Federal Aviation Administration November 2022 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus SAS Model A300 B2K-3C, B2-203, B4-2C, and B4-203 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a determination that internal system pollution can occur, most likely due to corroded unions in the pressurization lines, with an associated risk of contamination of the check valves. This proposed AD would require repetitive inspections (functional checks) of the pressurization of the hydraulic system reservoirs, and corrective actions if necessary, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2022-06-02, which applies to all Airbus SAS Model A318-111, and -112 airplanes; Model A319-111, -112, -113, -114, -115, -131, -132, and -133 airplanes; Model A320-211, -212, -214, -216, -231, -232, and -233 airplanes; and Model A321-111, -112, -131, -211, -212, -213, -231, and -232 airplanes. AD 2022-06-02 requires new repetitive inspections of the 80 view unit (80VU) rack lower lateral fittings, lower central support, upper fittings, central post, and shelves attachments for discrepancies, and corrective actions if necessary. This AD was prompted by a determination that the compliances times must be revised to address the unsafe condition. This proposed AD would continue to require the actions in AD 2022-06-02 with revised compliance times, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference (IBR). The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2020-21-20, which applies to certain Dassault Aviation Model FALCON 900EX airplanes. AD 2020-21-20 requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive maintenance requirements and/or airworthiness limitations. Since the FAA issued AD 2020-21-20, the FAA has determined that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. This proposed AD would continue to require the actions in AD 2020-21-20 and would require revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate additional new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference (IBR). The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA has determined that the minimum random drug and alcohol testing percentage rates for the period January 1, 2023, through December 31, 2023, will remain at 25 percent of safety- sensitive employees for random drug testing and 10 percent of safety- sensitive employees for random alcohol testing.

This action proposes special conditions for the the Airbus Model A321neo XLR 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 provides flight-envelope protections. 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.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Airbus Helicopters Model SA-365N, SA-365N1, AS-365N2, AS 365 N3, EC 155B, and EC155B1 helicopters. This AD was prompted by reports of the cockpit doors failing to open after ditching with inflated floats on certain helicopters equipped with an emergency flotation system (EFS). This AD requires revising the existing Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM) for your helicopter, installing placards, and depending on your model helicopter, modification of the jettisoning system, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference (IBR). The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action modifies the Class D and E surface areas, the Class E airspace area designated as an extension to a Class D or E surface area, and the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport, MT. Additionally, this action makes several administrative amendments to update the airport's legal descriptions. These actions support the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) and visual flight rules (VFR) operations at the airport.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus SAS Model A350-941 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report that the path for the grounding wire of the engine fire shut off valve (FSOV) is routed through the wing trailing edge, which is not the shortest path available. This AD requires modifying the wiring between the inboard fixed leading edge in the wing and in the forward cargo compartment on the left- and right-hand sides, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all MHI RJ Aviation ULC Model CL-600-2C10 (Regional Jet Series 700, 701 & 702); CL-600-2C11 (Regional Jet Series 550); CL-600-2D15 (Regional Jet Series 705); CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900); and CL-600-2E25 (Regional Jet Series 1000) airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports that the landing gear age of certain airplanes was higher than expected for gear overhaul, which could increase the risk of corrosion. This AD requires verifying the calendar age of the nose landing gear (NLG) and main landing gear (MLG) by way of component maintenance documents, and performing corrective actions if necessary. This AD also prohibits installing certain components. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Viking Air Limited (type certificate previously held by Bombardier Inc. and de Havilland, Inc.) Model DHC-3 airplanes. This AD was prompted by multiple recent reports of cracks in the left-hand elevator auxiliary spar. This AD requires repetitive detailed visual inspections of the entire left-hand elevator auxiliary spar for cracks, corrosion, and previous repairs, and depending on the findings, replacement of the left-hand elevator auxiliary spar. This AD also requires sending the inspection results to the FAA. The FAA previously sent an emergency AD to all known U.S. owners and operators of these airplanes and is now 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.

