Federal Aviation Administration 2022 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This action proposes to amend VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airway V-171 in the vicinity of Roseau, MN. The amendment is due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Roseau, MN (ROX), VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) navigational aid (NAVAID) which provides navigation guidance for portions of the affected airway. The Roseau VOR is being decommissioned as part of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.

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.

A final rule was published in the Federal Register on December 5, 2022, amending Class E surface airspace and Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface for Edward F. Knapp State Park Airport, Montpelier, VT, by creating a cutout of the airspace around Warren-Sugarbush Airport. This action corrects the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface description by adding Warren-Sugarbush Airport to the Class E description header.

This technical amendment contains non-substantive corrections to address typographical errors, editorial errors, and outdated or incorrect references in various parts of FAA regulations.

This action proposes to amend the Class D at Mesquite, TX, and the Class E airspace at Dallas-Fort Worth, TX. The FAA is proposing this action due to an airspace review conducted as part of the decommissioning of the Mesquite localizer (LOC). The geographic coordinates of Granbury Regional Airport, Granbury, TX, would also be updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc., Model BD-700-1A10 and BD-700-1A11 airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of the passenger door failing to dampen during opening at regularly scheduled maintenance checks, causing the door to open more rapidly than normal. An investigation found that a contributing factor was erroneous aircraft maintenance manual (AMM) procedures. This AD prohibits using certain versions of certain AMM tasks for the passenger door. 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 all The Boeing Company Model 767-300F airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report indicating that the installation requirements were not followed for the first observer seat in the flight deck. This proposed AD would require installing placards in various locations of the flight deck to indicate the proper position for the first observer seat during taxi, takeoff, and landing, and revising the existing airplane flight manual (AFM). The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2020-15-20, which applies to certain Airbus SAS Model A350-941 and - 1041 airplanes. AD 2020-15-20 requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations. Since the FAA issued AD 2020-15-20, the FAA has determined that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. This proposed AD would continue to require the actions in AD 2020-15-20 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 proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2012-02-07, which applies to certain General Electric Company (GE) CF6- 45 and CF6-50 series model turbofan engines with a specified low- pressure turbine (LPT) rotor stage 3 disk installed. AD 2012-02-07 requires inspections of high-pressure turbine (HPT) and LPT rotors, engine checks, vibration surveys, an optional LPT rotor stage 3 disk removal after a failed HPT blade borescope inspection (BSI) or a failed engine core vibration survey, establishes a lower life limit for the affected LPT rotor stage 3 disks, and requires removing these disks from service at times determined by a drawdown plan. Since the FAA issued AD 2012-02-07, four additional events of separation of the LPT rotor assembly have been reported resulting in the LPT rotor assembly departing the rear of the engine. The manufacturer has improved the design of the LPT rotor stage 3 disk. This proposed AD would continue to require inspections of HPT and LPT rotor stage 1 and stage 2 blades, vibration surveys, and use of a lower life limit for the affected LPT rotor stage 3 disks. As a terminating action to the inspections, engine checks, and vibration surveys, this proposed AD would require removal and replacement of the LPT rotor stage 3 disk with a redesigned LPT rotor stage 3 disk. This proposed AD would also revise the compliance time of the drawdown plan for the removal and replacement of the LPT rotor stage 3 disk. This proposed AD would also prohibit the installation or reinstallation of certain LPT rotor stage 3 disks. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action establishes Area Navigation (RNAV) route Q-141 and amends RNAV route Q-437 in support of the Northeast Corridor Atlantic Coast Route Project.

This action amends two low altitude Area Navigation (RNAV) routes (T-routes), and establishes one T-route, in support of the VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Minimum Operational Network (MON) Program. The purpose is to enhance the efficiency of the National Airspace System (NAS) by transitioning from ground-based navigation aids to a satellite-based navigation system.

The FAA proposes to amend the regulatory definitions of certain air carrier and commercial operations. This proposed rule would add powered-lift to these definitions to ensure the appropriate sets of rules apply to air carriers' and certain commercial operators' operations of aircraft that FAA regulations define as powered-lift. The FAA also proposes to update certain basic requirements that apply to air carrier oversight, such as the contents of operations specifications and the qualifications applicable to certain management personnel. In addition, this proposed rule would apply the rules for commercial air tours to powered-lift. This proposed rule is an important step in the FAA's integration of new entrant aircraft in the National Airspace System (NAS).

