is proposing to revise its rules concerning the operation of experimental light sport aircraft. The current regulations prohibited the use of these aircraft for flight training for compensation or hire after January 31, 2010. Allowing the use of experimental light sport aircraft for compensation or hire for the purpose of flight training would increase safety by allowing greater access to aircraft that can be used for light sport aircraft and ultralight training. The proposed rule would add language that permits training in experimental light sport aircraft for compensation or hire for the purpose of flight training through existing deviation authority.

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 an information collection. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on August 15, 2018. The collection involves the voluntary submission of responses to survey questions. The information is collected from holders of FAA production approvals and selected suppliers and provides them an opportunity to offer their input on how well the agency is performing the administration and conduct of the Aircraft Certification Systems Quality System Audit (QSA). The information to be collected will be used to promote continuous improvement initiatives and industry dialog in the FAA oversight process.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Viking Air Limited Model DHC-3 airplanes. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued 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 pitting corrosion on the shank of the wing strut attach bolts. We are issuing this AD to require actions to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2016-24-03, which applied to certain Bombardier, Inc., Model DHC-8-400 series airplanes. AD 2016-24-03 required repetitive detailed inspections of barrel nuts and cradles, a check of the bolt torque of the preload indicating (PLI) washers, and corrective actions if necessary. This AD retains the requirements of AD 2016-24-03 and requires modifying the airplane by installing a sealing disk to a certain location and replacing certain barrel nuts. This AD was prompted by reports of cracked and corroded barrel nuts found at the mid-spar location of the horizontal-stabilizer-to-vertical-stabilizer attachment joint, and the issuance of new service information that includes a terminal modification. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.