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 Information to be collected is necessary to insure the safety of the flying public. Documentation of maintenance repair actions record who, what, when, where and how of the task performed. This collection focuses on the Form 337 which is collected by the FAA. Other records for preventative maintenance, and logbook entries are not collected by the FAA serve as a responsibility of the owner to maintain in case of verification of airworthiness when seeking approvals or sale of the aircraft. This insures proper certification of personnel; proper tooling is utilized and accurate measures to insure safety. Total form 337s submitted in 2017 is 54,237. Total aircraft registrations on file is 289,490. It is estimated by the numbers collected one in every five aircraft have a 337 form submitted for major alteration and repairs performed. Each 337 takes approximately 1 hour.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain General Electric Company (GE) GE90-76B, GE90-85B, GE90-90B, and GE90-94B model turbofan engines. This proposed AD was prompted by a commanded in-flight shutdown (IFSD) due to cracking and rockback of the high-pressure turbine (HPT) stage 2 nozzles resulting in blade liberation, severe rotor imbalance, and liberation of the exhaust centerbody. This proposed AD would require initial and repetitive borescope inspections (BSIs) of the forward platforms of the HPT stage 2 blades or the leading edges of the HPT stage 2 nozzles and, depending on the results of the inspections, removal and replacement of the HPT stage 2 nozzles with a part eligible for installation. As a mandatory terminating action to the repetitive BSIs of the forward platforms of the HPT stage 2 blades or the leading edges of the HPT stage 2 nozzles, this proposed AD would require replacement of the HPT stage 2 nozzles. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2020-20-05 and AD 2022-09-16, which apply to certain Airbus SAS Model A318 series; A319-111, -112, -113, -114, -115, -131, -132, -133, -151N, and -153N; A320 series; and A321 series airplanes. AD 2020-20-05 and AD 2022-09-16 require revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations. Since the FAA issued AD 2020-20-05 and AD 2022-09-16, the FAA has determined that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. This proposed AD would continue to require the actions in AD 2022-09-16 and require revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate additional new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference. This proposed AD would also revise the applicability to include additional airplanes. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2022-14-14, which applies to all Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co. Segelflugzeugbau Model ASW-15 gliders. AD 2022-14-14 requires repetitively inspecting the wing root ribs for cracks, looseness, and damage and replacing any root rib with a crack, a loose rib or lift pin bushing, or any damage. Since the FAA issued AD 2022-14-14, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) superseded its mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) to add all Model ASW-15B gliders to the applicability. This proposed AD is prompted by MCAI originated by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. This proposed AD would retain the requirements from AD 2022-14-14 of repetitively inspecting the wing root ribs for cracks, looseness, and damage and replacing any root rib with a crack, a loose rib or lift pin bushing, or any damage; and would add the Model ASW-15B gliders to the applicability. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Deutsche Aircraft GmbH (Type Certificate Previously Held by 328 Support Services GmbH; AvCraft Aerospace GmbH; Fairchild Dornier GmbH; Dornier Luftfahrt GmbH) Model 328-100 and -300 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a safety analysis that lithium batteries installed in the personal electronic devices (PED) are a potential risk of an in-flight fire in the flight deck stowage boxes. This AD requires installing a placard and stowing the fire gloves on the left-hand (LH) flap door of the flight deck step; and installing the placards on the LH and right-hand (RH) flight deck stowage boxes. This AD also requires revising the operator's existing airplane flight manual (AFM) to include emergency procedures, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2020-21-19, which applies to certain Dassault Aviation Model FALCON 900EX airplanes. AD 2020-21-19 requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations. Since the FAA issued AD 2020-21-19, the FAA has determined that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. This proposed AD would continue to require the actions in AD 2020-21-19 and would require revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate additional new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference (IBR). The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2022-09-03, which applies to certain Airbus SAS Model A350-941 and - 1041 airplanes. AD 2022-09-03 requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations. Since the FAA issued AD 2022-09-03, the FAA has determined that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. This proposed AD would continue to require the actions in AD 2022-09-03 and require revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate additional new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference (IBR). The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The Department of Transportation (DOT), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), announces the opportunity to apply for $20 million in FY 2023 Airport Infrastructure Grant funds for the FAA Contract Tower (FCT) Competitive Grant Program, made available under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, herein referred to as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). The purpose of the FCT Competitive Grant Program is to make annual grants available to eligible airports for airport-owned airport traffic control tower (ATCT) projects that address the aging infrastructure of the nation's airports. In addition, the FCT Competitive Grant Program will align with DOT's Strategic Framework FY2022-2026 at www.transportation.gov/ administrations/office-policy/fy2022- 2026-strategic-framework.