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 for a new information collection. The initial Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on April 26, 2022. The collection involves the possibility for airplane manufacturers, for which a newly built airplane is subject to the applicability of Annex 16, Volume III of the Convention on Civil Aviation (hereinafter the ``Chicago Convention''), to submit an electronic datasheet to the FAA for posting to the CO2 Certification Database (CO2DB). The information to be collected will be necessary because of FAA's commitment to help (a) provide publicly available data on the CO2 Metric Value (MV) which represents a measure of fuel burn performance of airplane types against CO2 technology/design standards, (b) track and communicate the improvement in airplane CO2 MVs over time and (c) provide an incentive to improve the CO2 MV of airplane types.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2020-22-16, AD 2021-16-01, and AD 2022-04-03, which apply to certain Airbus SAS Model A318, A320 and A321 series airplanes; and Model A319- 111, -112, -113, -114, -115, -131, -132, -133, -151N, and -153N airplanes. AD 2020-22-16, AD 2021-16-01, and AD 2022-04-03 require revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations. Since the FAA issued AD 2020-22-16, AD 2021-16-01, and AD 2022-04-03, the FAA has determined that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. This proposed AD would continue to require the actions in AD 2020-22-16, AD 2021-16-01, and AD 2022-04-03, 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.

These special conditions are issued for the Airbus Model A321neoXLR airplane. This airplane will have a novel or unusual design feature when compared to the technology envisaged by the airworthiness standards for transport category airplanes. This design feature is an integral rear center tank (RCT). 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 FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus SAS Model A318 series airplanes; Model A319 series airplanes; Model A320-211, -212, -214, -216, -231, -232, -233, -251N, - 252N, -253N, -271N, -272N, and -273N airplanes; and Model A321 series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report that certain overheat detection system (OHDS) sensing elements installed at certain positions might not properly detect thermal bleed leak events due to a quality escape during the manufacturing process. This proposed AD would require a one-time detailed inspection of each affected part installed at an affected position and, depending on the findings, replacement; and would prohibit the installation of affected parts at affected positions, 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.

This action revokes Colored Federal airway Amber 6 (A-6) due to the planned decommissioning of the St Marys, AK (SMA), Non- Directional Beacon (NDB) in the vicinity of St. Mary's, AK.

The FAA proposes to rule and invite public comment on the release and sale of a 5,457 square foot parcel of land at the Colorado Air and Space Port.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2021-08-19, which applies to all The Boeing Company Model 787-8, -9, and -10 airplanes. AD 2021-08-19 requires repetitive general visual inspections for disengaged or damaged decompression panels of the bilge barriers located in the forward and aft cargo compartments, reinstallation of disengaged but undamaged panels, and replacement of damaged panels. Since the FAA issued AD 2021-08-19, new procedures for changing or replacing the bilge barrier assembly in the forward cargo compartment have been developed. This proposed AD would retain the requirements of AD 2021-08-19 and require changing or replacing the bilge barrier assembly in the forward and aft cargo compartments, which would terminate the repetitive inspections. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action amends VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airway V-356 by revoking the airway segment between the FIDLE and ELORE Fixes. The FAA is taking this action due to the Mile High, CO, VOR/ Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) signal coverage supporting the airway segment having been determined to be unusable below 18,000 feet mean sea level (MSL) during flight inspection.

This action revokes Colored Federal airway Green 7 (G-7) due to the pending decommissioning of the Fort Davis, AK (FDV), Non- Directional Beacon (NDB) in the vicinity of Nome, AK.

This action revokes Colored Federal airway Blue 79 (B-79) in the vicinity of Annette Island, AK, due to the planned decommissioning of the Nichols, AK (ICK), Non-Directional Beacon (NDB).

This action revokes Colored Federal airway Green 15 (G-15) due to the planned decommissioning of the St Marys, AK (SMA), and Takotna River, AK (VTR), Non-Directional Beacons (NDBs).

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus SAS Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report that damage (including delamination of the work deck, and corroded and cracked retainer blocks) was found during inspection of certain galleys. This AD requires repetitive inspections of certain galleys for corrosion of trolley retainer aluminum blocks and delamination of the upper panel of the trolley compartment, and applicable corrective action, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. This AD also limits the installation of affected parts under certain conditions. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus SAS Model A300 F4-600R series airplanes. This AD was prompted by a determination that the forward cargo door compartment between certain frame forks is susceptible to widespread fatigue damage (WFD). This AD completes certain mandated programs to support the airplane reaching its limit of validity (LOV) of the engineering data that support the established structural maintenance program. This AD requires modifying the forward cargo compartment between certain frame forks, 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.