Federal Aviation Administration March 2019 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice contains a summary of a petition seeking relief from specified requirements of Federal Aviation 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.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc., Model CL-600-2C10 (Regional Jet Series 700, 701 & 702) airplanes, Model CL-600-2D15 (Regional Jet Series 705) airplanes, Model CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900) airplanes, and Model CL- 600-2E25 (Regional Jet Series 1000) airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of a fractured main landing gear (MLG) orifice support tube (OST). This AD requires replacing the MLG OST, and revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive maintenance requirements and airworthiness limitations. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Bombardier, Inc., Model CL-600-2C10 (Regional Jet Series 700, 701 & 702), CL-600-2D15 (Regional Jet Series 705), and CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900) airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a determination that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary for operational checks of the landing gear alternate extension system (AES). This proposed AD would require revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new and more restrictive airworthiness limitations. We are proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all International Aero Engines AG (IAE) V2500 turbofan engine models. This AD requires initial and repetitive borescope inspections (BSIs) of the diffuser case M-flange and, if it fails the inspection, replacement of the diffuser case with a part eligible for installation. This AD was prompted by a crack found at the diffuser case M-flange during overhaul inspection. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

These special conditions are issued for the Boeing Model 777- 300ER airplane. This airplane, as modified by GDC Technics, has novel or unusual design features when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport category airplanes. This design feature as modified by GDC Technics, will be equipped with nine single-passenger, side-facing seats, each of which will be installed with an upper torso restraint equipped with an airbag system and a floor level airbag system to limit the axial rotation of the upper leg, due to leg flail, of occupants in single-place, side facing divans. 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 notice contains a summary of a petition seeking relief from specified requirements of Federal Aviation 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 establishes, amends, suspends, or removes Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) and associated Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures (ODPs) 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 safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace and to promote safe flight operations under instrument flight rules at the affected airports.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its findings on the Noise Compatibility Program submitted by the Westover Municipal Development Corporation under the provisions of Title I of the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act of 1979. On March 7, 2019 the New England Region Airports Division Manager approved the Noise Compatibility Program under Part 150. On November 7, 2018, the FAA had determined the noise exposure maps submitted by the Westover Municipal Development Corporation were in compliance with applicable requirements of Part 150.

We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2018-24-01 for certain International Aero Engines (IAE) PW1133G-JM, PW1133GA-JM, PW1130G-JM, PW1127G-JM, PW1127GA-JM, PW1127G1-JM, PW1124G-JM, PW1124G1- JM, and PW1122G-JM turbofan engines. AD 2018-24-01 required removing certain low-pressure turbine (LPT) 1st- and 3rd-stage disks from service and replacing with a part eligible for installation. This AD retains the same requirements as AD 2018-24-01. This AD was prompted by the discovery of incorrect serial numbers in the identification of LPT disks in AD 2018-24-01. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus SAS Model A350-941 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report of un-torqued nuts on certain slat and flap shaft junctions of the wings. This AD requires a one-time inspection on each junction of certain slat and flap shafts for discrepancies, and corrective actions if necessary. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces May 1, 2019, as the deadline for each airport sponsor to notify the FAA whether or not it will use its fiscal year 2019 entitlement funds (also referred to as apportioned funds) to accomplish Airport Improvement Program (AIP) eligible projects that the airport sponsor previously identified through the Airports Capital Improvement Plan process during the preceding year.

We are removing AD 2007-22-05 and AD 2013-13-13 (referred to after this as ``the affected ADs''), which applied to Airbus SAS Model A300-600 and A310 series airplanes. The affected ADs required certain actions to address various unsafe conditions. The affected ADs are no longer necessary because we have since issued other ADs to address these unsafe conditions. Accordingly, we are removing the affected ADs.

We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2017-20-01 for certain Honeywell International Inc. (Honeywell) TFE731-20 and TFE731- 40 turbofan engines. AD 2017-20-01 required removing the affected fan disk and replacing it with a fan disk eligible for installation. Since we issued AD 2017-20-01, we determined that some turbofan engine models were omitted from the applicability of AD 2017-20-01. This AD adds turbofan engine models to the applicability and removes the Honeywell TFE731-20 turbofan engine model from the applicability. This AD requires removal of affected fan disks and replacement with parts eligible for installation. This AD was prompted by two fan disks found with surface rollovers in the dovetail slot area. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action proposes to amend the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Portland Municipal Airport, Portland, TN. The FAA is proposing this action as the result of the decommissioning of the Bowling Green VHF omnidirectional range (VOR) navigation aid, which provided navigation information for the instrument procedures at this airport, as part of the VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) Program. The geographic coordinates of the airport would also be updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.