This action proposes to amend Class D airspace, Class E surface airspace, and Class E airspace designated as an extension to a Class D surface area and Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Athens/Ben Epps Airport, Athens, GA as a result of the biennial airspace evaluation. This action would eliminate the excess airspace remaining after the decommissioning of the Bulldog Non-Directional Beacon (NDB) and subsequent cancellation of the NDB Runway 27 approach to Athens/Ben Epps Airport effective October 15, 2015, as well as update the geographic coordinates for the airport and the point-of-origin. Controlled airspace is necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations in the area.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2000-20- 15, which applied to certain Airbus SAS Model A300 and A300-600 series airplanes. AD 2000-20-15 required a high frequency eddy current (HFEC) inspection to detect cracking of the rear fittings of fuselage frame FR40 at stringer 27, and repetitive inspections or repair, as applicable. In lieu of accomplishing the repetitive inspections, AD 2000-20-15 provided a modification that would allow the inspection to be deferred for a certain period of time. This AD was prompted by cracking of the rear fittings of fuselage frame FR40 at stringer 27, and a determination that reduced compliance times are necessary. This AD removes airplanes from the applicability, and continues to require the actions in AD 2000-20-15, but at reduced compliance times, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Continental Aerospace Technologies GmbH TAE 125-02-99 and TAE 125-02-114 model reciprocating engines. This proposed AD was prompted by manufacturer reports of fractured main bearing studs. This proposed AD would require the removal and replacement of certain main bearing studs. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action corrects a final rule published by the FAA in the Federal Register on October 31, 2022, that amends VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airways V-26 and V-63; establishes Area Navigation (RNAV) route T-464; and revokes the Wausau, WI, Low Altitude Reporting Point in the vicinity of Wausau, WI. In the new RNAV route T-464, the final rule identified the TONOC, WI, route point as a waypoint (WP), in error. This action makes editorial corrections to the reference of the TONOC, WI, WP to change it to be reflected as a Fix. This correction is necessary to match the FAA National Airspace System Resource (NASR) database information.

The FAA announces the availability of, and requests comments on, the proposed airworthiness criteria for the Joby Aero, Inc. (Joby) Model JAS4-1 powered-lift. This document proposes airworthiness criteria the FAA finds to be appropriate and applicable for the powered-lift design.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2020-04- 20, which applied to certain De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited Model DHC-8-400 series airplanes. AD 2020-04-20 required repetitive inspections of certain parts for discrepancies that meet specified criteria, and replacement as necessary; repetitive inspections of certain parts for damage and wear, and rework of parts; and electrical bonding checks of certain couplings. AD 2020-04-20 also required revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations. For certain airplanes, AD 2020-04-20 allowed a modification that terminates the repetitive inspections. This AD continues to require the actions in AD 2020-04-20, revises the applicability by adding airplanes, and requires, for certain airplanes, the previously optional rework and retrofit of certain parts of the fuel system. Doing the rework and retrofit terminates the retained initial and repetitive inspections in this AD. This AD was prompted by reports of wear on fuel couplings, bonding springs, and sleeves as well as fuel tube end ferrules and fuel component end ferrules, and by a determination that a more robust lightning ignition protection design is necessary. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.