Federal Aviation Administration November 13, 2020 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) Tay 611-8C model turbofan engines. This AD was prompted by reports of low-pressure compressor (LPC) rotor blade retention lug failure. This AD requires limiting the service life of the LPC rotor blades based on the number of dry-film lubricant (DFL) re-applications. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is announcing the availability of and requesting comments on the Draft PEA for the Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) Reentry Site Operator License. The FAA has prepared the Draft PEA to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of the FAA issuing a Reentry Site Operator License to Space Florida for the operation of a commercial space reentry site at the SLF located at the Cape Canaveral Spaceport, which includes the Kennedy Space Center and the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. A programmatic document is a type of general, broad National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review from which subsequent NEPA documents can be tiered, focusing on the issues specific to the subsequent action. If a commercial space operator applies to the FAA for a reentry license to conduct reentry operations at the SLF, a separate environmental document, tiering off the PEA, would be developed to support the issuance of a reentry license to the prospective reentry operator. The tiered environmental document would be a more detailed analysis based on vehicle specific operations.

This action proposes to modify the Class E airspace, designated as an extension to a Class D or Class E surface area, at Palmdale USAF Plant 42 Airport. This action also proposes to modify the Class E airspace, extending upward from 700 feet above the surface. Additionally, this action proposes to revoke the Class E airspace, extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface. Further, this action proposes to remove the Palmdale VORTAC from the Class E4 and the Class E5 legal descriptions. Also, this action proposes to remove the Lancaster, Gen. William J. Fox Airfield, CA, from the Class E5 legal description. Lastly, this action proposes several administrative corrections to the airspace legal descriptions. This action would ensure the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all The Boeing Company Model DC-10-10 and DC-10-10F airplanes, Model DC-10- 15 airplanes, Model DC-10-30 and DC-10-30F (KC-10A and KDC-10) airplanes, Model DC-10-40 and DC-10-40F airplanes, Model MD-10-10F and MD-10-30F airplanes, and Model MD-11 and MD-11F airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of cracked floor beams and floor beam supports in the area of the overwing exit doors located at certain stations (STA). This AD requires an inspection of the overwing floor beams for any repair, repetitive inspections of the overwing floor beams and floor beam supports at certain STA on the left and right sides for any crack, and applicable on-condition actions. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

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.