This action modifies six United States Area Navigation (RNAV) routes (Q-88, Q-90, Q-114, Q-126, Q-136, and Q-150) and establishes one RNAV route (Q-92) in the western United States. The routes support standard instrument departures (SIDs) and standard terminal arrival routes (STARs) for Denver International Airport. Additionally, the routes promote operational efficiencies for users and provide connectivity to current and proposed RNAV enroute procedures while enhancing capacity for adjacent airports.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus SAS Model A320-251N and -271N airplanes, and Model A321-253N airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of low clearance between the electrical harness and nearby hydraulic pipes in the inboard trailing edge of the wing. This AD requires repetitive detailed inspections of certain electrical harnesses for discrepancies and corrective actions, if necessary, as specified in an European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action extends, with modifications to reflect changed conditions in Libya, the Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) prohibiting certain flight operations in the Tripoli Flight Information Region (FIR) (HLLL) by all: United States (U.S.) air carriers; U.S. commercial operators; persons exercising the privileges of an airman certificate issued by the FAA, except when such persons are operating U.S.-registered aircraft for a foreign air carrier; and operators of U.S.-registered civil aircraft, except where the operator of such aircraft is a foreign air carrier. This action extends the prohibition of U.S. civil flight operations in the Tripoli FIR (HLLL) at altitudes below Flight Level (FL) 300 to safeguard against continuing hazards to U.S. civil aviation. However, this action also reduces the scope of the prohibition, permitting U.S. civil aviation overflights of the Tripoli FIR (HLLL) at altitudes at and above FL300 to resume, due to the reduced risk to U.S. civil aviation operations at those altitudes. The FAA also republishes, with minor revisions, the approval process and exemption information for this SFAR, consistent with other recently published flight prohibition SFARs; makes a minor editorial change to the title of the rule; and makes other minor revisions for consistency with other recently published flight prohibition SFARs.

The FAA is announcing the criteria, application procedures, and schedule for the Military Airport Program (MAP), to enable the Secretary of Transportation to designate a maximum of 15 joint-use, or former military airports, to participate in the MAP for the purposes of capital development funding assistance.

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

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 collection involves the B4UFLY smartphone app that provides situational awareness of flight restrictionsincluding locations of airports, restricted airspace, special use airspace, and temporary flight restrictionsbased on a user's current or planned flight location. In order to maintain NAS safety in proximity to airports, authorization is now required from recreational Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) pilots to operate in controlled airspace The data collected will assist the FAA with determining the best processes to authorize recreational UAS pilots and inform air traffic control personnel of a UAS pilot's intended flight in order to assess whether the UAS may disrupt or endanger manned air traffic.

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.

The FAA proposes to rule and invites public comment on the application for a release of approximately 1.0719 acres of federally obligated airport property at New Castle County Airport (ILG), Wilmington, DE, from the National Emergency Use Provision contained in a Surplus Property Agreement, dated April 28, 1949, and from conditions, reservations, and restrictions contained in Airport Improvement Program grants that would restrict the use of said land to aeronautical purposes. The request includes 0.8994 acres of land to be released for disposal for a Right-Of-Way and 0.1725 acres be released from aeronautical to non-aeronautical use for a Permanent Easement. This acreage is a portion of the land at New Castle County Airport that is subject to the Surplus Property Agreement. Both releases are requested to permit improvements, including the widening of State Route 141. The proposed use of land after the release will be compatible with the airport and will not interfere with the airport or its operation.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH (Airbus Helicopters) Model EC135P1, EC135P2, EC135P2+, EC135P3, EC135T1, EC135T2, EC135T2+, and EC135T3 helicopters. This AD requires replacing the retaining ring and inspecting the hoist cable hook assembly (hook). This AD was prompted by a report that a hook detached from the hoist cable. The actions of this AD are intended to address an unsafe condition on these products.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Leonardo S.p.A. Model AB139, AW139, AW169, and AW189 helicopters. This AD requires removing certain part-numbered and serial-numbered tail rotor (T/R) duplex bearings from service. This AD is prompted by a report of a failed T/R duplex bearing roughness inspection. The actions of this AD are intended to address an unsafe condition on these products.

We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2015-12-08, which applied to all Airbus SAS Model A318 and A319 series airplanes and all Model A320-211, A320-212, A320-214, A320-231, A320-232, A320- 233, A321-111, A321-112, A321-131, A321-211, A321-212, A321-213, A321- 231, and A321-232 airplanes. AD 2015-12-08 required an inspection to determine the batch number or installation date of the oxygen pipe assembly that is installed at the end of the right-hand crew distribution line, and replacement of the pipe if necessary. This AD revises the applicability to include additional airplane models and additional pipes to be replaced if necessary. This AD was prompted by further investigation that determined that affected oxygen pipes may have been installed on more airplanes than initially identified. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.